Aston Villa Women Experts: Teamwork makes the dream work as Villa hold City to draw
We’re delighted to welcome author Freya Taylor and former academy player Lyndsey Bissell as our exclusive Aston Villa Women experts. Each week they’ll be collaborating to give their views on the biggest talking points at the WSL club…
You know your team are in fantastic form when manager Carla Ward says in her post-match interview that she’s “disappointed” with only taking a point away from Manchester City.
After winning against City 4-3 at the beginning of the season, there was hope that after a fantastic start to the transfer window, that Villa could take the three points yet again. We are currently the only team to take points from the top four this season and Ward’s ‘new and improved team’ were a continuous threat to one of the biggest teams in the WSL.
A boost during the week of course, was the news that Ward has signed a contract extension to keep her here in the Midlands until the end of the 23/24 season! This confidence in Ward’s abilities as manager certainly shows in the quality and passion her team are playing with. It’s clear, as we’ve been saying consistently in our blogs, it’s her careful recruitment policy that’s bringing the right people in at the right time that has made the difference in a matter of months. For example, just look at how well Jordan Nobbs and Lucy Staniforth have settled into the team and are already making a huge impact to the Villa set-up.
As games around the country were being postponed due to frozen pitches, we were lucky enough to be able to get underway at City’s Academy Stadium to see how Villa would shape up in this reverse fixture.
Throughout the game, City held a tight back line and caused a lot of offside flags (seven) to be raised for Villa, but they were not to be perturbed as they managed an impressive total of 11 shots, only two of which, however, were on target. Demonstrating that Villa are creating and taking chances, they have the passion and will to score, but it’s the skill in the precision and accuracy of the shot that just needs fine-tuning.
The home side took the lead in the 28th minute after a clinical shot by Venezuelan international Deyna Castellanos, that cut straight through our defence. Despite City looking ‘flat’ according to their own manager Gareth Taylor, there was now more pressure in the game which made Villa quick to retaliate. Kirsty Hanson, currently on loan from Manchester United, scored after a City defensive mix-up right in front of keeper Ellie Roebuck, three minutes later.
In the second half, Villa came out fighting with the fire they had stoked in the last part of the first half, with Hanson nearly adding a second to the score sheet as she hit the post in the 51st minute. Kenza Dali also created chances and had a firm shot saved too (a fantastic performance which earned her Player of the Match). The possibility of going behind in the game seemed to give City the wake-up call they needed, and possession passed back into the home side’s hands. The rhythm and connections they seemed to be struggling to find against a strong Villa side, were suddenly put back into place as Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw had a chance denied late in the game by Villa goalkeeper, Anna Leat.
Additionally, it was brilliant to see so many names listed as substitutes for Villa, with Ruesha Littlejohn getting her first couple of minutes back after her recent injury. Proving again how Ward is continuing to build the depth of the squad, giving her options in case of injuries (for example allowing Dan Turner to be subbed off after being hit full force with a Shaw shot on goal) and to also be able to make impact substitutes like experienced international players such as Alisha Lehmann and Rachel Corsie.
However, due to new signings that are strengthening our midfield and attacking areas, it has shown up some weaknesses in our defensive line, especially in the middle. Could the player Ward mentioned talking to on Christmas Eve about joining in this transfer window be the perfect central defender we need? Steph Houghton or Demi Stokes for example? Maybe even Chelsea’s Maren Mjelde, all three top-quality players who could be looking for more minutes leading up to the World Cup in the summer.
Reflecting on her team’s performance and looking ahead to future fixtures, Ward added, “City are a very, very good side. But there were definitely a few moments where if we sharpened up in the final third, we could have taken one or two of those chances. But it was a collective team performance. We will be going home happy tonight but there’s still things to improve and kick on.”
Finally, we come to the issue plaguing not only the Women’s Super League, but various lower leagues around the United Kingdom – frozen pitches. Almost 50 games on 21 January were postponed due to the awful conditions and it makes us wonder why, when we are a country that experiences cold weather quite regularly, are we not making changes and investing in the game outside of the Premier League? Or, if these arrangements can’t be made, when the weather forecast shows temperatures dropping below freezing, surely the women’s matches can be played in the men’s larger stadiums during these times? The Chelsea Women vs Liverpool Women for example, was due to be broadcast on BBC One and it could be argued that that was the main reason the match was allowed to go ahead, even with the pitch being frozen and dangerous for players. The welfare and safety of the players needs to always come first and in the words of Emma Hayes, “we need to do better.”
It is said that ‘teamwork makes the dream work’ and at Villa, we’re all currently on Cloud Nine with a team that’s fighting for a strong finish within the top six. With one week left of the transfer window, who else could be joining us on this journey to the top?
Villa Women’s next game is the Quarter-Final of the Continental Cup against Arsenal down at Meadow Park on Thursday 26th January followed by the fourth round of the Women’s Vitality Cup on Sunday 29th January hosting Fylde at home.
We would also like to wish Isobel Goodwin the best of luck as she leaves Villa for an exciting new challenge at Championship club, Coventry United.
In other Aston Villa Women news, read more about Goodwin’s move to Coventry United.