Women’s Super League

ASHLEIGH PLUMPTRE is backing Foxes fans to give Leicester a boost as they target a bounce back from a tough run of six losses from six games.The Nigeria centre-back’s club are aiming for their first win of the season when they face Everton in a league cup duel at Pirelli Stadium.  
Ashleigh Plumptre reckons lively support from Leicester fans has given the team a boostCredit: Rex
Jonathan Morgan’s team are yet to pick up a point in the league having lost five top-flight matches after a tricky start that has seen them play three of the tier’s top-four sides.
But the WSL debutants came close to nabbing a draw against champions Chelsea before the international break until two late Blues goals saw them consigned to defeat.
Plumptre, told Leicester City TV: “The fans really make a huge difference and, although we haven’t got the results so far, when we come back into training and after games, we all talk about how the fans have given us that extra push.
“I vividly remember in the Tottenham game when we were trying to get a goal back and every time it felt like we had momentum and were getting forward.
“You could hear the crowd every time we stepped forward and it’s something that I don’t think we would have got if we were still playing at Quorn (FC’s ground).
“We’re very lucky to be playing there (Pirelli Stadium) and at King Power Stadium.

“It’s the perfect stage for fans and other people to see what we can do.
This evening’s clash will see Everton play their first match under new manager Jean Luc-Vasseur a day after commercial director Sarvar Ismailov quit his role for health reasons.
The 52-year-old Frenchman has taken charge of the Toffees following the sacking of their former boss Willie Kirk.
The Walton Hall Park side parted company with the Edinburgh-born coach following a poor start to the season with the club losing three of their five opening top-flight games this season.
Everton will play their first game under new boss Jean-Luc Vasseur (left) when they take on LeicesterCredit: Getty
And those defeats for the Merseyside team came against last term’s top three Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Everton, who harbour ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League, are thought to see Vasseur as a coach with the required experience to help them achieve their goal of competing in Europe.
The Frenchman, who began his senior playing career as a midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain in 1986, comes to the club off the back of trophy-winning success in Europe’s top club competition with French giants Lyon.
I have the ambition to build a team that can achieve Champions League qualificationJean Luc-Vasseur
Following his appointment, Vasseur said: “I’ve come here to write new history with Everton and to win titles.
“We have a lot of talent and resources, so I think there is good capacity to improve.
“I have the ambition to build a team that can achieve Champions League qualification. We have to be patient and fight to win.”
Vasseur coached teams in Paris Saint-Germain’s academy from 2001 to 2011 before managing men’s sides Creteil, Chateauroux, Paris FC and Reims between 2011 and 2019.
He went on to become Lyon Women’s manager in June 2019.  
Everton finished fifth last year and harbour hopes of competing in the Champions LeagueCredit: Rex
And he led the side to a trophy treble in 2020 including France’s top-flight title and their seventh Champions League crown.
However, the Ligue One Women’s giants went on to sack the coach in April this year following a trophyless season.
Last term Lyon lost their domestic title to rivals PSG in June this year and were knocked out of the Champion’s League by the Paris side in April.
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IAN WRIGHT revealed he is ‘loving’ Katie McCabe’s performances on the pitch for Arsenal.And the Highbury hero, who turned 58 today, likened goal ace Vivianne Miedema to former club team-mate Dennis Bergkamp.
Ian Wright reckons Katie McCabe is in fine form for top-flight leaders ArsenalCredit: Getty
Wright, who was a guest on the YouTube sports show UMM, was sharing his thoughts on the WSL stars who have been earning plaudits for their efforts in domestic contests and the Champions League.
On whether Miedema is presently his favourite Arsenal player, Wright said: “Listen, Viv is like how Bergkamp was. Everybody loves her because of how great she is.
“I have to say at the moment it is probably Katie McCabe at left-back.
“She’s one of those players you don’t get less than eight out of from 10 from her.

“She gets on with her game flies into tackles, great footballer great crosses, scoring great goals. I’m loving Katie McCabe.”
McCabe and Miedema, whose side play West Ham next, have notched up a combined tally of seven WSL goals and five assists for their club
Their team have lost just once in 13 games in all competitions this term falling to a 4-1 defeat in a Champions League group stage clash with Barcelona.
McCabe, who signed a new long-term Arsenal contract in May, has featured in midfield and as well as left-back for the Gunners.
Last month club boss Jonas Eidevall praised the Republic of Ireland star’s versatility on the pitch following her Player of the Match performance in Arsenal’s 3-0 home win against Everton.
Wright says Miedema is a similar to Dennis Bergkamp on the pitchCredit: Getty
The Sweden-born coach said: “What I like about Katie is that she can bring different things to the team depending on where you have her in the starting position.
“So, as a coach, sometimes you can fit her into a position where you think it will fit the match picture.
“She’s so versatile and to be honest, she has played a little bit as an attacking midfielder for us this year as well
Katie McCabe and Arsenal are due to face Chelsea in this year’s FA Cup finalCredit: Getty
“In all those positions (winger, full-back and attacking midfield), she will give you the pace, give you the dribbles with her left foot and obviously her crosses and finishes.”
McCabe and her team-mates are due to play in their first major cup final this year following their 2019 Continental trophy triumph.
The WSL leaders will take on Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday 5 December in the delayed final of last term’s Women’s FA Cup.
And they will be hoping to avenge their loss to the Blues in the finals of the tournament back in May 2018.
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HOPE POWELL wants more action to tackle the shortage of black and minority ethnic coaches at the highest levels of women’s football.And the Brighton chief is concerned by the lack of diversity in Lionesses squads.
Hope Powell and her Brighton players will take on Arsenal in a Women’s FA Cup semi-final clashCredit: PA
Should her Seagulls’ beat Arsenal later this afternoon, Powell will become the first black female Women’s Super League manager to lead a team to an FA Cup final.
The Albion manager, 54, said: “I am one of only two managers of colour in the top flight in the women’s game.
“It makes me wonder if this is down to opportunity or if it’s about experience and qualifications.
“But there are more and more females getting qualified, so is this about opportunities? This is something that needs to be looked at and addressed.
“In the men’s game, the amount of people of colour that you see on the pitch doesn’t quite translate to off the pitch in those leadership roles.
“The Diversity Code has been brought in to play by the FA to try and address that. How effective this will be is a matter of time.”

