Women's football round-up: "I'm not sure we deserved that" says Villa boss

Aston Villa Women manager Natalia Arroyo said the scoreline was harsh on her side’s performance after their 2-0 loss to Everton in the Women’s Super League, writes Dan Hickey.

The result leaves Villa second-bottom of the division, four points from Crystal Palace, thanks to goals from Maren Mjelde and Honoka Hayashi, who scored either side of the break for the Toffees.

Villa are next in FA Cup action, as they take on fourth-placed Manchester City on Sunday in the quarter-finals, before a relegation six-pointer against Palace.

Arroyo said: “Hard result. I'm not sure we deserved that, especially in the first half.

“I think we entered into the game quite good. Putting them on in problems having chances, dominating them, being ready to not allow them to counterattack, to not find Payne and Gago,

“Our only mistake was where we jumped too much, they find a little gap, they find a corner, and that's the first shot on target. And they score and we are emotionally very vulnerable now

“To be under (in the) score, that probably that affects us. We keep pushing. I think we end again in the first half with chances.

Everton's Karoline Olesen of Everton is challenged by Villa's Missy Bo Kearns (Photo by Morgan Harlow/Getty Images)

“The difference is that we are not scoring and being down pushed us too much and at some points, emotionally, it is very difficult to stay playing.

“The only bad thing, or the analysis, in the second half is that at the end, we couldn't push as much as we wanted.

“We tried to keep players that are good in headers to find more crossing actions to at least push and put them under stress.

“And we weren't able to put that much, even if we can add some shots at the at the end.

“So, the bad point is that it's not only losing but you are pushing but at the end you are not really finding this goal that gives you the faith.”

Natalia Arroyo, manager of Aston Villa, looks on prior to the Barclays Women's Super League match against Everton at Villa Park on Sunday (Photo by Morgan Harlow/Getty Images)

She added that the FA Cup match could help build confidence in the league.

“Try to rest from this game and try to have the legs and the head as fresh as possible to start the new week. A new challenge, FA Cup, the next one in the league will be Crystal Palace,

“Again, a fight and a big battle. And we need to be focused on being better.

“Try to challenge us to get the lessons of every game and believe in the two months that we have ahead. That's the job and if another competition can help us to get some confidence – very, very welcome.

“But even trying to achieve this this amazing final, why not? But our big goal is the league, obviously.”

Birmingham City got their sixth consecutive away win against Blackburn Rovers, to go three points clear at the top of the Women’s Championship, winning 2-0 thanks to a Lucy Quinn brace.

Kidderminster Harriers closed the gap to West Midlands League Premier Division leaders Lye Town to just a point after defeating Alvechurch 2-0 at home.

Millie Rogers sealed the win after the visitors scored an own goal in the first half.

Halesowen Town saw five players score braces as they won 10-0 away from home at Leamington Lions.

Katie Adams, Paige Leonard, Lauren Thompson, Natasha Bailey and Caroline Springer all netted as they stayed fourth in Division One South.

Walsall Wood missed a chance to go top of Division One North as they suffered a 4-2 loss to AFC Telford United.