WSL round-up as James sensational, Roord honoured and Miedema back in the goals
Another weekend of Women's Super League drama has meant major developments at both ends of the league table.
Chelsea remain top of the Women's Super League table after an emphatic 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, courtesy of another outrageous performance by England star Lauren James. But if the Blues were hoping to find some more breathing space, Khadija Shaw ensured that Manchester City kept pace with the league leaders as Gareth Taylor's side recorded a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, while goals from Vivianne Miedema and Caitlin Foord ensured Arsenal remain level with City on points.
Meanwhile, the bottom of the WSL table relished a battle as struggling West Ham faced off against bottom-of-the-table Bristol City. The encounter was made all the tastier with Lisa Evans swapping of clubs earlier in the week. But despite Evans coming on to make her debut, it was West Ham who savoured a huge victory to keep their survival hopes alive.
Below are the talking points from the weekend's action.
No Kerr. Enter James.
Brighton have been the banana skin for a number of teams this season and with a profligate first-half having gone by for Chelsea, the Seagulls looked capable of proving another sticky opponent for a top side. A dogged and disciplined first-half from the hosts meant Hayes' side stalked into the interval with tough questions to answer, one of them still being: Can we do this without Sam Kerr?
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
The answer is, once again, maybe, but especially with Lauren James in the scintillating form that she's touting. After a remarkable display against Manchester United the weekend prior, the England international followed it up with a second-half brace, the first of which arrived within a minute of the restart. Altogether, James has 12 goals in 11 WSL appearances.
Hayes' hailed James' quality as 'unteachable' afterwards, and it surely seems the 22-year-old is relishing the carte blanche afforded her as she shoulders more responsibility. Fran Kirby helped with the burden, poking home for Chelsea's second. But if James continues in the vein of form she's in, she could prove unplayable in a season which the Blues are bidding to make history.
Lauren James celebrates after opening the scoring against Brighton (Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)Pressure eased off Skinner as Toone makes history
If there's one narrative that hasn't lost steam, it's the pressure cooker in which Marc Skinner has found himself. Following successive defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City in the league and Conti Cup respectively, the upbraiding of Skinner's credentials threatened to reach fever pitch as shouts for his dismissal continued.
Thank goodness for Nikita Parris then. The England international bagged a first-half brace against Aston Villa and despite Rachel Daly converting her penalty in the second-half to half the deficit, United comfortably saw out the game's remainder to stop what risked being a dour run of matches.
LEIGH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Nikita Parris of Manchester United celebrates scoring a goal to make the score 1-0 the Barclays Women's Super League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Leigh Sports Village on January 28, 2024 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images) (Charlotte Tattersall - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)For Parris, it's goal number six in the WSL, putting her joint-fifth in the league alongside City's Jill Roord. After being snubbed an England call-up at the end of last year, overlooking Parris in her current form will prove difficult for Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman.
For Skinner, it means a moment to breathe. Sunday's victory marked their first league win since 10 December. It's a much-needed boost, even if United are 10 points off leaders Chelsea. A European spot remains technically feasible but positive momentum will be crucial.
England international Ella Toone also made history as the midfielder clocked her 150th appearance for United. At just 24 years old, it's a significant achievement, one that Skinner emphasised needed continued support: "We need to continue to support our talented players with players of high experience - Champions League winners and experience, league winners, cup winners, we need to add that to give [Toone & Le Tissier] a platform over many years."
City honour injured Roord with Spurs triumph
The news that Jill Roord was the latest high-profile women's player to suffer an ACL injury felt cruel for myriad reasons, not least, though, because of the impressive form she's been in since swapping to City in the summer. The Dutch midfielder was the only summer signing under Gareth Taylor but what a signing she's been. Across 14 matches across all competitions, Roord has scored eight goals including six in the WSL. She is currently the club's second highest goalscorer after Khadija Shaw.
But it's not only the tangible output that has made Roord so important, but her creativity and positional awareness in midfield. City were tested in her absence. But Roord, who was with the squad in the dugout having travelled down to show her support, was honoured shortly after City took an early lead through a Tottenham own-goal. The whole team ran over to the dugout and picked up a shirt bearing Roord's number 20. Team-mate Lauren Hemp held it up to the stands.
