Women’s football

MARC SKINNER paid a warm-hearted tribute to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hours after Manchester United fired the Norwegian coach.The 13-time Premier League champs dropped the axe on the club legend’s three-year reign following their disappointing 4-1 defeat at Watford.
Marc Skinner says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was ‘nothing but supportive’ of the Red Devils women’s sideCredit: Getty – Pool
Solskjaer’s departure comes in a week of high-profile sackings in the men’s and women’s top flights with Birmingham ending Scott Booth’s five-month tenure as boss of their WSL side.
United Women’s gaffer Skinner, 38, said: “Ole will remain the legend of this club.
“He was nothing but supportive of the women’s team and he was a very good person in doing that
“This happens in football, doesn’t it? He will be missed.
“I’m pretty sure that wherever he goes into his next job he’ll be successful.”
In a frank, emotional interview shared by Man United’s official Twitter account, Solskjaer, 48, reflected on recent United results and admitted it was time to “step aside”.

The Prem giants have installed Carrick as their temporary boss and hope to appoint a permanent replacement in the summer
Solskjaer said: “I wanted us to take the next step to challenge for the league, to win trophies and I only think it’s right that it comes from the horse’s mouth.
“This club means everything to me and together we’re a good match, but unfortunately I couldn’t get the results we needed and it’s time for me to step aside.”
Skinner added: “Ole continues to be a great person that everybody at Manchester United will remember as a great individual.
“It’s a sad day but it’s part of football and Olli more than anyone will know that.”
Skinner says Solskjaer will always be remembered as a ‘great individual’ at UnitedCredit: Getty
Skinner, who is almost four months into his reign of the Red Devils Women’s side, was speaking after his side’s 4-1 home loss to Arsenal.
And the Red Devils gaffer, who spent three years in charge of Birmingham, believes former WSL rival Booth will bounce back from his Brum departure.
The Midlands club, who were thrashed 5-0 by Chelsea, have appointed ex-West Brom Women’s boss Darren Carter as interim head coach.
And former Blues Women boss Marcus Bignot is set to support Carter with his managerial duties.
Before United’s clash with Arsenal, Skinner said: “I’m pretty sure Scott will use this to fuel his career as well as where he wants to go from there. 
“It’s certainly tough (in the WSL) and it’s only going to get tougher.”
Skinner’s Leigh Park Village stars will hope for maximum points from their next league fixture having one win and three draws from their last five fixtures.
“I was never going to come in and it’d be a magic wand waved. We will keep investing so we can keep challenging.Marc Skinner
And the home defeat to Arsenal saw United drop to sixth in the table after being leapfrogged by West Ham who beat Tottenham 1-0.
The club are due to visit Brighton for their next league game after the international break.
Man United will be hoping for three points when they face Birmingham after the international breakCredit: Alamy
And Skinner hopes to have side strengthened with new additions in the January and summer transfer windows next year.
The Red Devils gaffer added: “We have to add depth so on game three [of the week], we still have energy. We will keep investing so we can keep challenging.”
“I was never going to come in and it’d be a magic wand waved. We lost a lot of forwards in the summer.”
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MARC SKINNER will press for transfer reinforcements for Manchester United who suffered their third defeat in four WSL duels with Arsenal.A history-making Vivienne Miedema strike was among the goals that saw the Gunners beat United 2-0 in view of England boss Sarina Wiegman.
Vivianne Miedema became the first player in WSL history to score against every single team she has come against in the leagueCredit: Reuters
Marc Skinner is keen to strengthen his side in the next two transfer windowsCredit: Getty
Miedema’s shot was among the efforts that saw the league leaders seal a win that momentarily extended their points tally over Chelsea.
The strike saw the Dutch star become the first player in Women’s Super League history to net against every single club she has faced in the division.
The result put a dent in the Red Devils chase for a Champions League spot
And the club are now ten points behind the Gunners with Skinner hinting at January and summer transfer window reinforcements.
The United chief, whose team play Leicester next, said: “We’re going to try in January for the right players.
“I expect over the next two windows, you’ll see more players come in that will help this group with the talent they have.”
United’s loss to Arsenal was the second time they were beaten by a top-two side this term with the Blues trouncing them 6-1 in September.
When asked if there was a gulf in class in between United and the title-chasers, Skinner replied: “No, there was a gap in moments.

