Women’s football

BRISTOL CITY boss Matt Beard has revealed his plans to help Bristol City prepare for their WSL relegation dogfight.
The Robins boss said that his side need a break after an intense few weeks and that they’ll use the time to get “sharper and fitter.”

Beard says the Robins will use their time off to get sharper to avoid the dropCredit: Reuters

Speaking to the club’s website, he said: “They need a rest after an intense five weeks so they’ll have a couple of days to switch off.
“We’re in three days next week where we’ll work hard and work on our positional play, our patterns and get us sharper and fitter.”
Beard added that he realised that his side need to improve their fitness levels during their 5-0 loss to Chelsea last weekend.
Despite the loss, he said the Robins are fitter than when he first arrived, but will use the next two weeks to improve.

He continued: “That was the biggest thing for me, seeing their (Chelsea) fitness levels in comparison to ours.
“We’re fitter than when we were when I first started but we can utilise these next two weeks to improve as a team.”
The Robins will need all the rest they can get for their battle to stay in the WSL.
They currently sit at the bottom of the table with six points, two behind Beard’s former side West Ham, who have a game in hand.

But Beard is confident that he can guide his team to safety and has “identified” what they can do to survive.
Speaking after their Chelsea loss, he said: “I said to the girls we’ve identified where we can win to get us out of where we are so this won’t define where we finish in the table but we didn’t compete at times.”
Beard has until early March to work with his team, who face Reading next in the WSL .

But he’s optimistic about the club’s survival chancesCredit: PA:Press Association

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MARCUS BIGNOT has revealed that the opportunity to manage Aston Villa came out the blue.
Guiseley’s joint manager became Villa’s interim boss until the end of the season last month.

Bignot says that he was surprised to get the Villa jobCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But he admitted accepting the job was a no-brainerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Bignot, 46, says he was surprised at the job offer, but he had “no second thoughts” about accepting the role.
Speaking to Guiseley’s club website, he said: “The opportunity came out of the blue, I wasn’t looking towards that, I wasn’t geared towards that.
“When I got a call from a sporting director Eni Aluko at Villa, there was no hesitation, there were no second thoughts.”
He was out of work since the National League was suspended last March due to the Covid pandemic, but says that didn’t play a part in his decision to take the job.

The loss of his academy, and the allure of working at Villa’s state of the art training facilities helped him make his decision.
Bignot added: “I would have taken it on even if the National League hadn’t been suspended, because I lost working at my academy in the day.
“I love working and getting out on the grass, so the big thing for me was losing the academy,
“But then the attraction of being able to work in the environment at Bodymoor Heath, which is second to none.”

He also revealed that being able to work with Villa’s wide array of foreign talent and mentoring the club’s head coach Gemma Davies “excited” him.

Bignot has his work out cut out at Villa, who currently sit just four points above the bottom of the WSL.
Villa are hoping to tap into Bignot’s experience of managing club’s such as Birmingham City in their bid to stay in the league.
Upon his arrival, Aluko said: “Marcus is a very welcome addition to our club and has an enormous amount of experience in the game which we want to tap into.”

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INSPIRING Chelsea couple Pernille Harder and Magdalena Eriksson opened their social media DMs on Valentines Day for fans who are struggling to come out.
The Blues duo offered to give advice to their fans and share their own experiences of coming out as gay to their families.

Pernille Harder (left) and Magda Eriksson (right) have been together since 2014Credit: Instagram @magdaeriksson16

The couple both play for WSL champions ChelseaCredit: Instagram @pharder10

On Valentine’s Day, Harder wrote on Twitter: “I’m lucky to have a family who was nothing but happy for me when I came out seven years ago.
“I know a lot of people are struggling to tell their friends and families they are gay, which must be the worst feeling I can imagine.
“To come out should feel natural to anybody and likewise be accepted by everyone. 
“For the next hours, Magda Eriksson and I will open our dm’s for anyone who struggles to come out, wants to know about our experiences or just look for a good advice on Valentine’s Day.”

Denmark’s Harder joined Swedish club Linköpings aged just 20 in 2012 and was joined a year later by Swede Eriksson who signed from Djurgårdens.
The pair began seeing each other in May 2014 and their relationship endured three years apart after Harder joined German champs Wolfsburg.
But the couple were reunited when the Dane joined Eriksson last summer at Chelsea, for a world record transfer fee.
The pair became role models in the LGBTQ+ community when a photo of them kissing at the 2019 France World Cup went viral.

