Women’s Super League: talking points from the weekend’s action | Women’s Super League
1
Skinner’s anger at referees boils over
Rehanne Skinner’s frustration at the state of officiating spilled over after West Ham’s 2-0 loss to Chelsea and she or he referred to as for all WSL referees and their assistants to be skilled. Skinner’s workforce have been denied an equaliser towards the champions after Honoka Hayashi was incorrectly flagged offside, however it’s what she sees as repeated mistaken calls that pushed her to demand change. “Last week there were two goals that were scored against us, neither of which should have stood, which is another point for us,” she mentioned. “Tottenham game, we get an apology after the game for a goal that should never have stood for offside. I’m getting a bit sick of it to be honest … We just cannot keep having those types of mistakes because it completely ruins the game.” VAR is one resolution however Skinner additionally added, extra considerably maybe, that WSL officers should be full time. Currently solely 50% of WSL referees are engaged on a full-time foundation. “A lot of people are talking about VAR and things like that and if that’s what we need to do to get results right then that’s what we need to do,” she mentioned. “Ultimately the referees still aren’t professional in this game so they’re not actually in a situation where they are solely focusing on these games and I think that has just got to change.” Suzanne Wrack
“I’m getting a bit sick of it”
Rehanne Skinner criticises the stage of officiating in the ladies’s recreation, after Riko Ueki’s aim was controversially dominated out for offside. pic.twitter.com/vgUqXelFW3
— Sky Sports WSL (@SkySportsWSL) March 24, 2024
2
Arsenal discover options after Villa scare
There was additional controversy at Villa Park the place Stina Blackstenius’s aim was allowed to face after not solely a transparent offside however a handball too, even when by that time Arsenal had already achieved sufficient to safe the three points. One of the themes of Arsenal’s season has been their incapacity to interrupt down a low block. And so it continued in the first half towards Villa, fairly content material to take a seat deep and wait for his or her alternative to choose the guests off in transition. Carla Ward’s facet have been well-drilled, permitting little area, and scientific when an opportunity fell their manner. But the place they’d failed on a number of events this season, Jonas Eidevall and his workforce have been in a position to resolve the puzzle in the second half. There was an elevated depth about Arsenal’s play and an actual power in the press as they dragged Villa from facet to facet with steady waves of assault, ultimately pulling aside a creaking line of defense to win 3-1. It was a results of large significance, placing them eight points away from fourth-placed Liverpool; respiratory room earned in the race for the ultimate Champions League spot. Sophie Downey
3
Park shines on Etihad stage
As Jess Park wheeled away to absorb the adoration of the 40,000 spectators, a younger woman’s dream turned a actuality. A lifelong City fan who had moved up from the membership’s academy, the 22-year-old had simply scored her first league aim for the membership on the largest stage, the Etihad turf. Eight minutes later, she accomplished her double earlier than offering an help for Khadija Shaw, whose 68th aim for the membership made her City’s document scorer. Park has been a revelation since the flip of the 12 months, making a place in City’s attacking midfield her personal having patiently waited for her alternative. She was the catalyst as soon as extra of their comfy 3-1 win over Manchester United,linking the play and creating probabilities along with her customary power and dynamism. It was an attention grabbing efficiency in entrance of the onlooking Sarina Wiegman, one that can have achieved her no hurt as she seems to make her mark on the senior England workforce. SD
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4
Robinson the key for Brighton
Katie Robinson’s glowing efficiency helped Brighton safe a 3-2 victory over Leicester in an exhilarating recreation at the King Power Stadium. The England winger was a handful all recreation, taking over Leicester’s defenders and beating them again and again along with her blistering tempo. Robinson’s confidence in one-on-one conditions paid off in the second half, when she latched on to a by ball to spherical the Leicester goalkeeper, Lize Kop, to place Brighton 2-1 up. Brimming with pleasure, she scored a second aim shortly after, just for it to be dominated out for offside. Despite a late Leicester equaliser, Brighton remained undeterred, replying a minute later to win the recreation. Robinson was concerned as soon as once more, clipping a ball in to Madison Haley, who cushioned a cut-back for Elisabeth Terland to dispatch first time. That great workforce aim earned Brighton back-to-back away wins for the first time since March 2022. Xaymaca Awoyungbo
5
Spurs go away taking pictures boots at residence
When Beth England put Tottenham 1-0 up in the opening two minutes of Sunday’s match towards Bristol City, many followers would have thought it was an indication of issues to come back – and it ought to have been. Spurs fully dominated however struggled to hit the goal on a number of events, with Celin Bizet, Jessica Naz and Matilda Vinberg all coming shut. They didn’t face an excessive amount of of a menace from City, particularly after Shania Hayles was compelled off with a shoulder harm, however the manner Spurs managed to see out the recreation was one other instance of how far they’ve come beneath the administration of Robert Vilahamn. “I think this was actually a really good game because we had the ball, we created chances, I think we had 19 shots,” the Swede defined. “It’s just that extra goal. We need to make sure we can score even more goals.” Emillia Hawkins
6
Liverpool setback in pursuit of Europe
Liverpool’s pursuit of Champions League qualification hit a stumbling block in a colorless Merseyside derby draw. Matt Beard’s facet went into the match on the again of three successive WSL wins, however didn’t get the higher of out-of-form Everton as soon as once more. In truth, the hosts, who’ve scored the fewest objectives in the league this season (14), seemed more than likely to interrupt the impasse in direction of the finish of the recreation. Last week, Beard set his sights on a top-three end however with simply 5 video games remaining and an eight-point hole to shut on Arsenal, that’s now trying impossible. “I think it’s a missed opportunity today, personally, especially with the injuries that they’ve got,” mentioned Beard. “But when we don’t take the opportunities and you allow them to grow into the game, we were our own worst enemy today.” EH
