Jo Potter Delivers In-Depth Reflection on Ipswich Win, Major Fitness Boost, and Palace’s Growing Ambition Ahead of Leicester Cup Clash
Crystal Palace Women’s manager Jo Potter has offered her most comprehensive assessment yet of where her team stands at this pivotal point in the season. After earning a crucial 2–1 league win over Ipswich Town, the Eagles are now preparing for another major challenge: a Sunday afternoon clash with Leicester City in the Subway Women’s League Cup.
But before previewing that test, Potter took time this week to reflect on the significance of the Ipswich result, the evolving identity of her squad, the individual brilliance of key players, and the welcome return to fitness of several important figures.
With the club also announcing that Sunday, 7th December will mark the final home league fixture of 2025, a Festive Fixture against Birmingham City, momentum is building not only on the pitch but around the club as a whole. Tickets for the December showcase are already available, and excitement among supporters continues to grow.
A Victory That Carries Much More Weight Than Three Points
Last weekend’s 2–1 win at Ipswich was far more than a standard league victory. In the context of the season, it marked a turning point — a moment that reaffirmed the squad’s internal belief and validated the work they’ve been putting in across recent weeks.
Goals from Ashleigh Weerden and Abbie Larkin secured the three points, lifting Palace up to eighth place in the Barclays Women’s Super League 2. But beyond the scoreboard, it was a performance defined by intensity, resilience, and the kind of attacking confidence Potter has been urging her players to demonstrate more consistently.
Potter spoke candidly about the importance of the result.
“It was massively important. There’s no shying away from that fact,” she stressed. “We know how crucial it is to win week in, week out. We’ve always been confident, but getting those three points — you could feel the difference immediately.”
She highlighted how significantly a single result can alter the league standings:
“You can see how much one win changes the table. That’s our aim now — go game by game, climb the table, improve on performances, and build something strong.”
In recent months, Palace have often been the better team but not always the winning team. This match, however, provided the clinical edge that had been missing.
Potter’s Attack: Stylish, Ruthless — and Anything but Ordinary
If there’s one hallmark of this Palace team, it’s their ability to score goals of extraordinary quality. The manager knows it, the players know it, and the fans certainly know it. Sunday’s goals reinforced that reputation.
Both finishes struck the woodwork in spectacular fashion before finding the net — the kind of goals that define highlight reels and lift the entire team’s spirit.
Potter, half-joking but entirely serious, reiterated a theme she has repeated all season:
“I keep saying it, time and time again — we don’t score rubbish goals. We only score good goals.
I’d actually take a few rubbish ones! I’d take a few ricochets or scrappy ones, however they go in — I don’t mind. But when we score, they’re excellent goals.”
That theme was especially clear against Ipswich, where Palace could easily have scored four or five. The woodwork denied them twice more, and Ipswich goalkeeper Natalia Negri delivered one of the best goalkeeping performances of her season, with a string of top-class saves.
Yet instead of growing frustrated, Potter sees these experiences as valuable teaching moments.
“It’s a theme, isn’t it? Keepers make saves against us that we haven’t seen them make in weeks. But ultimately, that’s going to make our players better.
It ignites the hunger to be more ruthless, to be clinical, to go again. We’ve talked about it at both ends of the pitch — we need to improve, and we’re working on it every week.”
This blend of quality and determination is becoming a defining trait of the squad.
The Rise of the “Electric Duo”: Weerden and Larkin
One of the most compelling stories of Palace’s season so far has been the emergence — and now the consistency — of Ashleigh Weerden and Abbie Larkin.
Both are young.
Both are fearless.
Both have striking pace and technical ability.
And both are beginning to form the kind of partnership that can frighten any defence in the league.
Weerden’s equaliser at Ipswich was a prime example of her talent — a moment of confidence and precision. Potter praised not only her skill but also her willingness to adapt and grow.
“Ash is definitely a confidence player,” Potter explained. “She’s got so much ability. It’s about putting her in the right place at the right time. She takes on information exceptionally well.”
Palace have spent the last few weeks working on timing, positioning, and connection in the final third — and the results are beginning to show.
Larkin, too, continues to shine. Her winning goal was taken with maturity and composure beyond her years.
Potter said:
“Every time Ash gets the ball, she looks a threat. She looks frightening — her and Abbie alike. They’re both electric players, so exciting to watch.
We want to get them on the ball as much as possible. They make things happen for us.”
Together, they’re quickly becoming one of the most dynamic attacking pairings in the division.
Massive Squad Boost: Sharpe, Brown & Bailey Return
After weeks of navigating injuries, Palace finally have reasons to feel optimistic about squad depth.
Molly Sharpe, Lola Brown, and Zara Bailey have all returned to full training this week. Last weekend came too soon for the trio, but now their recovery is nearly complete — a huge lift for the entire squad.
Potter confirmed:
“Last week was just a bit too early for Molly, but she’s training fully now. So are Lola and Zara.
We’re hoping they’ll all be back in the matchday squad this weekend. Minutes will be managed, depending on what the game plan looks like.”
The impact of having three key contributors available cannot be overstated.
“It’s a huge bonus for us,” Potter continued. “It strengthens the squad and gives us more options. Having quality come back into the group always makes a difference.”
With multiple competitions still ongoing, their return is perfectly timed.
The Leicester Challenge: A True Test of Where Palace Stand
This Sunday, Palace face Leicester City, a WSL1 club known for their physicality, structure, and attacking threat. It’s a matchup that excites Potter — not intimidates her.
“We’re going out there to compete,” she said firmly. “Regardless if it’s WSL1 or WSL2, the gap is closing so much.”
She used recent results across the league pyramid to illustrate her point:
“When Durham play Liverpool, it’s close. When we played London City, it was close — and we actually felt we should have won with the chances we created.”
The women’s game has evolved rapidly in recent years, and Potter believes teams like Palace should welcome opportunities to test themselves against higher-level opposition.
“You want to test yourself against the best and show that, should you be there, you can compete at that level. Doing it on a regular basis is different — it takes consistency.
But for us, this is a normal, regular game. We want to try to win and put on a good performance.”
Every fixture now serves as both a challenge and a benchmark for the squad.
A Team Growing in Identity, Confidence, and Ambition
If there is one thread running through all of Potter’s comments this week, it is growth — and not just in performance.
Growth in confidence.
Growth in consistency.
Growth in belief.
Growth in squad depth.
Growth in ambition.
The victory over Ipswich was not simply a result — it was evidence that the process is working.
With players returning, young stars performing, and significant fixtures ahead, the manager’s vision for the club is becoming clearer each week.
The upcoming Leicester match is another step in that journey. The Festive Fixture against Birmingham will be another. And the league season, still long and promising, offers many more.
One thing is certain: this Crystal Palace Women’s team is evolving — and evolving quickly.