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      Man Utd 5 Aston Villa 0: Skinner praises ‘hunger’ as Red Devils turn up heat on rivals in race for Champions League spot

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      MARC SKINNER hailed his players’ hunger after Manchester United demolished Aston Villa in a 5-0 drubbing.An Ella Toone brace was among the goals that helped the club pile pressure on their Champions League chasing rivals.
      Ella Toone and her team-mates moved to fourth in the WSL ahead of ChristmasCredit: Rex
      Man United will travel to West Ham for their first league game in JanuaryCredit: Rex
      The result saw them momentarily leap to third before Tottenham snatched a 1-0 home win against Everton.
      And United opened up a three-point gap on Brighton – and five points on Man City – with both teams having a game in hand.
      Skinner said: “I’ve just said to the players, Merry expletive Christmas! The players are hungry to counter, hungry to set traps.
      “We create momentum throughout the season – we have players of real quality here, long may we continue to invest in that.
      “I can’t ask more of the players. I said to (the players) at the end we’ve given absolutely everything, that’s all I ask.”
      Toone’s goals in each half saw her take her WSL tally to three in nine appearances this term.
      Skinner added: “Ella has that quality and it’s my job to keep pushing her and seeing what ceilings she can break.
      “She has great tenacity, great qualities with the ball. She’s going to be wonderful for Manchester United and for England.”
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      The clash at Leigh Park Village was one of only three games to go ahead on Sunday with coronavirus issues seeing three fixtures axed. 
      And the home side were without full-backs Ona Battle and Hannah Blundell with both testing positive for Covid.
      Villa had a couple of decent forays forward in the opening minutes with Maz Pacheco almost reaching Emily Gielnik in their rivals’ box.
      But Man Utd began to dominate possession and went ahead around the eighth minute with a Vilde Boe Risa teeing up Toone for her swept-in goal.
      And they went on to double their lead around the quarter hour mark with skipper Katie Zelem netting from the spot, after Hampton was adjudged to have fouled Hayley Ladd in the box.
      Villa thought they had a penalty themselves moments later with Remi Allen appealing for handball against Zelem after Chaney Boye-Hlorkah’s ball into the penalty area.
      But their calls were dismissed by referee Rebecca Welch.
      The visitors looked to cause problems with a corner around the half-hour mark with Maz Pacheco’s dangerous ball into the box.
      Aston Villa’s last win in the WSL was against Birmingham in NovemberCredit: Zuma Press
      Carla Ward’s team will take on Everton in their first game back after the Christmas breakCredit: Reuters
      But they were unable to take advantage with keeper Mary Earps deemed to have been fouled.
      The Red Devils – who had the bulk of possession – went close to getting a third after the half-hour mark with Ladd’s shot deflected wide.
      And Alessia Russio saw her effort superbly cleared off the line with Carla Ward’s side battling to keep the score line 2-0.
      However, the second spell saw United go three up in the 50th minute with Lucy Staniforth’s curled effort.
      And Villa’s problems were compounded with Hampton coming off with just under half an hour remaining following the effects of a first-half injury.
      United heaped more pressure on their rivals going 4-0 up as Kirsty Hanson danced past her markers to set up Martha Thomas in the 73rd minute.
      And Toone wrapped up the win by knocking in a rebound following Elisha N’Dow’s clearance of Alessia Russo’s cross.
      It leaves the Villans, who face Everton in the New Year, without a point from their last three games.
      Villa boss Ward said: “After Christmas, we need to reassess the system we play and how we’re going to play, because quite honestly, recently, we’ve come unstuck a little bit.
      “We have to go back to basics, we have to get that right.”
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      Red Devils boss Skinner hopes to thwart former protege Hampton in Manchester United’s duel with Aston Villa

