Women’s Super League

MARC SKINNER believes Manchester United will face an aggressive and resurgent Leicester City this weekend.The Red Devils chief, who hailed Mary Earps’ Fifa award, reckons United’s Prem stars’ league cup triumph has energised the club.
Marc Skinner’s team could move five points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League with a win against LeicesterCredit: Getty
Skinner expects his players will face a high pressing Leicester side at Leigh Park Village on SundayCredit: Getty
Willie Kirk’s team have won two of their last three league gamesCredit: Getty
On Sunday Skinner’s side could move five points clear at the WSL’s summit with a home win against Willie Kirk’s battlers. 
The last encounter between the teams ended in a 1-0 October away victory for United who have lost just one top tier match so far this term. 
Their duel with the Foxes, who are bottom and battling for WSL survival comes three days before Chelsea’s WSL clash with Brighton. 
Of the threat posed by Leicester, Skinner, 39, said: “In all honesty I’d expect Willie to be more aggressive. 
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“When I look at the way that he sets up, the way he’s attacked Manchester City and in some of the other games, they’ve set up with an attacking kind of temperament and personality. 
“This might be a game where we expect more of a high press so we’ll prepare either way. 
“It’s something we’re going to have to continue to try and avoid and to overcome.
“Knowing Willie’s character in the way that he is, you know, I’m pretty sure he will set up an aggressive team.”
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Despite their 2-0 home loss to Manchester City on February 4, Kirk’s players have enjoyed improved results this year. 
These include 3-0 and 1-0 defeats of Brighton and Liverpool in January and February. 
And they are now just a point behind Reading with Leicester having a game in hand.  
Skinner added: “Since Willie has been in (charge) I think there’s been a real turn of results.
“They’ve been way more aggressive and that’s nothing against what was happening before because Lydia set up a really structured team.  
“I’ve just seen the way Willie wants to go and attack games and that’s rubbed off on some of their results. 
“With the Liverpool game I felt Liverpool should have taken something from it.
“But I know the way he really likes to play, I know what he wants to do with his teams. 
“I’d expect them to not fear us at all and come to try and take some points.”
United’s match, which kicks-off at 12:30pm at Leigh Park Village, comes six days after Mary Earps being named Fifa’s best women’s goalkeeper of 2022. 
The gong for the Red Devils stopper, 29, follows some stunning performances for club and country.
This includes Earps becoming the first goalkeeper to keep 50 clean sheets in the WSL.
Skinner added: “We’ve spoken about Mary a lot during our press conferences, but for all the praise we give, her ability to win things like that just cements the quality she has.
“I think what we can use it for is the power within this country to keep growing our own players.”
Aside from pushing for Champions League qualification, Man United are chasing their first major silverware win since their 2018 promotion to the top tier. 
And Skinner believes the Carabao Cup triumph of Erik ten Hag’s men, who play Liverpool in the Prem on Sunday, has boosted the vibe within the club. 
The trophy is the first piece of silverware the Prem side have won in six seasons.
The United boss added: “It really feels palpable. 
“You can actually feel it when you walk into the building, when you’re in the hallways and whenever we speak to our counterparts on the men’s team. 
“You can just feel this real energy around the whole club. 
Skinner reckons the Carabao Cup win for Erik ten Hag’s side has boosted good vibes within the clubCredit: PA
“The Academies – both female and male – are always producing the quality of players who should be at Manchester United.
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“It’s such a special group for that. 
“But when you look at the most senior teams, we’re all striving for the same things which is to be successful and to progress.” More

KARREN BRADY has been named as a director of West Ham’s Women’s Super League side. The club today confirmed their vice-chair as one of three directors of the side with fellow board members Tara Warren and Nicola Keye. 
Karren Brady wants to help boost the growth of West Ham’s WSL side on and off the pitchCredit: PA
The Irons’ vice-chair has become director of the club’s women’s teamCredit: Alamy
And they say Baroness Brady’s focus will be on overseeing a new executive level of support for West Ham’s women’s football operation. 
This includes its commercial functions as well its first-team and WSL academy. 
