Women’s Super League: talking points from the weekend’s action

Arsenal snatch point but referee’s touch irritates Eidevall

The decision of the referee, Abigail Byrne, to allow play to continue after the ball deflected off her in the buildup to Manchester City’s goal in their 1-1 WSL draw with Arsenal was strange. Arsenal’s Jordan Nobbs looked poised to intercept a crossfield pass until it was diverted to the feet of Demi Stokes. Stokes then set Lauren Hemp away on a marauding run before delivering a cross for Khadija “Bunny” Shaw to give City the lead after 65 minutes. City had dominated but Arsenal were right to feel hard done by as the rules seem pretty clear: if the ball hits a match official, remains on the field of play and a team start a promising attack, then play must be restarted with a dropped ball. “The referees should be professional,” said the Arsenal manager, Jonas Eidevall. “They should be given all the resources that they need to prepare and practice and work on fitness and that’s where we need to focus. Let’s raise the standard around refereeing and give them the help they need.” In the end Arsenal snatched an important point in the title race through Tobin Heath’s injury-time strike. SW

Brighton come back to haunt Chelsea

It was Brighton who ended Chelsea’s record 33-match unbeaten run last February and 11 months later Hope Powell’s side dealt Emma Hayes and co another blow. The game had a familiar feel to the one last season. Chelsea should have scored through Erin Cuthbert early on, but her shot hit the crossbar. Chances for Fran Kirby and Bethany England were saved by the Brighton goalkeeper, Megan Walsh. The Seagulls’ defensive efforts meant that despite 26 shots at goal - five on target - Chelsea had to settle for a goalless draw. Brighton had lost their previous six games and the coach, Hope Powell, said: “What better way to end a bad run than against the reigning champions.” MN

United need reinforcements to keep up title challenge

Manchester United’s 3-0 win against Tottenham moved them into second place in the WSL and they stayed there as Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea all dropped points. The United manager, Marc Skinner, has worked wonders with the group of players at his disposal but now is the time for the board to back him during the the last days of this transfer window to keep up the challenge for a place in next season’s Champions League and, whisper it, even vie for the league title. United coped without centre-back Millie Turner against Spurs but her potential long-term absence leaves the squad light and further injuries could derail any charge. “We’re working on [adding players],” said Skinner. “Our fans want it, we want it, but it’s got to be the right circumstances and the right people and, if not, then we work towards our team being the best version of themselves – and they’re doing that.” SW

Birmingham shoot themselves in the foot

It felt like the moment Birmingham could get the win needed to move off the bottom of the table. They were 2-0 up against Reading and Jade Pennock was terrorising the home side down the right. Then it all went wrong. Justine Vanhaevermaet pulled a goal back for Reading just before half-time and in the second half a clumsy foul led to the equaliser before Emma Harries won it for Kelly Chambers’ side. The Birmingham manager, Darren Carter, knows that the defeat was of their own making. “I’m very frustrated,” he said. “I thought we were excellent, up until the goal we conceded. Either side of half-time, we’ve shot ourselves in the foot, conceding before and conceding after.” RO

Vasseur under pressure after yet another defeat

Everton will rue not taking their chances against West Ham, with two efforts hitting the woodwork in a 3-0 defeat. Hanna Bennison’s wonderful right-footed strike was palmed onto the crossbar by Anna Leat in West Ham’s goal. The second attempt, at 0-0, was even more frustrating as a header from Valérie Gauvin bounced out off the underside of the bar. West Ham have not trailed for a single minute at home this season while Everton have scored only seven goals under Jean-Luc Vasseur, who succeeded Willie Kirk at the end of October. The pressure will be on Vasseur to get his side scoring again. RO

Own goals mar relegation scrap

If one own goal in a game is a gaffe, then two must be a calamity. That is precisely what happened during a scrappy affair between strugglers Leicester and Aston Villa. The first came in the fourth minute from Leicester’s Jemma Purfield; no surprise given her team has one of the league’s worst defensive records away from home, with 36 conceded over the past two years. The Villa keeper Hannah Hampton then made Purfield feel better in the 76th minute with the second own goal of the match. It took a 94th-minute winner from the standout performer Alisha Lehmann to seal victory for Villa. Lydia Bedford’s Leicester face Birmingham next in a game that could decide who goes down. MN