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      MARC SKINNER admits there will be ‘no love on the field’ for Hannah Hampton when his side take on Aston Villa.The Manchester United boss gave keeper Hampton, 21, her senior debut during his three-year spell as Birmingham manager in 2017.
      Hannah Hampton will be looking to defeat her former boss in Villa’s clash with Man UtdCredit: Getty
      And the Birmingham-born stopper, 21, has gone from strength to strength, getting her first senior call-up to the England squad in February.
      Skinner, 38, said: “One of the things I always wanted Hannah to do is make big saves.
      “She’s doing that and she’s growing in confidence.
      “She’s a very good young goalkeeper but there will be no love on the field regardless of me giving Hannah her debut or not.”
      Villa have suffered a fitness blow to midfield trio Ramona Petzelberger, Remi Allen and Sarah Mayling.
      And boss Carla Ward, 37, reckons this is the worst time for her side to be facing United.
      She said: “The two clubs and squads are miles apart. It’s easy to say, ‘Go and get three points’ but we’re talking about a top-four side.”
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      Meanwhile, Jean-Luc Vasseur is confident Everton can close the gap on their top-three rivals in the battle for a Champions League spot.
      The Toffees travel to Tottenham and boss Vasseur, 52, said: “Anything is possible this year.
      “If we can maintain the gap on the teams above us, when we improve and play with more confidence, we will have the option to close the gap.”
      And Sophie Barker reckons Leicester’s clash with fellow strugglers Birmingham will not be the most pivotal game of their season.
      Both clubs are winless but defender Barker, 30, said: “We don’t want to rule our season out by this one game.
      “We don’t want to make it a big deal where it’s all eyes on this and we don’t get the result we want.”
      Sophie Barker and Leicester will be looking to pick up their first win in the league when they play BirminghamCredit: Getty More

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      Chelsea’s clash with West Ham called off as Covid cases kibosh second Women’s Super League fixture

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      COVID continues to wreak havoc across football with Chelsea’s WSL duel with West Ham becoming the latest top-flight clash to be postponed.And the call-off of the match comes hours after Manchester City revealed their game against Reading will be rescheduled.
      Chelsea’s game against West Ham is being rescheduled due to CovidCredit: Reuters
      The announcement comes with the Citizens and the WSL champs reporting a number of positive Covid-19 test results in their sides before games that were due to happen on Sunday.
      A statement shared on the Blues said: “Chelsea FC can confirm that Sunday’s fixture against West Ham United Women will be rescheduled.
      “The decision was agreed between both teams and the FA after a number of positive tests for Covid-19 were returned within the women’s team set-up after the last round of testing on return to the UK.
      “Those affected immediately began a period of self-isolation in accordance with Public Health England and Government guidelines.
      “The health and safety of our players, support staff and fans remain paramount.
      “The Women’s squad will now begin their winter break, returning to training in the New Year.”
      It has been reported that 28 fixtures across the WSL, the Women’s Championship and the Premier League and EFL have been scrapped due to outbreaks.
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      Crystal Palace Women announced their second-tier duel with Lewes has been postponed ‘due to illness and Covid’ protocols.
      And Bristol City’s away clash with London City Lionesses has also been shelved.
      Emma Hayes warned the ‘stress and anxiety’ coronavirus is causing within her Chelsea squad with the team suffering a Champions League group stage exit following a 4-0 away loss to Wolfsburg.
      The club were without first-choice keeper Ann-Katrin Berger and midfielder Drew Spence with both testing positive for Covid before their match in Germany.
      Emma Hayes’ team will play next WSL on January 7 when they face TottenhamCredit: Reuters
      On Thursday night the Blues chief, 44, said:  I just feel like this is deja vu and we’re here again 12 months on after a really, really bad Covid outbreak at exactly the same time last year.
      “We had 20 cases last year that saw my entire team struck off and unable to go home to see their families.
      “They don’t earn hundreds of thousands of pounds every week. A few days ago, we had two players struck down with Covid.
      “Our heads are all over the place. We are human beings.”
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      Chelsea boss Hayes says Covid ‘stress’ affected players after Blues suffer Champions League knockout