Brady, 53, said: “I am delighted to be able to confirm this important and exciting new level of senior support for West Ham United Women, as we continue to enhance all areas of the Football Club and build upon our role as an equity leader in football.
“The women’s game is the fastest growing sport in the United Kingdom.
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“At West Ham United we have made tremendous strides forward since being granted FA Women’s Super League status five years ago.
It is hoped Brady’s appointment along with that of executive director Warren and Keye, who is the club’s ticketing director, will help to boost the growth of the Irons women’s team.
Together the trio have more than sixty years’ experience working in senior operational roles in professional football. 
She added: “Tara and Nicola have a wealth of valuable experience in football and business.
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“Together we will work tirelessly to ensure that West Ham United Women continue to go from strength to strength, on and off the field.”
West Ham, currently seventh in the WSL, achieved their highest ever finish in the division when they ended last season in sixth place. 
West Ham have ambitions of breaking into the WSL’s top four in the futureCredit: Getty
The team, who face Reading in the league on Sunday, have hopes of closing the gap on the WSL’s top four. 
This term the Irons reached the Conti Cup semi-finals before being knocked out by Chelsea last month. 
And the 2019 FA Cup finalists reached the fifth round of this year’s competition before falling to a loss on penalties to Aston Villa.  More

EMMA HAYES heaped praised on Sam Kerr after Chelsea fired a Conti Cup final warning to Arsenal, knocking them out of the FA Cup.  The hotshot’s 82nd goal in 100 Blues appearances was the icing on the cake of a 2-0 dispatching of the Gunners. 
Sam Kerr doubled Chelsea’s lead at Kingsmeadow as the team beat Chelsea to enter the FA Cup quartersCredit: Getty
Sophie Ingle opened the scoring to give the hosts a 1-0 lead after the withstood some early pressure from ArsenalCredit: PA
Stina Blackstenius had a few strong chances to level for the visitors in the first halfCredit: Getty
It saw the striker – back from Cup of Nations action in Australia – score her fifth goal in 11 appearances against Arsenal.
But the Gunners will feel unlucky to have left the game scoreless despite 11 shots on target to Chelsea’s three. 
Their performance was watched by Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema with both Arsenal aces in the stands.
Reflecting on Kerr’s performance days after her return from Australia, Hayes said: “Some players get off a plane on Thursday night, come in on Friday and moan and say ‘I’m tired’, but not Sam. 

“Some say, ‘I need this, I need that’, but not her.
“She comes in and does everything necessary and possible and lifts the spirit of the building. 
“She does that when nobody is looking. She does it when she is our only real out-and out number nine available.
“She is the best in the business.”
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Kerr’s finish was followed by Blues fans serenading her whilst mocking Gunners.
They chanted, ‘even when jetlagged she’s better than you’, in reference to the striker playing just days after returning to England from Australia.
Hayes added: “It’s challenging for both teams.
“They had the exact same challenges where both sets of players returned later than they normally do (from an international break)
“Sometimes they come home on a Tuesday or Wednesday (after an international break).
“This time it was Thursday or Friday. 
“Well done to the players because to do that is a bit of a slog.”
On the Blues’ overall performance, Hayes added: “We have an unbelievable mentality, we are elite performers and we do it all the time.”
The visitors had some quality chances to get on the scoresheet at Kingsmeadow including two clear cut first-half opportunities for Stina Blackstenius. 
Lauren James saw a sixth minute cross cleared by the hosts as Chelsea began testing the visitors in the final third.
But the Gunners ramped up the pressure on the cup holders early on with Ann-Katrin appearing to drop the ball following a 12th-minute Caitlin Foord cross.
Arsenal had a superb chance to go 1-0 up around the 18th minute with Blackstenius latching on to a flicked pass from Frida Maanum.
But the striker blazed her effort well over the bar after holding off Magda Eriksson following her powerful drive into the box. 
The deadlock was broken when Sophie Ingle buried a bottom corner shot in the 21st minute after a good build up involving Eve Perisset, Jelena Cankovic and James.
Two superb saves at either end from Manuela Zinsberger and Berger saw the score line remain 1-0 going into the break.
Berger managed to stop Katie McCabe’s rifled effort before swiftly reacting to Foord’s shot from the rebound.
