Andy Cook insisted he is not concerned about Norwich City Women's recent form after the Canaries failed to win for the third straight league game.

Real Bedford were only promoted to the fourth tier earlier this year but their start to the new season has been impressive and they matched City in Sunday's stalemate.

City struggled to maintain a foothold in the contest and have been held to draws in their last three league outings, though they still sit top of the Women's National League Division One South East.

After the match, Cook called for calm and compared his side's situation with that of City men's team.

He stated: "Like the club have been saying, and like Johannes (Hoff Thorup) has been saying in terms of the consistency of the guys, it's the same thing.

"We want to work through a process, we want to trust the ability of the players that we're going to make chances like we did. We've scored goals before, we know we can.

Andy Cook urges his side onAndy Cook urges his side on (Image: R.S.BROWN)

"Ultimately, when you come up against Chesham (United) and Sudbury, sometimes the way the game goes and because of the position we're in, with players working and coming to the games, it all affects it.

"When we're (against) a team like this today, a clean sheet's a must, and then after that we need to build and try to get one. That's exactly what we almost got today, there were a couple of good moments.

"But equally, they had a couple of half-chances, nothing clear-cut one-on-one with Quants (Sarah Quantrill), which we're happy with.

"You could argue from what we've been told that we probably should have had a goal, but it wasn't given, so we have to move on."

Cook went on to refer to his experience coaching in similar divisions to the one City are competing in, and emphasised the importance of staying unbeaten in a promotion push.

Natasha Snelling rues a missed chanceNatasha Snelling rues a missed chance (Image: R.S.BROWN)

"You can't put the pressure on to say that we must win, because there's a lot that goes into it," he said. "But you can't lose games.

"Only one (team) goes up, and it is fine margins when you're in a league like this. I'm fortunate, I've worked in these leagues now for five years.

"I know the times that you need to kick, the times that you need to have a draw, the times that you need to just make sure you're consistent with what you're doing, and that's where we are right now.

"We're in a very good place, and we just need to make sure we keep working the way that we have been."

City became the second team to prevent Bedford from scoring this season as they collected their fifth clean sheet of the campaign, with centre-back Hope Strauss discussing the reasons for their defensive solidity.

She explained: "I've probably seen Ceri (Flye) more than my family this year. We've built up a really good relationship.

"Last season we formed it but this season we've gone one step further and we can almost sense where each other will be on the pitch all the time.

"Credit to the full-backs as well. Issy Moore's come in and been brilliant, Millie (Daviss) today, and also Tam (Tamsin Medd-Gill) who's been playing at right-back.

"And obviously Quants in goal. It's been an amazing group effort from everyone."

There were 375 people in attendance at The Nest, and one particularly interested spectator was City sporting director Ben Knapper.

"He's heavily invested in everything that we do," Cook said. "(I have) constant conversations with him, I know Flo (Allen) meets with him a lot, and obviously when I'm in and around the training ground and speaking to the staff, Ben's always there.

"It just shows where the club's at and where it wants to move to and go. It's not just a case of turning up and watching the guys on a Saturday. He's invested and it's good for us as a club."

Norwich City (4-2-3-1): Quantrill (c); Daviss (Cook 87), Flye, Strauss, Moore; Medd-Gill, Knights (Morran 70); Densley (Symonds 59), Smith, Shaw (Tomlinson 79); Snelling. Unused sub: Johnston.