Jodie Hutton says Aston Villa Women are ‘buzzing’ after getting their season up and running with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday.
Hutton scored the game-winning goal from the penalty spot, as Villa saw off a disciplined Blades side in their opening group game of this season’s FA Women’s Continental League Cup.
The result was a much needed one, with it coming off the back of three straight defeats to open the 2020-21 campaign.
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“It was topped off with a clean sheet” said Hutton, praising the defensive prowess shown on Wednesday.
“We said before the game we wanted to get three points.
“It was a must-win game, we needed a reaction from Saturday.”
Spirits were low after letting in six against Everton last weekend, but Hutton says the group were as motivated as ever to right those wrongs with a complete team effort against the Blades.
“We all knew that after Saturday, we owed the coaches a performance” admitted the 19-year-old.
“We owed them a reaction, and we gave them that.
“We didn’t think there was pressure on us, we just wanted to go out and enjoy it.
“All of us played with a smile on our face, and that helped us get the result.”
Individually, Hutton will have been overjoyed to mark her first start of the season with a goal and a win, and the forward certainly felt she made the right impression in her 68 minutes on the pitch.
“I did feel sharp” claimed Hutton.
“It was my opportunity to show the coaches that I’ve improved in training and that I’m ready to kickstart the season.
“I didn’t view (being in the starting XI) as pressure, I just wanted to show I was ready”.
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The Villa academy product was certainly ready when the referee pointed to the penalty spot just before half-time.
Hutton was upended in the area and only had one thing in mind once she’d dusted herself down.
“I saw Shan (Hayles) grab the ball and I said ‘Shan, I’m having it!’” a beaming Hutton exclaimed.
“As soon as the referee blew the whistle, I wanted it.
“On a personal note, October’s a tough time for me.
“To get the goal boosted my confidence.
“I looked over to the side of the pitch and saw Gemma (Davies) smiling it me, so I knew she was happy and that’s a confidence boost.”