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      EMMA HAYES was ‘gutted’ to see Chelsea suffer a shock Champions League group stage exit with Wolfsburg thumping her aces 4-0. And the Blues boss reckons the Covid surge – wreaking havoc across the sport in recent weeks – may have affected the mindset of her players.
      Chelsea fell to their second defeat in a week following their 4-0 loss to WolfsburgCredit: Reuters
      Tabea Wassmuth scored two of the goals that led to Chelsea’s exit at the contest’s group stageCredit: Rex
      A clinical Tabea Wassmuth brace was among the efforts that helped the German giants stun the WSL champs, avenging their March quarter-final loss to last term’s finalists.  
      The result comes in a week that has seen two Chelsea stars – Ann-Katrin Berger and Drew Spence – test positive for coronavirus.
      After the game, Hayes said: “I’m gutted for the players because we all know that was nowhere near a performance that represents my team.
      “I’ve got players being sick, they’ve got diarrhoea, they’re exhausted, and maybe some of that mental anxiety plays a part in it.
      “But I just feel like this was deja vu and we’re here again 12 months on after a really, really bad Covid outbreak at exactly the same time last year.
      “I think that played a major part in our performance tonight.”
      Chelsea’s loss to Wolfsburg comes days after a Conti cup game between Manchester City and Leicester called off due to a number of Covid-19 cases in City’s squad.
      On how the virus has affected her side, Hayes added: “We had 20 cases last year that saw my entire team struck off and unable to go home to see their families.
      “They don’t earn hundreds of thousands of pounds every week. A few days ago, we had two players struck down with Covid.
      “Our heads are all over the place. We are human beings.
      “The stress, the anxiety, the worry of having to perform in a game when you’re thinking, ‘I just want to go home. I haven’t seen my family, I’ve been to an Olympics. Oh, no, another Christmas alone.
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      “I’m not making excuses for the players, but I can tell you in the last three days their heads have been all over the place.”
      The Blues defeat was compounded by the WSL aces’ losing skipper Magda Eriksson to injury early on in the second half
      At our usual best we wouldn’t be 4-0 worse off against a teamEmma Hayes
      And the result means the Blues have now gone three matches without scoring.
      Hayes added: “We’ve had lots of fantastic moments. In this club and this is not one of them.
      “When you’re faced with having to get the right result everything has to be so right and unfortunately it was not.
      Svenja Huth netted a brace for the Women’s Bundesliga leaders to help them reach the Champions League quartersCredit: AP
      “At our usual best we wouldn’t be 4-0 worse off against a team.
      “My team has been amazing for so long. Now’s not to leave each other we have to stick together in a really, really tough moment.”
      Chelsea came into the game needing to draw or win to book their place in the competition’s quarters.
      But Wolfsburg harried their visitors from the get-go with Svenja Huth latching onto a rebounded ball from a Shanice van de Sanden shot to put the hosts 1-0 up in the 16th minute.
      Fran Kirby prompted a comfortable save from Almuth Schult moments later before the German side doubled their lead.
      They did so with skipper Huth bagging her brace with a 23rd-minute tap-in past Zecira Musovic.
      Sam Kerr hit the woodwork near the half-hour mark shortly before Pernille Harder forced a save at the near post.
      Hayes looked to boost her attack by bringing on Ji So-yun close to half-time in place of Sophie Ingle.
      And the South Korea playmaker tested Schult from distance shortly before the whistle.
      The second spell saw Chelsea attempt to up the tempo of their play with a Kirby shot prompting a fine save from the keeper.
      Emma Hayes hopes to see her side bounce back from their loss and Champions League exitCredit: Reuters
      And they were forced to bring on Aniek Nouwen in place of Eriksson with the captain still the effects of her awkward landing earlier.
      The Blues’ efforts to fight their way back took a huge dent with Wassmuth slotting the ball past Musovic after Huth’s flicked on header around the 60th minute.
      And the Bundesliga goal ace sealed the 4-0 victory smashing in her second with around a quarter of an hour of normal time left.
      The German title-chasers saw out the win to book their place in the contest’s last eight with Chelsea having lost two of their last three games across all competitions. 
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      Hoffenheim 4 Arsenal 1: Gunners suffer Champions League group stage scare before reaching contest quarters