Despite Arsenal’s efforts, the second spell saw Chelsea double their lead through Kerr.
The striker chipped over Zinsberger in the 56th minute after a run into the box and a well-placed pass from Cankovic.
Victoria Pelova fired an effort wide of the post toward’s the games closing stages a few more chances were saved by Berger. 
These included Maanum’s shot from distance with 11 minutes of normal time left. 
Jonas Eidevall’s Gunners will face Chelsea again when they two sides meet in the Conti Cup final at Selhurst Park on March 5Credit: Reuters
The hosts held out to seal a 2-0 win and book their FA Cup quarters spot before their Conti Cup final clash with Arsenal this Sunday.
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Gunners chief Jonas Eidevall said: “It is not normal or ordinary to have so many more goal scoring opportunities than Chelsea at Kingsmeadow.
“We created enough in order to win the game. But they are brutally efficient- hats off to them and we were not.” More

DAGNY BRYNJARSDOTTIR dreams of lifting her first major trophy in England since the birth to her son Brynjar in 2018.The West Ham captain wants that picture perfect moment of her child and her celebrating a silverware win with the Irons. 
Dagny Brynjarsdottir hopes to reach a cup final with West Ham for the first time since joining the club in 2021Credit: Getty
The Irons captain and her team-mates take on Aston Villa in the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup laterCredit: PA
Brynjarsdottir has won 19 trophies including NWSL and Bundesliga titles with Portland Thorns and Bayern Munich.
Today the striker, 31, who grew up in Hella in Iceland, will lead her team-mates in a clash with Aston Villa for an FA Cup quarter-final spot. 
The striker, who has been a Hammers fan since childhood, told SunSport: “I won a lot of trophies before I became a mum, but I actually haven’t had one since then. 
“I’m still waiting for the one title where I can take a picture of myself and my son (holding a trophy).
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“I want to make it to a final with the team. 
“It will be hard, but I want to go all the way.
“Hopefully it’s going to happen this season.”
With the club, seventh in the WSL, having battled Manchester City in an FA Cup final in 2019, Brynarsdottir is eager to see them vying for the trophy at Wembley again. 
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The striker added:  “With where we are in the league at the moment, obviously we’re not going to win that, so cup games are crucial for us.
“It would mean a lot to me and to the club. We are in this to win trophies.”
This term Brynjarsdottir was named team captain by boss Paul Konchesky after helping the Irons to sixth place last season.
It is their highest WSL position to date. 
She is part of a small crop of current WSL stars who have given birth during their elite playing careers. 
They include Chelsea’s Melanie Leupolz and Reading skipper Emma Mukandi who have both given birth in the past two years. 
Brynjarsdottir’s son was born in June 2018 during her three-year spell at National Women’s Soccer League giants Portland Thorns. 
Becoming a parent with her husband Omar has made Brynjarsdottir even more focused as a footballer. 
The Irons captain added: “I’m probably a better team-mate as I’m more chilled now.
“Before I was a parent, if I played well or had a bad game, I would be thinking about it for days.
“But there’s no time for that when I’m home, I have to be a mum.
“It’s good and it’s healthy to be able to switch on and off.
“Obviously it’s not easy all the time especially if my son is sick or I’m doing a lot of travelling. The ‘mum guilt’ can kick in quite a bit. 
“But still, I try to get the best out of myself while I’m training or playing in a match.”
Brynjarsdottir sees a good support system as vital when combining motherhood with a professional career for club and country. 
And she praised West Ham and gaffer Konchesky for providing a family club environment in the literal sense. 
She adds: “Last month when my husband had to fly to Iceland, I had to bring my son to a Saturday training session because I had him by myself.  
“Konch (Paul Konchesky) brought his kids in so they were babysitting my son at the training ground. 
Brynjarsdottir says West Ham and Konchesky have been supportive when she brings her son to trainingCredit: PA
“My son loves to come to the club.
“His highlight on game days is to come into the changing room after matches.
“It’s very helpful to have staff and a manager who are understanding.”
Support for pro footballers who are mothers has been an ongoing issue in the past few years. 
