Women's Super League

Elizabeth Botcherby
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Despite moving six points clear at the top of the Women's Super League with victory over Crystal Palace, Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor cut a frustrated figure at the final whistle, labelling her side's attacking performance as "not good enough".

A brace from Catarina Macario and goals for Guro Reiten and Mia Fishel helped Chelsea cruise to a 4-0 victory and marked the sixth time the Blues have scored at least four goals in a league match this season.

However, Bompastor believes Chelsea should have scored "six or seven goals" and didn't show the killer mentality of a top team, particularly with their opponents playing the majority of the second half with 10 players following Allyson Swaby's 47th minute red card.

"The result is really good [but] the second half was not good enough in terms of the high standards we have, especially when Palace were playing one player down," Bompastor told BBC Sport.

"The really good teams hurt the opposition when they have the opportunity. This game could've finished with six, seven goals, and we only got four, so [it's] not good enough.

"I'm frustrated. When you want to be one of the best teams in Europe, or in this league, you need to have that mentality. When you have the opportunity to score goals, to kill or hurt the opposition, you have to do that. We need to work on our mentality."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham manager Rehanne Skinner says there are "not that many jobs" in the women's game that can provide coaches with stability.

In an interview with BBC Sport, former Liverpool boss Matt Beard admitted he may have to return to estate agency work after being sacked.

He said Women's Super League managers were not as "comfortable financially" as they are in the Premier League and there are few full-time jobs to return to.

Skinner emphasised the difficulties and said it is "something that needs looking at".

"The point about the number of teams is really relevant. It's not as easy for us to just up stick and move every year and a half," Skinner told BBC Sport.

"It's not surprising there's evidence that when coaches are in jobs long-term, everything gets better. Constant turnover doesn't provide clubs with stability.

"There's only 26 teams in this country that are full-time, including three in the National League. There are not that many jobs.

"The turnover is very different in the men's game with the volume of clubs available to move to and the salary attached to it. It's not straight forward in the women's game."

Skinner says it is something all WSL managers are likely to experience but she hopes there can be better negotiations around their contracts in the future.

"It's just how you can be supported and how contracts are structured for managers in the women's game that needs to be talked about more," she added.

"The length of contracts and the time you are in a position financially to be OK following it. If you get the sack, the time you have that you have been paid out for, for example.

"People need to think about that when they negotiate and clubs should on how they structure them."

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Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor says their Women's Super League (WSL) game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday is a chance to "look at the future and be positive".

The Blues were thrashed 4-1 by Barcelona in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final on Sunday to suffer their second defeat of the season.

Bompastor's side are three points clear of Arsenal at the top of the WSL having played a game less.

"This team is not used to losing games. What hurts the most is conceding four goals, it is not usual for us," said Bompastor.

"Now we're in a situation where we have to show a reaction and bounce back. That is part of football. It is part of football.

"It is good that we have another game and there is a quick turnaround. The game is an opportunity for us to think ahead and look at the future and be positive."

Bompastor said she are no fresh injuries but centre-back Nathalie Bjorn will be rested for the game, while January signing Naomi Girma is fit enough to start but will not play the full 90 minutes.

"I have a depth in my squad so it will be important to show a reaction with a competitive team but also be as ready as we can be for the game against Barcelona on Sunday," said the former Lyon boss.

Chelsea v Crystal Palace is live on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer with kick-off at 19:15 BST.

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Crystal Palace are "more than ready to have a go" at Chelsea when the two face each other in the Women's Super League (WSL) on Wednesday, says boss Leif Smerud.

Palace are seven points from safety at the bottom of the WSL while leaders Chelsea are three points clear at the top.

However Chelsea only won 1-0 when the two sides met in the Women's FA Cup quarter-finals in March.

"We are more than ready to go and have a go at Chelsea, which is a massive challenge," said Smerud.

"We had a good experience there playing them the last time, so we are ready to go.

"We learned that if you play as a team and you play with your heart on your sleeve, you can challenge good players and good teams.

"It's football and we are a massive underdog in this game, of course we have a chance, but it requires a lot of hard work and we are ready and hoping to to do that again.

"We know we can make it a fight, and if you make it a fight, you might win. So we are optimistic on that."

The game is live on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer with kick-off at 19:15 BST.

Callum Matthews
BBC Sport senior journalist

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Defender Lotte Wubben-Moy says Arsenal are "the club I want to win with" after signing a new three-year contract with the north London side.

The 26-year-old came through the club's academy and made her senior debut aged 16.

She returned to the club in 2020 after three years with American college side North Carolina Tar Heels.

She has made 143 senior appearances for Arsenal, scoring 10 goals.

"I feel a huge amount of pride, excitement and optimism to once again put pen to paper at this special football club," said Wubben-Moy.

"Arsenal is the club I want to win with and I feel this new contract comes at a time in my career where my ambitions are matched by my abilities on the pitch.

"I'm determined to make this next chapter count."

Elizabeth Botcherby
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

When Jess Naz and Ella Morris struck twice in the space of five minutes to level the game at 2-2, they looked to have rescued a point – or maybe more – for Tottenham.

The momentum had swung in their favour with 20 minutes to play and with top-scorer Bethany England returning from injury off the bench, the stage was set for a fairytale finish.

Instead, Robert Vilahamn's side were left to rue their wastefulness in front of goal, sloppiness in defence when playing out from the back, and vulnerability on the counter whenever their high press was breached, as Kirsty Hanson grabbed a 91st minute winner for the visitors.

Tottenham enjoyed plenty of the ball against Aston Villa and looked particularly threatening whenever Naz and Ashleigh Neville linked up on the left flank. But so often, the final ball let them down and they failed to register a shot on target until the 53rd minute.