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      HOFFENHEIM scored three goals in four minutes to embarrass Arsenal in the Champions League – but the Gunners still qualified from their group. Chantal Hagel scored twice as the German side capitalised on some rare sloppy passing to punish the WSL leaders.
      Hoffenheim netted three goals in quick succession in a 4-1 drubbing of Arsenal at the Dietmar Hopp StadiumCredit: Zuma Press
      Chantal Hagel scored twice but Arsenal still progressed to the quarter-finalsCredit: Zuma Press
      Hoffenheim needed to beat the visitors by at least five clear goals to leapfrog to second and knock the Gunners out.
      But Jonas Eidevall’s aces overcame the wobble to book their place in the competition’s final eight with league rivals Chelsea facing Wolfsburg on Thursday.
      Arsenal had a couple of decent chances to go 1-0 up early.
      Vivianne Miedema sending a shot narrowly wide of the post 15 minutes in following a Beth Mead cross.
      The hosts then took the lead through 19-year-old Jule Brand, who coolly slotted home after a well-timed pass from Gia Corley.
      Arsenal levelled minutes before halftime with Mana Iwabuchi forcing an own goal from Laura Weinrother following Martina Tufekovic’s save of a thumping Mead shot.
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      The second half saw Hoffenheim turn up the heat to stun the visitors with three rapid goals.
      Chantall Hagel put the Germans ahead in the 55th minute as the Gunners conceded possession.
      Sarai Linder whipped in a low cross for her team-mate to poke the ball home.
      Hagel notched her second moments later, intercepting a Jen Beattie pass to put the hosts 3-1 up.
      And Gia Corley – who had been one of Hoffenheim’s biggest threats in attack – headed in their fourth following a 59th-minute cross from a Brand.
      The quickfire trio left Hoffenheim needing two goals with 30 minutes to play, but Arsenal regained their composure to shut up shop.
      The Gunners had a chance to pull one back with Miedema heading the ball over the bar in the 72nd minute.
      And the Netherlands star and Jordan Nobbs forced a classy double save from Tufekovic in the game’s final moments before Hoffenheim bowed out of the competition.
      Gia Corley and Jule Brand were both on target for HoffenheimCredit: Zuma Press
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      Covid kiboshes Man City Women’s league cup duel with Leicester days before Citizens’ WSL clash with Reading

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      MANCHESTER CITY’S Conti Cup clash with Leicester has been shelved due to fresh cases of coronavirus in their squad.A number of new positive Covid-19 test results have emerged following two previously confirmed last week, according to a statement on the Citizens’ website.
      Manchester City’s league cup match against Leicester has been postponed due to positive Covid-19 cases in City’s squadCredit: Zuma Press
      The news comes a day after Brentford’s Tuesday night Prem clash with Manchester United was cancelled due to four Red Devils players testing positive for the virus.
      A new date for the duel between the women’s top-flight rivals, which was due to kick-off at 7:00 pm this evening, is yet to be announced.
      And the club are yet to confirm if their top-flight home clash with Reading, scheduled for this Sunday will go ahead.
      A statement on the Academy Stadium giants’ web page said: “Manchester City can confirm that tonight’s Continental Tyres Cup tie away at Leicester City has been postponed.
      “The decision has been taken by the Football Association following a number of further positive COVID-19 cases in the women’s squad in addition to the two previously confirmed.
      “A new date for the game will be announced in due course, with all tickets remaining valid for the rescheduled fixture.”
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      Janine Beckie and Keira Walsh both missed City’s 3-2 away defeat of Birmingham with both international aces testing positive for Covid-19 over the weekend.
      And Lucy Bronze was also unavailable for the club’s trip to St Andrew’s with the England ace currently isolating as part of Covid test and trace guidelines.
      Gareth Taylor says Man City staff will be keeping in contact with Beckie and Walsh to check on their wellbeing.
      Gareth Taylor says Man City will be monitoring the progress of Janine Beckie and Keira Walsh after both tested positive for CovidCredit: Getty
      On Tuesday the Man City boss said: “In regard to the girls who tested positive over the weekend (Walsh and Beckie), we’re keeping in touch with them on a regular basis to make sure they’re okay and wish them both a speedy recovery.
      “As a team, especially following our positive cases, we’re following all the relevant league COVID-19 protocols to keep us all as safe as possible.
      “We’re testing daily to ensure we’re as protected as possible heading into the end of the calendar year.”
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      Barclays extend WSL sponsorship in £30million record deal to include Women’s Championship division