In January Brynjarsdottir’s friend Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir shared details of her landmark maternity pay claim against her former club Lyon. 
The midfielder, who retired from playing for Iceland this year, not paid her full salary whilst pregnant at the club
Last August, Fifa ordered the French giants to pay the full amount owed to her,
It was a ruling she hailed as a wake-up call for clubs. 
Brynjarsdottir, who played with the midfielder for Iceland at last summer’s Euros, said: “What Sarah did is great for the future and it wasn’t easy for her 
“I’m just very grateful to her and I know (the situation) took a toll because it was a big fight with Lyon.
Brynjarsdottir praised her compatriot Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir after she bravely fought and won a battle for maternity payCredit: Getty
“Supporting mums is something clubs need to get right if they want to be a part of how fast the (women’s) game is growing. 
“This is important for future mums who play professional football because there will be more in the game and other sports.
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“West Ham and Portland Thorns treated me well.
“I’ve been very lucky with that, but I know that’s not the case everywhere. Hopefully in the future it will be.” More

REHANNE SKINNER has been left unimpressed by the process leading to Eveliina Summanen’s two-match ban for deception.The Tottenham chief questioned how rules are being interpreted after the rescinding of a red card for Manchester United’s Ella Toone.
Rehanne Skinner questioned whether a precedent has been set around rules concerning violent conduct on the pitchCredit: Getty
The Spurs boss was reacting to an incident involving Eveliina Summanen who has been given a two-match ban for simulationCredit: Getty
Summanen will miss Tottenham’s FA Cup clash with Reading and a league trip to Manchester CityCredit: Getty
Summanen, 24, has been suspended for “successful deception of a match official” during Spurs’ 2-1 loss to United on February 12.
The ban was issued following an incident in which the player was seen holding her face after a push on her shoulder from Toone.
The United star received a red card and three-match suspension later reversed after her club’s successful appeal.
Following the overturn the FA revealed Summanen had been charged for allegedly committing “a clear act of simulation”.
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Tottenham’s appeal against this outcome, decided by an independent hearing, was unsuccessful.
It means the midfielder misses their Sunday FA Cup clash with Reading and their trip to Manchester City on March 5.
Skinner, 43, said: “It’s fair to say that we were really shocked, disappointed.
“I was unimpressed with the way this whole process has actually happened.
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“When you a look at the face of it, the red card removal is one that potentially going to be really challenging.
“If we’re not interpreting the rule about violent conduct in the right way, then that is a bigger problem we need to look into. 
“Essentially, it’s if you’re using or are attempting to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when you’re not challenging for the ball. That’s the rule.
“In a situation where that’s happening and evident, then the challenge we’re faced with here is what precedent are we trying to set?
“What’s that going to look like moving forward for us all? I just think it’s opened a can of worms
“The Premier League, Football League, Championship and WSL all go by the same rules.
“I think this massively highlights the inconsistencies around how things are dealt with.
“That’s something that definitely needs to be addressed moving forward in order to ensure that we’re moving the game in the right direction.”
United boss Marc Skinner used the term “play-acting”, when sharing his thoughts on Summanen’s actions prior during the incident.
The Red Devils boss was responding during an interview immediately after game.
Spurs chief Skinner added: “I think it’s really important to focus on your own team and your own players.
“For me, commenting on other people’s players is beneath the standards and values I have and I’m prepared to go to.”
On Sunday aim to avenge their narrow 1-0 December loss to the Royals in the league by knocking them out of the FA Cup.
Since that defeat, Spurs’ attack has been boosted with Bethany England’s switch from Chelsea and Mana Iwabuchi joining on loan from Arsenal.
England has been looking sharp for her new side netting three goals in her past three games across all competitions.
Skinner said: “Beth has settled in faster than any of us expected with the goals she has scored and the way she has been performing.
Tottenham hope to have Bethany England ready for their Reading clash after the striker took a knockCredit: Getty
“When you have been at a club for such a long period of time it does take time to adjust, but she’s applied herself unbelievably well.
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“She picked up a bit of a knock in the Manchester United game that we have been managing this past week.
“We’re hopeful she will be in good position for this weekend.” More