Team Muirhead bounce back to stun Sweden

Team Muirhead bounced back from a 6-5 defeat in their opening game to Switzerland by stunning defending Olympic champions Sweden 8-2 on the first day of women's curling.

Skip Eve Muirhead had the chance to get their campaign off to the perfect start with her final stone against world champions Switzerland but the Opening Ceremony flagbearer threw long in an extra end in the morning's session.

But she, along with Jennifer Dodds, Vicky Wright and Hailey Duff, returned with aplomb to see off Sweden with ease, their opponents conceding at 8-2 down after just seven ends.

Team Muirhead are relatively inexperienced but showed why they have won every competition they have played together with a phenomenal display in the evening session.

And Muirhead, who carried the Team GB flag at the Opening Ceremony on the occasion of her fourth Olympic Winter Games, was delighted with the performance from her rink.

"I think that just shows what a team we can be," she said.

"This morning, I felt like we played well but maybe just missed a few shots here and there and needed to sharpen up to beat Sweden and I think we did that and more.

"So, we really have set a pretty high marker for ourselves but I for sure think we can maintain that because all season we have.

"For three of the girls it was their first time stepping on the ice at the Olympic Games today and we forget that.

"I couldn't have asked for any more from the girls. The team played fantastic, the communication was great, the support was great and I'm very proud of the girls."

Muirhead’s rink consisted of three Olympic debutants – Vicky Wright, Hailey Duff and Jen Dodds, who had to refocus after losing the mixed doubles curling bronze medal match alongside men's skip Bruce Mouat on Tuesday.

They showed great character to shake off the narrow reverse to the Swiss and Muirhead in particular showed no ill effects, taking a firm grip on the Sweden game after landing four shots in the fourth end.

She said: "It's not often you pick up a four-ender against Sweden. We played a very clinical end with great stone placement.

"We put a lot of pressure on them and forced mistakes out of them and jumped on them straight away.

"As much as it was a four, it's not game over. I think if you look at the last few ends as well, they were very good to force Sweden to one. 

"And the very last end we managed to get a two by keeping it very simple."

However, Muirhead is not getting carried away with one clinical display ahead of tomorrow's match against South Korea, despite the fact she believes defeating the 2018 gold medallists will make all their rivals sit up and take notice.

She added: "I think it does send a big message but I also think we just need to stay pretty relaxed and keep the momentum going.

"I don't want to put any pressure on ourselves or get too ahead of ourselves, we're still on day one of action here.

"We will enjoy that victory but when we wake up in the morning, we know it's a brand new day and we are kind of back to the start."