1
Skinner’s anger at referees boils over
Rehanne Skinner’s frustration on the state of officiating spilled over after West Ham’s 2-0 loss to Chelsea and she or he referred to as for all WSL referees and their assistants to change into skilled. Skinner’s staff have been denied an equaliser in opposition to the champions after Honoka Hayashi was incorrectly flagged offside, however it’s what she sees as repeated incorrect calls that pushed her to demand change. “Final week there have been two targets that have been scored in opposition to us, neither of which ought to have stood, which is one other level for us,” she mentioned. “Tottenham recreation, we get an apology after the sport for a aim that ought to by no means have stood for offside. I’m getting a bit sick of it to be trustworthy … We simply can not hold having these sorts of errors as a result of it utterly ruins the sport.” VAR is one answer however Skinner additionally added, extra considerably maybe, that WSL officers must be full time. At the moment solely 50% of WSL referees are engaged on a full-time foundation. “Lots of people are speaking about VAR and issues like that and if that’s what we have to do to get outcomes proper then that’s what we have to do,” she mentioned. “In the end the referees nonetheless aren’t skilled on this recreation so that they’re not really in a scenario the place they’re solely specializing in these video games and I feel that has simply bought to alter.” Suzanne Wrack
“I am getting a bit sick of it”
Rehanne Skinner criticises the extent of officiating within the ladies’s recreation, after Riko Ueki’s aim was controversially dominated out for offside. pic.twitter.com/vgUqXelFW3
— Sky Sports activities WSL (@SkySportsWSL) March 24, 2024
2
Arsenal discover options after Villa scare
There was additional controversy at Villa Park the place Stina Blackstenius’s aim was allowed to face after not solely a transparent offside however a handball too, even when by that time Arsenal had already carried out sufficient to safe the three factors. One of many themes of Arsenal’s season has been their incapacity to interrupt down a low block. And so it continued within the first half in opposition to Villa, who have been fairly content material to sit down deep and wait for his or her alternative to select the guests off in transition. Carla Ward’s facet have been well-drilled, permitting little house, and scientific when an opportunity fell their manner. However the place they’d failed on a number of events this season, Jonas Eidevall and his staff have been capable of clear up the puzzle within the second half. There was an elevated depth about Arsenal’s play and an actual power within the press as they dragged Villa backward and forward with steady waves of assault, finally pulling aside a creaking defensive position to win 3-1. It was a results of large significance, placing them eight factors away from fourth-placed Liverpool; respiratory room earned within the race for the ultimate Champions League spot. Sophie Downey
3
Park shines on Etihad stage
As Jess Park wheeled away to soak up the adoration of the 40,000 spectators, a younger lady’s dream grew to become a actuality. A lifelong Metropolis fan who had moved up from the membership’s academy, the 22-year-old had simply scored her first league aim for the membership on the largest stage, the Etihad turf. Eight minutes later, she accomplished her double earlier than offering an help for Khadija Shaw, whose 68th aim for the membership made her Metropolis’s report scorer. Park has been a revelation for the reason that flip of the 12 months, making a place in Metropolis’s attacking midfield her personal having patiently waited for her alternative. She was the catalyst as soon as extra of their snug 3-1 win over Manchester United, linking the play and creating possibilities along with her customary power and dynamism. It was an attention grabbing efficiency in entrance of Sarina Wiegman, one that can have carried out her no hurt as she appears to make her mark on the senior England staff. SD
Signal as much as Soccer Each day
Kick off your evenings with the Guardian’s tackle the world of soccer
Privateness Discover: Newsletters might comprise information about charities, on-line advertisements, and content material funded by outdoors events. For extra data see our Privateness Coverage. We use Google reCaptcha to guard our web site and the Google Privateness Coverage and Phrases of Service apply.
after publication promotion
4
Robinson the important thing for Brighton
Katie Robinson’s glowing efficiency helped Brighton safe a 3-2 victory over Leicester in an exhilarating recreation on the King Energy Stadium. The England winger was a handful all recreation, taking up Leicester’s defenders and beating them repeatedly along with her blistering tempo. Robinson’s confidence in one-on-one conditions paid off within the second half, when she latched on to a by means of ball to around the Leicester goalkeeper, Lize Kop, to place Brighton 2-1 up. She scored a second aim shortly after, just for it to be dominated out for offside. Regardless of a late Leicester equaliser, Brighton remained undeterred, replying a minute later to win the sport. Robinson was concerned as soon as once more, clipping a ball in to Madison Haley, who cushioned a cut-back for Elisabeth Terland to dispatch first time. That fantastic staff aim earned Brighton back-to-back away wins for the primary time since March 2022. Xaymaca Awoyungbo
5
Spurs depart taking pictures boots at dwelling
When Beth England put Tottenham 1-0 up within the opening two minutes of Sunday’s match in opposition to Bristol Metropolis, many followers would have thought it was an indication of issues to return – and it ought to have been. Spurs utterly dominated however struggled to hit the goal on a number of events, with Celin Bizet, Jessica Naz and Matilda Vinberg all coming shut. They didn’t face an excessive amount of of a menace from Metropolis, particularly after Shania Hayles was pressured off with a shoulder damage, however the best way Spurs managed to see out the sport was one other instance of how far they’ve come beneath the administration of Robert Vilahamn. “I feel this was really a extremely good recreation as a result of we had the ball, we created possibilities, I feel we had 19 photographs,” the Swede mentioned. “It’s simply that additional aim. We’d like to ensure we will rating much more targets.” Emillia Hawkins
6
Liverpool setback in pursuit of Europe
Liverpool’s pursuit of Champions League qualification hit a stumbling block in a colorless Merseyside derby draw. Matt Beard’s facet went into the match on the again of three successive WSL wins, however didn’t get the higher of out-of-form Everton as soon as once more. The truth is, the hosts, who’ve scored the fewest targets within the league this season (14), regarded most definitely to interrupt the impasse in direction of the tip of the sport. Final week, Beard set his sights on a top-three end however with simply 5 video games remaining and an eight-point hole to shut on Arsenal, that’s now wanting impossible. “I feel it’s a missed alternative at present, personally, particularly with the accidents that they’ve bought,” mentioned Beard. “However after we don’t take the alternatives and also you enable them to develop into the sport, we have been our personal worst enemy at present.” EH