To come out should feel natural to anybody and likewise be accepted by everyone. For the next hours, @MagdaEricsson and I will open our dm’s for anyone who struggles to come out, want to know about our experiences or just look for a good advice on Valentine’s day.
— Pernille Harder (@PernilleMHarder) February 14, 2021

Harder revealed they have been left “overwhelmed by the responses” after their DM’s were flooded with messages from fans overnight.
Eriksson added: “Thanks for sharing your stories with us.
“Hopefully we’ve managed to help some people along the way.
“Sorry we couldn’t get back to everyone tonight but we’ll pick it up again tomorrow. Good night and happy Valentines.”
Many Twitter uses were quick to hail the inspiring move by the West London duo.
One fan wrote: “Thank you opening you for opening up your dm’s for people, seeing that was lovely and such a wonderful gesture.
“Thank you both for being yourselves.”
Harder was forced to hit back at a vile troll who wrote: “Absolutely rubbish am out of here and just lost a fan.”
The strike sensation replied: “See ya. Don’t want fans like you anyway.”

See ya. Don’t want fans like you anyway.
— Pernille Harder (@PernilleMHarder) February 14, 2021

Harder (left) has won the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year twiceCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Chelsea captain Magda Eriksson arrived at the club in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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EMILE HESKEY has taken up a coaching role with Leicester City’s promotion-chasing women’s side.
The former Foxes forward, who began the season as the team’s ambassador, has decided to embark on a more hands-on role.

Emile Heskey is helping to coach Leicester City’s Women’s Championship sideCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Former England striker Heskey wants to share his knowledge of the game with the FoxesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Heskey, who scored 46 times during a six-season spell with Leicester at the start of his career, sees the job as an outlet to share his football knowledge.
And the former England striker praised club boss Jonathan Morgan for helping him adapt to his new position.
Heskey told Sportsmail: “I’m trying to give back what I learned in the professional game.
“The manager’s been fantastic helping me as well because I’ve got all this knowledge from playing but it’s not always easy to get that out in the right way as a coach.”

Heskey, 43, is supporting Morgan’s bid to propel the Foxes from the Women’s Championship into the Women’s Super League for the first time in the club’s history.
The team are currently top of the table and 10 points clear of fallen WSL giants Liverpool.
Heskey, who played for Leicester from 1994 to 2000, added: “When you only have one up, one down it’s always going to be really competitive. You’ve got to have ambitions.”
Since December, the Foxes’ women’s team have been using the men’s former training facility Belvoir Drive.

And Heskey, who first trained with Leicester as a kid, says it shows how invested the club is in the development of girls’ football and the women’s game in the area.

Heskey praised Foxes boss Jonathan Morgan for helping him to settle into his roleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The ex-Liverpool striker added: “It’s a Premier League facility and we’ve got the whole thing to ourselves.
“I was here from age nine, playing and training. It’s changed a hell of a lot since then but it’s great the girls can see what they’ve got and that the club is investing in them.”
Last week, the footballing world was rocked by the racial abuse that Manchester United ace Lauren James had received on social media.
And the outcry led to calls for social media giants to take tougher action against racist trolling online.
Last year Heskey revealed that he was also a victim of racial abuse whilst playing for England, but insists that football was heading in the “right direction.”
The former Three Lions forward said: “We’ve got mechanisms now within sport which we never had [in my day].
“We’re going in the right direction.”

Leicester are due to take on Crystal Palace in their next gameCredit: PA:Press Association

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NATASHA HARDING is backing Ryan Reynolds’ and Rob McElhenney’s decision to invest in women’s football as part of their Wrexham ownership. 
And the Reading star reckons the Hollywood duos’ plans to splash some cash on the sport in north Wales could help unearth hidden talent. 

Natasha Harding believes Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of Wrexham could benefit women’s footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney completed their takeover of WrexhamCredit: Twitter @VancityReynolds

Harding, 31, who is part of a 26-player squad taking part in a Wales training camp, was reacting to news of the stars’ intentions to spend £50,000 on a women’s football.
It comes days after the Deadpool actor and the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star took full control of the National League outfit from the Wrexham Supporters Trust. 
In a Twitter post Harding, who has 86 Wales international caps, said: “This is so important!!! We have so many hidden gems in places all over and especially in north wales! 
“My early years in the senior (international) team was filled with talented football players from North Wales.” 

