Sussex

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

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West Ham were looking down and out after going two goals behind against Brighton.

Then Hammers captain Katrina Gorry came to the fore with two goals in five minutes to give Rehanne Skinner's side hope of a WSL point.

Two strikes from long-range, Gorry's first goals for the club, turned the match completely and Brighton looked set to be frustrated after dominating for long periods.

However, an injury to Gorry proved critical. Minutes after scoring her second goal, the Australian midfielder was withdrawn after hurting her shoulder while attempting a sliding tackle on Kiko Seike.

Fran Kirby struck late to seal the win for Brighton, but it might have been a different story if Gorry had remained on the pitch.

Gorry was also influential in West Ham's first WSL win of the season last week and it will be hoped that her injury is not as bad as it looked initially.

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There has been some pressure on players carrying an injury going into international breaks with their national side because you are contracted to these clubs and that is where your income is.

But, for me, as a player I had a similar mindset to Harry Kane that I would always be available - injured or not injured. I would have injections when I was on international duty just so I could represent my country because it meant that much.

It is difficult, however. If you look at Jack Grealish and Pep Guardiola's comments, he has a point because the forward has not been able to play for Manchester City because of injuries. So if you have been sidelined for three or four games, I would agree that you are then not fit and available to go on international duty.

But when you look at some of the other players, ones who have been playing and being managed by their club, then I do not see it being different to being played and managed by your country.

From the club's side, when they are competing at such high levels in the Premier League, you can understand why they would want their players to be rested and get fully fit again over the two weeks, rather than having to come back straight into a hectic period of fixtures.

I kind of get it from both points of view but, as a player, if I am half fit and being played by my club, I would be fully available for my national team.

It is really difficult with the pressure that is on the players, though. I would not look at it as a decision players have made solely.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Brighton's Tariq Lamptey is being monitored by Everton and West Ham, who both want to sign the right-back on a free transfer in the summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Saturday's full gossip column

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Evan Ferguson (20 years and 26 days old) has now scored four goals for Republic of Ireland, with only Robbie Keane (seven goals) and David Connolly (six goals) scoring more for the Boys in Green before the age of 21.

With only four points separating third and 13th, we do not normally see that many teams in this type of mini league.

Normally, you might have the teams in a pack around the top four or five and then another pack underneath that with your relegation pack as well, so the fact there is so many teams in it at this stage is making it different.

From the mental side of competing in that, you look at Manchester United who have struggled so much this season and are sitting 13th. If they get a win, it can shoot them right up the table. They are in a position to think they are only a few points off the Champions League places' and that is good.

But it can work both ways.

Knowing the points are so close can keep you strong, keep you competing and have that competitiveness because you know a result can jump you up. But on the flipside, you could easily go from seventh down to 13th in one weekend or from third down to 10th.

How you deal with it depends on the manager, the players and also the psychologists within the group. Psychology in sport is really important for whether you see the situation as a positive or a negative.

Whether it stays like this all season is hard to say as there have been some really inconsistent performances and results. The most consistent team is the one sitting at the top.

I do not know what the rest of the campaign has in store for these sides because all the teams seem to be able to take points off each other this season.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson