Carly Telford insists doing her homework was the key to success, after her penalty save helped Notts County to a point away at Birmingham City.
The England international saved Remi Allen’s spot-kick with less than 10 minutes remaining to rescue her side as they played out a goalless draw.
Both teams remain without an FA WSL 1 win so far this season, but Telford admits the point was hugely valuable against last season’s third-placed side.
Birmingham 0-0 Notts County
FA Women's Super League with BT Sport 1
Sunday 19 April
Solihull Moors FC
“We do a lot of research and I ask Rick [Passmoor] if there is anything I should know,” she said.
“It’s good that I can get that information and we have managed to earn a point because of it.
“As goalkeepers we don’t know what’s going through their mind, and whether they thinking ‘have they done their research?’
“It happened against Chelsea, and I went to her left and she put it right, so you could argue there is always a gut feeling there.
“But at the end of the day I do what I’m told and if I’m saving them, I am sure Rick won’t have a problem.”
The best chance of a feisty first half came when Rachel Williams was brought down on the edge of the box by Birmingham’s Kerys Harrop.
But Alex Greenwood’s resulting free-kick was comfortably saved by Rebecca Spencer, as the half ended with neither team able to put their mark on the game.
And the second period was much the same as both sides rung the changes, looking to create a clear-cut opportunity.
Jo Potter had Birmingham’s first decent attempt on goal with a 20-yard effort but it was comfortably saved by Telford, who then kept County in the game by saving Allen’s penalty as both teams had to settle for a draw.
And despite missing a golden opportunity to claim all three, Birmingham boss David Parker was satisfied after finally seeing glimpses of the Blues’ form from last season.
He said: “We needed a response and a response was exactly what we got today.
“We were more like the Birmingham of old and that everyone knows, and even with players missing today we stepped up to the plate.
“It was two teams that have picked up just one point each in their first two games, and neither side wanted to let anything slip early on.
“I was pleased with the way the girls went about the game, we've probed and looked the more dangerous of both teams.”
Birmingham City (4-4-2): Rebecca Spencer, Meaghan Carter, Jess Carter, Aoife Mannion, Kerys Harrop, Remi Allen, Joe Potter, Melissa Lawley, Emily Westwood, Alex Windell (Emily Simpkins 48), Coral-Jade Haines
Substitutes not used: Sophie Baggaley, Charlie Wellings, Abbey-Leigh Stringer, Christina Torkildsen
Bookings: Harrop
Notts County (4-4-2): Carly Telford, Alex Greenwood (Fern Whelan 60) Dani Buet, Laura Bassett, Amy Turner, Aileen Whelan (Jess Clarke 55), Sophie Walton, Leanne Crichton, Dunia Susi, Rachel Williams (Fiona O’Sullivan 55), Ellen White.
Substitutes not used: Juliana Draycott, Sophie Bradley,Laura-Jayne O’Neill,
Bookings: Williams
Referee: John Matthews
Attendance: 438