Reynolds and McElhenney – who have renamed their Twitter accounts ‘Wryan’ and ‘Wrob’ – are making a £2million investment in Wrexham AFC.

This is so important!!! We have so many hidden gems in places all over and especially in north wales! My early years in the senior team was filled with talented football players from North Wales. #DaIawn https://t.co/cxVLwF1hde
— Natasha harding (@tashharding09) February 14, 2021

The club, who are seventh in the fifth tier of the men’s game, has been supporting girls and women’s football projects as part of its work with The Racehorse Community Foundation. 
This includes the running of Wrexham Women’s football side who currently play in Division Two of the North Wales Women’s Football League. 
And the team, established in 2003, were founding members of the Welsh Premier Women’s Football League, the top division of the game in Wales. 

Gemma Owens, head of female football at Wrexham’s Racehorse Community Foundation told BBC Sport: “Both Ryan and Rob and their representatives are recognising that women’s football and girl’s football is a growing sport in this country and in north Wales particularly. 
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Wrexham’s men side are currently seventh in the National LeagueCredit: Rex Features

“The participation is increasing quite significantly. For them to recognise that is huge in itself.
“The fact that they are recognising that is going to go such a long way and for us to help continue to grow the game here.
“It’s going to be huge for the wider area and women’s football in north Wales generally.”

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star McElhenney and co-owner Reynolds are investing £50,000 in women’s football in WrexhamCredit: Twitter @RMcElhenney
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LUCY BRONZE volleyed a hole into Manchester United’s title hopes with the Red Devils suffering their second loss on the bounce.     
The England ace’s strike – and an Eric Cantona-style chip from Caroline Weir – helped consign the visitors to a 3-0 defeat. 

Lucy Bronze opened the scoring for Manchester City netting her first goal since NovemberCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Manchester City leapfrogged Man United into second spotCredit: Getty Images – Getty

And a first-half injury to Leah Galton compounded a luckless night for United with Tobin Heath, Lauren James and Alessia Russo all currently out of action. 
Red Devils boss Casey Stoney said: “It’s bitterly disappointing to come here and concede three preventable goals in my opinion and not create much.
“We need to learn very quickly that if you don’t get the basics right at this level you’re going to get punished.
“We were turned over far too easy at times, we played in the wrong areas and made the wrong decisions on the ball, so we’ve got a lot to learn.”

The derby duel started off as a cagey affair before the hosts threatened with a Chloe Kelly cross cleared by Amy Turner in the 15th minute. 
But United countered moments later with Ella Toone delivering a perfect long ball to Jackie Groenen, who put through Leah Galton before her pass to Christen Press was hoofed out of danger. 
But it was City who would prove the more ruthless in attack with United being undone by a set-piece for the third time in two games.
And it was Bronze – yet to score since November – burying her volley after a corner to put the hosts ahead ten minutes before the half-hour mark. 

Man United forward Leah Galton was forced to withdraw due to an ankle injuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But the Red Devils refused to be overawed.
And they threatened through Haylee Ladd’s half-volley close to half-time and Christen’s Press low drive early in the second half after a mazy run past Steph Houghton. 
But any chances of the visitors getting a foothold in the game were buried courtesy of Lauren Hemp smashing in City’s second with 20 minutes of normal time remaining. 
And Caroline Weir notched up the title-chasers’ third with a delightful spin and chip close to the final whistle.
Man City gaffer Gareth Taylor said: “We certainly rate Caroline. She’s a top, top player. 
“She has top ability, and hopefully now with the way we are playing we are giving her even more of a platform to showcase her talent. 
“And we were saying that last week after Ellen White’s, Chloe Kelly’s and Lauren Hemp’s performances. 
“All of the players are really working hard and buying into the team culture we want to achieve.” 
The result saw Taylor’s players leapfrog the Red Devils into second spot with City carrying a game in hand.
And it leaves them just two points behind champions Chelsea who take on Bristol City ahead of the international break.
However, Taylor refused to get carried away with the win and believes there could be more twists and turns in the battle for the title. 

Caroline Weir wrapped up Man City’s win with a stunning chipCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Taylor said: “We’ve seen with some of the results this season that if you don’t turn up, and you’re not really at it – and sometimes when you do play decent football but don’t score goals – you’re always leaving yourself vulnerable to that potential loss. 
“I don’t think anyone could have really seen those results we saw last weekend. 
“We are just going to try to keep the focus on ourselves.” 

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