“I’ve been in the league a long time. I remember when Chelsea didn’t have Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby and Pernille Harder up front.
“I remember when Arsenal didn’t have Miedema and Nikita Parris and Tobin Heath.
“We have this wonderful badge, this wonderful team and wonderful club and, of course, expectations are super high, but I won’t diminish those expectations, but we have to be realistic.
“Our players will need those reinforcements if we’ve got tough games like this.”
Skinner also sympathised with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the Norwegian was sacked as the club’s Prem boss earlier in the day.
The Leigh Park Village boss added: “Ole will remain the legend of this club. And he was nothing but supportive of the women’s team.
“This happens in football and he will be missed.”
United had a decent start early on and some positive forays forward with Alessia Russo’s shot from distance prompting a block around the fifth minute.
But the visitors swiftly grew into the game moments with Beth Mead cracking the woodwork from inside the box after wrongfooting her marker.
England boss Sarina Wiegman watched as Arsenal defeated Man United 2-0Credit: Reuters
Ella Toone, who signed a new United deal, worked her way into good space into the right in the box but was unable to threaten with her 18th-minute cross.
And the league leaders forced a classy save from Mary Earps with the Red Devils stopper tipping Kim Little’s strike over the bar near the half-hour mark.
The England stopper also easily dealt with a Noelle Maritz shot following some fine build-up play involving Miedema and Steph Catley moments later.
The second half saw Jordan Nobbs come on for Little with the Gunners captain thought to have suffered a groin injury.
And the Gunners upped the tempo with Miedema evading Katie Zelem to wallop in the visitors’ first past Earps in the 47th minute.
A few late challenges began to fly in momentarily with Katie McCabe cautioned for a heavy late challenge on Kirsty Hanson.
And McCabe was sent tumbling to the turf herself in the 54th minutes with Aoife Mannion conceding a pen which the Republic of Ireland star dispatched with ease.
The final half-hour saw United battling to get a goal back. They came close to netting with Zelem forcing a close-range stop from Manuela Zinsberger in the 62nd minute.
Katie Zelem forced a goos save from Manuela ZinsbergerCredit: Zuma Press
And the Gunners, who had another penalty shout, before seeing out a 2-0 result to stay top before the international break.
Team boss Jonas Eidevall said: “From a personal point of view, I’m still learning the league, the club the players. Of course, I’m very pleased with the results [this season]
“We don’t view this as a finished project. We need to develop and perform every matchday.”
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HAYLEY RASO helped Manchester City end their losing streak at home with the team sealing their first Academy Stadium win in the WSL this term.The super sub’s two-minute brace was among the efforts that saw City crush Aston Villa in a 5-0 rout.
Two late goals from Hayley Raso were among the efforts that helped Manchester City defeat Aston VillaCredit: Getty
The 5-0 win saw City move to sixth in the table and level on points with Villa before their game against BirminghamCredit: Getty
And the hefty win and clean sheet was a welcome result for Gareth Taylor with his team leapfrogging the Villans to sixth before the international break
On the performance of Raso and her team-mates, Taylor said: “With Hayley, we’ve got an exciting player who’s got bags of pace and bags of energy. 
“I just think it was vital to win today and I spoke to the players about making sure we use this when we come back and remembering the positive energy that we showed.”
Before the match, Carla Ward said Villa would aim to frustrate their opponents.
And for the first 45 minutes, that plan appeared to work with City notching three shots on target.
An Ellen White effort prompted a brave stop from Hannah Hampton, with the England keeper coming out swiftly to swipe the ball from her feet in the 16th-minute.

