Amber Whiteley: "Didn't Think We Did Enough To Protect The Lead"
03/30/2025 04:16 PM
The Red Women were frustrated by a listing Aston Villa team on Sunday.
Unfortunately it looks like the interim manager bounce has run its course for the Liverpool Women, as they suffered another defeat on Sunday to Aston Villa and their own issues. The Reds were able to go 1-0 up early on thanks to a penalty from Marie Höbinger, but former Liverpool player Missy Bo Kearns assisted Kirsty Hanson in the equalizer and the winner came from another own goal, this time from defender Jenna Clark.
"Yeah, not a lot in the game. I think we did well to go 1-0 up, a great break from a corner to win a penalty," manager Amber Whiteley said following the match.
"I just didn't think we did enough then to protect the lead, and that's something we have done really well in recent weeks. And when we have been up we have been hard to beat then. It's something we need to look at and learn from for after the [international] break."
Aston Villa are barely hanging on at present, sitting 11th in the league. They may now be safe from relegation as only one team from the WSL goes down, they expected to come out swinging on Sunday and they certainly did. Unfortunately, it took too long to score the first goal that any time after that was squandered as they tried to increase their lead.
"We knew that Villa were going to come out fighting today, so we knew that one goal wouldn't be enough," Whiteley continued.
"We had a good opportunity to go two up and I think if we get that second goal then the game is dead then, it kills any belief that they've got. But 1-0 they're still in it and they're going to go for it at 1-1. Yeah, disappointing.
"I think that was always going to be the case, any goal they scored today was going to give them huge belief and help push them on. I think it certainly gave them that belief to put pressure on us and obviously we conceded the second."
One of the other struggles on the day was the absence of young phenom Olivia Smith, who missed the match with a hip injury. While Whiteley was happy to point out that it gave a couple other forwards a chance to get some more minutes in, the quality that Smith brings was apparent in its absence.
"Yeah, I think we missed her pace in the top line, and that's where they have been vulnerable in recent weeks," the manager explained.
"But it gave opportunity for Leanne [Kiernan] to come into the team, for Mia [Enderby] to get minutes today. There's positives in that respect."
The Reds have another difficult match ahead as they face Chelsea in the semi-final of the Adobe Women's FA Cup following the upcoming women's international break. Hopefully any injuries are dealt with and the Red Women are ready for the challenge that Chelsea will bring.
"Hopefully everyone comes back fit and healthy after the break. And then a big one for us in Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final. Focus and preparation turns to Chelsea now."