This latest defeat means Tottenham have picked up just one point in their past seven matches, with their most recent league win coming against Crystal Palace on 26 January, and also extends their curious record of never winning a WSL match in April. In 11 attempts, they've draw four and lost seven.

At the beginning of the year, a second successive top-six finish was on the cards for Tottenham. Now, they're at risk of being overtaken by Leicester City and Villa, who sit just two points behind them. Their previous worst finish in the WSL is ninth.

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Joie Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for Everton.

In fact, the Toffees had lost their first 16 league meetings with Manchester City before claiming a 2-1 win at Walton Hall in December.

And without key forward Kelly Gago in their ranks on Sunday, it looked like Brian Sorensen's side faced an uphill task - even if it was against an injury-depleted City.

But all they needed was a moment of magic between identical twin sisters Sara and Karen Holmsgaard

It almost seemed like the ball was following the twins' telepathic connection, with the ball leaving Sara's left boot and fizzing through the air straight to Karen's head.

City could have done with the same kind of bond at the other end of the pitch.

Despite dominating possession and chances, the final ball into the attacking third was often sloppy and their play sometimes looked disjointed.

The goalscoring burden has been placed on Kerolin, who has been moved from her usual place on the wing to a more central position because of injuries to Mary Fowler, Vivianne Miedema, Lauren Hemp, Aoba Fujino and Khadija Shaw.

With only the faintest hope of getting Champions League football next term and nothing else to play for, City will be more than ready for the season to be over.

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Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn says he is "extremely disappointed" at how his second season in charge has gone at the club.

After finishing sixth and reaching the FA Cup final in his maiden campaign, Spurs are currently ninth in the Women's Super League with just five wins from 18 games.

The club are on a seven-match winless run across all competitions, having not won since beating Crystal Palace on 26 January.

"I'm not going to lie. I'm extremely disappointed at this year and how we have not really taken the steps we were supposed to do," Vilahamn said

"The main thing is to not just be very sad about this season, but actually learning from this season. Perhaps we can take two steps forward next season by learning from the mistakes this season.

"I really want to make sure we end this season in a good way, so we can go into the second the third season to see how much we can compete. How much can we close the gap?

"It's been a struggle this year in many ways, but it's also sometimes you need those struggles to make sure you can take the next step forward."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham are in a "great space" following impressive performances this season, says manager Rehanne Skinner.

They are unbeaten in their last three Women's Super League matches, which included draws with Chelsea and Manchester City.

The Hammers currently sit seventh in the table, two points off Liverpool, as they prepare to host FA Cup finalists Manchester United on Saturday.

"I've been really pleased with the players' attitudes and their approach. They have been excellent," said Skinner.

"We've added a few extra players which have given us an edge in different departments. We've been chipping away at the process.

"Now we've kind of got everybody functioning and we've filled some of the pieces of the jigsaw. We've got a lot of confidence and belief in what we're doing.

Skinner hopes improved squad depth and competition for places will lead to more consistency going forward.

Asked what the next step for the squad was, she said: "We want to finish the season strongly. We need to be consistent with this.

"It's taken us time, a growth and a process to get to. We need to be able to show we can be competitive consistently through to the end of the season.

"We need to take every single game seriously and get as many points on the board as we can. That will tell me even more about the players."

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton boss Dario Vidosic says Michelle Agyemang will be a "household name sooner rather than later" after her impressive England debut earlier this month.

The 19-year-old forward, who is on loan at Brighton from Arsenal, received a late call-up for England's game in Belgium and she scored a sensational volley just 41 seconds after coming off the bench.

Asked if he was surprised by the finish, Vidosic said: "No, not at all. It's something she does with regularity here as well.

"She's got a beautiful strike, she knows how to hit a ball, she's dangerous, she possesses a lot of weapons and she'll be, no doubt, a household name sooner rather than later.

"I'm sure there'll be a lot of kids wearing her jerseys in the not too distant future."

Despite her superb strike, Agyemang's goal could not save England and Sarina Wiegman's side were beaten 3-2 by Belgium.

"I think she has everything to be one of the best strikers in the country," Vidosic added.

"She got the call up late, she was prepared, and she grabbed her [opportunity] with both hands. So we're all really pleased.

"The message is 'you haven't made it now'. That's only day one. You've got the first cap but I think the goal is, 'I want to have 100 caps. I want to have 150 caps'."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa have planned "for the two possibilities" with their safety in the Women's Super League still not mathematically secure, says manager Natalia Arroyo.

Victory over Liverpool in their last match gave Villa a boost and moved them four points clear of bottom side Crystal Palace.

As they prepare to travel to Tottenham on Sunday (14:00 BST), Arroyo says the last two weeks have given the club a chance to plan for the future a little.

"We have had to plan for the two possibilities – that we stay in the competition which we are fighting for until the end, or the maths that say we still have an option not to stay in this competition," she told BBC Sport.

"We are having these conversations to try to plan the two lines and think about the squad we want to have, the style we want to build and the different things we need as a club to be better, stronger and to keep building for the future."

But despite not securing safety just yet, Arroyo says there is "positive energy" in the squad following victory over Liverpool and with the return of captain Rachel Corsie, who has been back in training this week.

"She has been fighting over the last few months with injuries and trying her best. Now she is enjoying training," added Arroyo.

"She is our captain, one of our leaders and it is very good news. It is helping us to have very positive energy in the last few weeks."

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Chelsea have confirmed Lauren James "will be out for a period of time" with a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old suffered the injury on international duty with England and was substituted at half-time during the 5-0 win over Belgium.

She has scored four goals in 17 appearances for Sonia Bompastor's side this season.

Chelsea said James "returned to the club to begin rehabilitation which she will continue with the support of our medical team".