With City’s goalkeeping duo Karen Bardsley and Ellie Roebuck sidelined through injury this season, Karima Benameur Taieb has featured in every minute of action between the sticks, with youngsters Khiara Keating and Grace Pilling deputising on the bench.
However, after Keating sustained a fracture during the last international break, an injury to Pilling this week also ruled the teenager out of action and with no other option, Taylor was forced to form a back-up plan should Taieb need to be substituted or receive a red card.
Speaking after the game, the Head Coach explained forward Stanway, who was already standing in as right-back, had been selected to don the gloves in an emergency!
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“It wasn’t an ideal situation!” he admitted. “We had a contingency plan which thankfully, we didn’t have to use. Georgia was back-up. We had to get a shirt printed in case!
“We know a few have had the experience [of playing in goal] - Janine has done it. We left that to [goalkeeping coach] Chris Williams to take control of that situation.
“We went straight to Georgia and told her what it was. It was touch-and-go with Grace. Unfortunately, it was a minor injury but hopefully, not something that will keep her out for long. It’s another injury we could do without. We got away with it today.
“There are personnel who are playing out of position but giving their best. They’ve been thrust into situations and we need that type of attitude. I have never questioned their attitude or intentions, even in some failures.
“It’s always about the small details. When you lose, you can feel miles away but the devil is in the details. There’s are fine margins between success and failure.”
Hear what Gareth had to say, including his thoughts on the game, in the post-match press conference in the video above...
