‘ELECTRIFYING’ is how Marc Skinner described the sight of Man United players charging towards a packed Emirates away section during their win at Arsenal.
The Red Devils chief, 39, whose team face Aston Villa at Old Trafford, is keen on seeing more allocated away fans sections at WSL duels.
The clash with Carla Ward’s Villa side comes two weeks after United’s 3-2 defeat of the Gunners, and eight days before their trip to the Etihad to take on neighbours Manchester City.
Almost 40,000 tickets have been sold for the Manchester derby game, according to the Citizens.
A considerable chunk are likely to have been snapped up by the Red Devils fans following Skinner’s side across the country.
The United boss, whose players became the first side to beat the Gunners at the Emirates in the WSL, said: “Our fans are super noisy wherever they are.
“But having them all compacted into a certain area where they’re all together celebrating, that’s what football is all about isn’t it?.
“I watched the game (against Arsenal at the Emirates) back and when I saw all the players when we scored that third goal running towards our fans, that was the electrifying moment.
“The goal going in is part of the process, but the celebration together (with the fans) was the biggest moment for us, so I would absolutely recommend it (having away sections).”
Saturday’s match will see United and Villa back in top-flight action for the first time since their respective wins against Arsenal and Reading a fortnight ago.
Most read in Football
It will also see United quartet Alessia Russo, Ella Toone, Mary Earps and Nikita Parris and Villains striker Rachel Daly back at the Theatre of Dreams for the first time since playing in the Euros opener for the Lionesses in July.
The Red Devils’ last WSL fixture at the stadium, where they defeated Everton back in March, saw them attract their biggest top tier crowd to date with 20,241 in attendance.
Skinner says that around 30,000 tickets have been sold for the game against Ward’s side this weekend.
And Parris, who netted against Villa in her side’s Conti Cup group stage clash with their rivals in October, is confident United’s support will serve as their “twelfth man” in the game.
The United forward told MUTV: “The support has been unbelievable.
“They follow us home and away and you can hear them over most home fans. Long may that continue.
“We want to make the fans happy and we want to bring trophies to this club and we need them as a twelfth man.
“I think to pack the stadium at Old Trafford with our fans, no away fans will be heard and the away team will be very uncomfortable.”
Villa, who enjoyed a strong start to this term before losing four of their five matches across all competitions in October, have returned to winning ways.
Their last two wins in the league against Liverpool and Reading have seen the club rise to fifth and just three points behind Manchester City.
Among the players who have shone for Ward’s side, with Daly currently the WSL’s second highest scorer, is midfielder Kirsty Hanson
The Scotland international, who sealed a season-long loan move to Villa in September, has featured in all seven top tier games the club have played so far this term.
And Hanson impressed on her debut when Ward’s side sealed a 4-3 season opening win against Man City at Villa Park in September.
Skinner added: “Kirsty is doing exactly what we know Kirsty can do. In big spaces she is so direct and really good in one-vs-one situations.
Read More on The Sun
“The challenge is, as the game gets tighter, is keeping those qualities that we know she has. Her movement skills are unbelievable.
“I’m glad she’s happy in terms of playing because she’s showing up. She’s a great talent, and so I didn’t expect anything less.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
