Gemma Davies insists Sunday’s 7-0 defeat at Manchester City is ‘an anomaly within our season’.
Aston Villa Women were put to the sword in ruthless fashion and are yet to take a point from seven games against the current top-eight.
Speaking to VillaTV after the loss, Davies was as candid as ever, but was confident in the ability within the group.
“It was a déjà vu moment, thinking back to the Everton fixture” Davies said of the similarly heavy defeat her side experienced back in October against the Toffees.
“We’re a young team with inconsistencies, and you saw that again today.
“It’s about better managing those moments of chaos.
“It’s an anomaly within our season.
“We’re not a team that wants to sit back and play 5-4-1. That’s not us. That’s not a Villa team.
“We know we have the players to play the way we want to.
“Now, it’s about ensuring we go back to our principles and have a good training week.”
While Davies and her coaching staff will inevitably pick apart Sunday’s game from first minute to last, there seemed to be a widespread acknowledgment that the overall performance simply wasn’t up to the standards required in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.
“We know we can be better” said Davies, bluntly.
“We’ve shown we can compete with the likes of Manchester City.
“We accept that in that first 45 minutes we just weren’t good enough.
“Ultimately as head coach, I’m accountable for today’s performance.
“We will ensure, between the staff and players, that we will reach the potential we know we have within this group.
“We’ll prepare as best as possible going into Reading.”
A proud moment 🟣
— Aston Villa Women (@AVWFCOfficial) January 18, 2021
16-year-old #WSLAcademy graduate, @Livmcloughlin15, stepped off the bench to make her first-team debut yesterday! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/I7zduFulDw
The lone silver-lining within Sunday’s game was the first-team debut of 16-year-old, Olivia McLoughlin.
The young defender graduated from the Club’s WSL Academy ahead of our Conti Cup quarter-final versus Bristol City, and experienced her first taste of professional football at the weekend.
“What a wonderful experience for Liv” beamed Davies.
“She came on and was outstanding.
“For a 16-year-old to come into a game like that and play a very good side with seasoned professionals, I thought she held her own.”
Aston Villa Women resume their WSL campaign at home to Reading on Saturday (23rd January).