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      BARCLAYS have renewed their backing of the WSL in a record £30million partnership thought to be the biggest investment in women’s sport in the country.The three-year deal will also see the financial firm become sponsors of the FA Women’s Championship from the start of next term – the 2022-23 season.
      Barclays new deal with the WSL will see FA Women’s Championship have sponsors for the first time in its historyCredit: PA
      It is reported the deal, which will run until the end of the 2024-25 term, will see Barclays double the amount it invested as part of an existing agreement which began in 2019-20.
      And that figure was in excess of £10 million for the league.
      Kelly Simmons, the FA women’s professional game director said: “Barclays have played a crucial role in the growth of women’s and girls’ football, so it is excellent news that they are committing to a new record investment in the women’s and girls’ pyramid until 2025.
      “The FA Women’s Championship plays a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the pyramid structure and the credible history and association to football that Barclays has will make the league even stronger.”
      The news comes in a season that has seen analysts claim the WSL is on course to become one of the four most-watched domestic sports leagues on television.
      And it comes two months after the Manchester derby set a new TV audience record with 1.1million viewers tuning in.
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      The new agreement is expected to see more than £15million invested in girls’ and women’s games across the country.
      It will also include a sponsorship extension of a Girls’ Football School Partnership run by the FA which currently involves around 12,000 schools around the nation.
      Football bosses have set a target of reaching 20,000 schools coaching girls to play the sport by 2024.
      The WSL is predicted to become one of the most-watched domestic sports leagues on televisionCredit: Rex
      Simmons added: “As part of The FA’s 2020-2024 Women’s and Girls’ strategy, Inspiring Positive Change, we set ourselves the ambition of providing equal access for all girls at 90% of primary and secondary schools in the UK.
      “Barclays continued support and investment has allowed us to make great strides in achieving this ambition.
      “From grassroots to the top tiers of women’s football, we are also extremely excited to welcome Barclays as the new title sponsor of the FA Women’s Championship.
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      MPs demand close of legal loophole concerning women’s game pitch invasions after disruption of Chelsea match

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      SEVERAL politicians from the country’s major parties are pushing for a law change on pitch invaders in the women’s game.MPs from the Women’s Football All-Party Group have written to sports minister Nigel Huddleston calling for all professional fixtures to be listed as ‘designated matches’.
      MPs are calling for a law change to give police powers to arrest pitch invaders at women’s professional football gamesCredit: Getty
      The letter, signed and shared on Twitter by ex-sports minister Tracey Crouch, has been backed eight MPs including Labour’s shadow cultural industries minister Alison McGovern
      Their demands were prompted by The Athletic’s report which revealed that the Football Offences Order, which gives the police authority to make arrests for pitch invasions, does not apply to Women’s Super League matches.
      Their letter was sent following Chelsea’s Champion’s League duel with Juventus was disrupted by a man running onto the turf at Kingsmeadow and attempting to take selfies with Blues players.
      Chelsea forward Sam Kerr received a yellow card for shoulder barging the spectator, who was later revealed to have been not been arrested.
      Reports claim the Metropolitan Police did not arrest the pitch invader due to women’s games not being defined as designated matches in legislation.
      And the MPs from the All-Party Football Group believed this to be the case with women’s Champions League duels.
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      But on Monday the Home Office informed Telegraph Sport that the Blues’ encounter with their Italian opponents should have been listed as a designated match due to the fixture involving opponents whose home ground “is situated outside England and Wales.”
      And due to a legislative amendment in 2011, Women’s Champions League and international clashes fall in the designated group.
      However, women’s domestic duels in the WSL and lower tiers are currently not included in these criteria.
      And MPs are demanding professional female players receive the same level as protection as footballers in the men’s game.
      Tracey Crouch wants to see professional female footballers given the same level of protection as pros in the men’s gameCredit: Getty
      In the letter, Women’s Football Parliamentary Group members said: “We were shocked to learn that women’s football is not included within the definition of the Football (Offences) (Designation of Football Matches) Order 2004.
      “Given the growth of the professional women’s game, this is enormously worrying.
      “We strongly urge you to consider an immediate change to the legislation to ensure that professional women’s football is listed as a designated match thus bringing parity of protection to female footballers afforded to their male counterparts.”
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