Khadija Shaw's 13th goal of the WSL season sees her top of the league for goals scored (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Shaw added a second goal to confirm victory for the Citizens, whose victory sees them keep pace with leaders Chelsea.
Man Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan move
For Spurs, the performance begot far more positives than their previous encounter with Taylor's side, which ended 7-0 in City's favour. This performance was conspicuously more organised and codified, though the gap to the top sides remains clear.
Foxes finally taste victory
Neither Everton nor Leicester are fighting relegation fires nor bidding to upset the top four, but both were attempting to end respective winless runs as they met on Sunday afternoon.
Since the Foxes triumphed over Everton in October, they've failed to register another league victory, going nine games without a win in the process (Leicester registered four league draws and five losses). Meanwhile, the Toffees have failed to find a home win in the league this season.
Unfortunately for Everton manager Brian Sorensen, the latter is an abysmal record that carries on after yet another outing at Walton Hall Park ended in defeat thanks to Janice Cayman's second-half goal.
Everton have yet to win a league game at home this season (Michael Regan/Getty Images)Willie Kirk's side were superior on Sunday and deservedly earned all three points in the process, though Sorensen will feel his side should have done better with the chances on hand. Katja Snoeijs smacked the top of the crossbar from close range, while Rikke Madsen will wonder how she manage to sky her shot from inside the six-yard box in the second-half.
Bristol City's relegation woes exacerbated
As Amalie Thestrup thumped home City's equaliser in the second-half, things looked bright for Bristol City. A brilliant from Ffion Morgan saw West Ham's defence in tatters and Thestrup was on hand to fire home the Welsh international's cut back.
But some minutes later, City gave themselves another mountain to climb as their defence was turned inside out from Katrina Gorry's pass to Vivianne Asseyi, who executed a lovely finish as she nutmegged City keeper Jessica Shae Yáñez with the outside of her boot.
Former West Ham player Lisa Evans was called on for her Vixens debut, but unlike her new signing video earlier in the week, the Scotland international couldn't pop the Hammers' bubble.
BRISTOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Viviane Asseyi of West Ham United celebrates scoring her team's second goal with teammates during the Barclays Women's Super League match between Bristol City and West Ham United at Ashton Gate Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins - The FA/The FA via Getty Images) (Ben Hoskins - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)It largely told the story of City's season thus far: doing so well to give themselves a chance but undone by late lapses and moments of quality.
The loss to the Hammers means City sit three points off Rehanne Skinner's side and marooned in the league's relegation spot. After a last-gasp lost to Brighton last weekend and a loss to their nearest relegation rivals in West Ham on Sunday, the mountain facing the Vixens as they pursue safety looks daunting.
Welcome back, Miedema
413 days. That's the chasm of time that has passed since Vivianne Miedema last scored a goal, a frankly ludicrous length of time that is both absurd and cruel in its size.
Thankfully, for more reasons than one, that dreadful desert has finally found rain. And rain it did as Miedema took the ball under her spell in space, steadied herself, then thumped a rocket into the roof of Liverpool keeper Rachael Laws' yet. There might have a nick off Liverpool defender Gemma Bonner but would that have really stopped a shot built on 12-plus months pent-up power? Doubtful.
For Arsenal, there are micro and macro wins. The micro win is that Miedema's goal graciously obscured the 59 stiff minutes which ensued before it. On Jonas Eidevall's 100th match in charge, it felt like an inevitable twist of fate that such an uncharacteristic performance would define it, leaving the Gunners at risk of drifting away from the title race. Those fears were, thankfully, dashed as Miedema provided the touch of gloss the match was screaming out for. Caitlin Foord could only continue the theme for the game's second.
The macro win here is that Arsenal, a team that just last season around this time boasted a threadbare bench, are now stacked in the department of attack. That Stina Blackstenius could be reduced to a substitute's role is case and point. If Miedema is back fit and firing, the title race is not only alive for the Gunners, but entirely probable.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