And Keira Walsh’s curled effort flew over the bar several minutes later before Jess Park miscontrolled her volley in front of goal.
The hosts had a glorious chance to take a lead minutes before the half-time with White’s dinked effort prompting stunning flying save from Hampton who turned 21 this week.
The second spell saw City up the ante netting twice in two minutes.
If we’d stayed in our shape we might have done differently, but you have to try and test yourselves against these teamsCarla Ward
First through Caroline Weir slotting home in the penalty box after Lauren Hemp’s 48th-minute cutback.
And then Georgia Stanway’s hooked effort following a corner kick.
The visitors had a gilt-edged chance to reduce the deficit with substitute Emily Gielnik narrowly missing an opportunity to poke home Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah’s cross.
City went on to increase their lead with Raso netting in the 77th minute followed by Hemp’s tap-in moments later.
Lauren Hemp was on target for City along with Caroline Weir and Georgia StanwayCredit: Getty
And Australia ace Raso wrapped up the win with her half-volley putting the hosts five up with Ward rueing formation changes to her side.
The Villa boss said: “We come in at halftime and we’re happy, but we had a disastrous second-half. Five minutes in we catch ourselves 2-0 down and that can’t. happen.
“If we’d stayed in our shape we might have done differently, but you have to try and test yourselves against these teams, and it’s not worked out this time.”
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BIRMINGHAM CITY have dropped the axe on Scott Booth’s reign as manager after just FIVE MONTHS.Blues opted to fire the former Glasgow City boss following his team’s 4-0 Conti Cup group stage loss to West Ham on Wednesday.
Birmingham City have parted company with Scott Booth with the team picking up just a draw from seven gamesCredit: Getty
Booth was appointed Birmingham manager only five months ago following Carla Ward’s departure with Ward taking charge of Aston VillaCredit: Getty
And The Telegraph reports the move has stunned players at the Midlands side with Booth thought to be a highly regarded figure within the squad.
Birmingham, who narrowly survived relegation last term, have notched up one point from their first seven WSL games this season. 
The team’s General Manager, Sarah Westwood said: “Scott joined the club at a difficult time and was tasked with building a squad capable of competing in the BFAWSL.
“We are grateful to Scott for assembling a group of players who we believe are good enough to start picking up points.
“This decision was not an easy one but has been made in the best interests of the Football Club.
“I know how determined Scott was to succeed but, unfortunately, results have fallen short of our expectations.
“With 15 games remaining, we feel now is the right time to make a change to give ourselves the best possible chance of climbing the table.
“The challenge now is to ensure that we identify the right person to lead Birmingham City Women and get the best out of our players.”

Blues sacking of Booth comes just three days before the league strugglers – who are second from bottom – take on title-chasers Chelsea.
The club confirm assistant head coach Paul Elliott will take charge of the team when they face the Champions at Kingsmeadow.
They face a potentially tricky duel with Manchester City after the international break
And Gareth Taylor’s side hopes to bounce back from a disappointing run of four losses in seven top-flight games.
Aberdeen-born Booth, who managed Scottish League One side Stenhousemuir, from February 2014 to February 2015, was appointed on a three-year contract by Birmingham in June.
Before his arrival, Booth led Glasgow City to four Scottish Women’s Premier League titles and one Scottish Women’s Cup between 2015 and 2019.
Blues, who are one of the WSL’s founding clubs, are yet to pick up a win in the top-flight this season.
The Midlands outfit are thought to have the smallest budget to work within the women’s top-flight.
And the Telegraph claims funding concerns flagged in a players’ letter sent to the board last season are yet to be completely dealt with.
Birmingham are due to play Chelsea next in the WSLCredit: Rex
Under Booth, the club had overhauled their squad in the summer transfer window following the departure of 10 senior players.
Their new arrivals include influential Republic of Ireland centre-back Louise Quinn who became club captain this term.
Hannah Hampton and Sarah Mayling were among the aces who left with the duo joining former Brum boss Carla Ward at Aston Villa.
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