West Ham United: Women’s expert reacts to defeat v Aston Villa
West Ham Women’s expert Michelle Irons has provided her reaction to the disappointing defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday (19 November).
The Hammers were on the wrong end of an injury-time winner from England international Rachel Daly as Villa secured a 3-2 victory at Victoria Road.
Irons believes it is “disgraceful” that the East Londoners are still looking for their first home victory this year as the players “lacked defensive discipline” once again when they came under pressure.
“To stress this was a must-win game after such a disappointing showing against Bristol was an understatement,” Irons exclusively told West Ham Zone.
“We had enough to win the game, but the team this season are so fractured at the back as the relationship between Cissoko and Shannon Cooke is starting to deteriorate.
“Ueki has some great movement, she gets into some fantastic spaces inside and outside the box. She had a great chance for a header, which was saved. But our balls in, which can be fed through or over the defence, should be aiming for her as she makes the difference.
“West Ham took the lead through a well-taken penalty after a trip inside the box on Kirsty Smith. This was short-lived as, four minutes later, Villa equalised through a header after West Ham failed to clear a corner. It was such poor defending from the Hammers again.
“Half-time came with honours even. What would it take for the team to have a clean sheet at the break? We haven’t won a league home game all year and it wasn’t looking good at the 50-minute mark when ex-player Leon smashed a volley past Arnold. It’s safe to say she enjoyed that, with it being her first goal for her new club.
“We needed something in this game. We definitely needed to up the tempo as Villa were confident and they had multiple chances through the middle, with our players unable to get some flow and direction.
“Lisa Evans came on with her well-needed effervescence and enthusiasm. She equalised with a wonderful strike on 80 minutes to take the game to a nervous finish. She should have started this game and that goal proves it.
“We looked like we wanted to win and, for the next couple of minutes, we played with a higher intensity and were creating chances. But Villa were patient and got their reward with literally the last kick of the game after a moment of quality from Rachel Daly.
“We should have kept our cool, but again we lacked defensive discipline and let this one slip through our fingers. We are a poor side when we come under pressure. We don’t get tight enough, we don’t bully players. Instead, we get bullied and again are looking for our first home win in the league all year. That is a disgraceful stat.”
In other West Ham news, a summer signing has added a different dimension to the Hammers’ attacking options.