Lewisham-born Powell, who began her coaching career managing England from 1998 to 2013, is seen as a trailblazer in the game by a number of former Lionesses and women’s top-flight players.
Among those who hailed the Albion gaffer’s influence is Peckham Town boss Mary Phillip, 44, who became the first black player to skipper England in 2003.
The ex-Arsenal defender won 63 international caps and played in two World Cups in her 13-year international career.
Powell hopes Phillip will become the first of many managing in the Women’s Super League — and inspire others.
She added: “The important thing in my journey is that I’ve had loads of help during my career.
“I think it’s really important that I try and help people be the best they can be.
“And I hope the likes of Mary and others will end up supporting the next generation coming through.”
Mary Phillip (front row, first left) is among the former Lionesses who credits Powell as being a positive influence on her football careerCredit: AP:Associated Press
The last tournament final Powell led a team to was at the 2009 Women’s Euros where the Lionesses were beaten by the then four-time champions Germany.
The England team that competed in that match included three black players in its starting 11: Anita Asante, Eniola Aluko and Alex Scott, plus Lianne Sanderson and Jessica Clarke as subs.
In recent years the number of players from minority ethnic backgrounds in senior England squads has declined.
I know that the FA are looking to see what they can do to improve the diversity and it’s really important because it feels like there’s not the representation that was there once. Hope Powell
Only Nikita Parris and Demi Stokes were in the group selected to face Northern Ireland and Latvia earlier this month.
And Powell sees this as a knock-on effect of the shortage of homegrown black talent at the highest levels of women’s club football in England.
She said: “I think what we’re not seeing is perhaps the diversity on the pitch. It was certainly more in my day. I think there are reasons for that.
“The FA did the right thing wanting to professionalise regional training centres.
“With the best will in the world I think we’ve done that with Brighton’s training centre, but the challenge is for people to get there if they are from low-income families.
Powell hopes to see more homegrown black and minority ethnic talent break through into the senior England squad
“I know that the FA are looking to see what they can do to improve the diversity and it’s really important because it feels like there’s not the representation that was there once.
“We had Mary Phillip, Kerry Davis, Brenda Sempare. There were more people of colour, it would seem.
“Internationally we had Anita Asante, Rachel Yankey and there seemed to be more. I think that’s something that will need to be addressed going forward.”
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EMMA HAYES feared she would end up giving birth at Wembley during Chelsea’s triumph over Arsenal in the 2018 Women’s FA Cup final.And the Kingsmeadow boss, 45, says the contest — which was a big part of her childhood — will always remain dear.
Hayes and Chelsea are aiming to reach their third tournament final this yearCredit: Rex
Hayes says her favourite FA Cup final memory is being ten days away from giving birth to her son Harry when Chelsea beat Arsenal to win the trophy in 2018Credit: Getty
Hayes’ team are due to take on Manchester City at the Academy Stadium this afternoon, with the Citizens aiming to win the contest for the fourth time following their triumph over Everton last year.
When asked what were her most memorable cup moments she recalled that 2018 final, saying: “My favourite Chelsea one was me ten days from giving birth to my son Harry.
“I remember sitting in the chair with us 3-1 up thinking, ‘Thank goodness, I don’t want an early labour’.
“I was so relieved because I could have gone into labour at any point.
“I probably shouldn’t have been there but I promised to remain calm.
“I think it’s one of the reasons why my son has adjusted so well to being a fan.
“It’s because he’s so used to being in the womb pitch side with me in really big moments!
“That’s why I think he’s so comfortable with crowd noise.”

The FA Cup, which Chelsea have won twice under Hayes, is a contest fondly regarded by the Blues chief in her current job and during her 2006 to 2008 stint as assistant manager of Arsenal.
Hayes added: “Even in my early years being at Arsenal with Vic (Akers) the FA Cup was always special, a special competition.
“It’s dear to me because it’s so entrenched in my childhood.
“And I’m from North London, and with Wembley, I’ve been there five or six times as a coach and I felt this is great, I’m used to being here, it feels quite homely.”
City have been boosted with winger Hayley Raso returning from injury.
Gareth Taylor’s Man City side are looking to retain the Women’s Cup following their triumph against Everton last year.Credit: Getty
But the hosts will be without midfielder Ruby Mace and Alanna Kennedy in defence, with both players cup-tied.
Boss Gareth Taylor said: “We were under the impression they could come back in because their previous teams were eliminated. It’s massively disappointing.
“What an opportunity for them to play in this game and that’s been taken away, but we move on and make the best of it. It’s a big challenge.”
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Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More