--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-10-24T02:17:02.114Z last_updated: 2026-10-23T23:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/bournemouth/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYm91cm5lbW91dGhlY2hvLmNvLnVrL3Nwb3J0LzI2NjYzMDEyLmhlbGVuLWJsZWF6YXJkLXBseW1vdXRoLXdpbi1ib3VuY2luZy1iYWNrLWZhLWN1cC12LWZlbml0b24vP3JlZj1yc3M --- # Helen Bleazard column - - **Source:** - **Published:** 23 Oct - **Club:** Bournemouth - **Original URL:** https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/26663012.helen-bleazard-plymouth-win-bouncing-back-fa-cup-v-feniton/?ref=rss We trained and travelled, so we stayed over and it was a really long weekend, but I was really pleased with the performance and the application from the team, keeping a clean sheet. It was a lovely pitch to play on, and I thought it wasn't just the starting 11, but the whole squad that really impacted the game. I think the thing is we knew that we would have a lot of the ball. We talked about that last week, but you have to be clinical with that. We can have as much possession as we want, and we knew they would want to be nice and compact, but it's about trying to break down a compact team. We knew that was going to be tough. Anyone in tier three is going to be a tough team to unpick and try and break down. (Image: Richard Crease) It took us a little while to build that momentum before we were starting to see the pictures and what we wanted. We got a really good first goal through Jenna Markham and then we started to build off that momentum. I think it's always natural that anyone is going to be disappointed with losing the games we have done, but it's about bouncing back in the right way, not only on the pitch but off the pitch, making sure we're all reflecting and learning. That's the most important thing. We're all doing it as a squad together. Whether it's the staff or the players, we're all trying to learn as we go and improve ourselves. We've got so many games this season with cup and league and everything that we've got in between, but it's nice to be able to put it right as quickly as possible and then use that momentum going into the next few games. We’ve got Feniton in the FA Cup on Sunday and while it’s going to be a massive occasion, particularly for them, it’ll be business as usual going into this week for us. (Image: Richard Crease) We make sure we prepare right. We've got a three-game week with Feniton, Portsmouth and then Wimbledon in the cup. It's a busy period for us and it's making sure that we can rest, recover and use the right tactics in all three games, because they're all going to be so different. Credit to Feniton for reaching this round and getting us in the draw, we're really looking forward to the game and we're really excited to welcome them on Sunday. I was fortunate to play in two FA Cup finals and I absolutely love this competition. I love that teams you are never normally going to play against get that opportunity to come and play home or away, as we did with Millbrook and Leyton Orient last year. They were two teams that we hadn't played before and now we get to do it with Feniton. (Image: Richard Crease) We're really looking forward to the opportunity and we'll always make sure that we prepare right and deliver a professional performance. With the busy period, it’s always important to plan ahead from a loading and recovery point of view, as well as tactically, making sure that we have the best squad going out that week. So whoever starts, whoever comes off the bench, it's about making sure that it's a squad. It's not just going to be an 11 that gets us through this week and it never has been. We're really looking forward to the Portsmouth game. They've got Cheltenham in the cup on Sunday, so we'll be looking a little bit at that one, they played Cheltenham last week as well. It'll good to unpick a few things with that, but at the same time we're focusing on us to make sure that we're ready and hopefully we get the three points. I was at the men’s game against AC Milan, which was a great occasion, and there’s a really good feel around the club at the minute. It's just a pleasure to be a part of it. Roll on Sunday!