Game Details
Game: Aston Villa Women vs Reading Women
Date: Saturday 23rd January 2021
Competition: Barclays FA Women's Super League
Venue: Banks's Stadium
Time: 12.30pm (GMT)
Watch: The game will be streamed live on the FA Player.
Aston Villa Women return to Banks's Stadium for the first time this year, following two away games to kick off 2021.
Gemma Davies' side come into Saturday's fixture versus Reading in need of a positive result.
Last weekend's defeat to Manchester City was our heaviest of the current campaign, and compounded our Conti Cup quarter-final defeat to Bristol City which occurred just a few days before.
Villa can take encouragement, however, from their recent performances at home.
The last team to visit the Banks's was Manchester United, and many would argue we spurned several chances to take something from the encounter.
Saturday represents a huge opportunity to pick up points against a team many would see aren't part of the core group that currently occupy the top four positions in the table.
Despite the aforementioned opportunity that presents itself on Saturday, our opponents are no pushovers.
Coming off a strong performance against Arsenal last weekend, a game in which they drew 1-1, Reading are confident and will believe they are only a few ruthless victories away against bottom-half teams from pushing the top four.
The Royals have also taken points from Manchester City and Everton this season, showing they are more than capable of holding their own against the very best.
These two sides met in September in Villa's second league game of the campaign, a game in which Reading won 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium.
Team News
Gemma Davies spoke to the Club website with an update on several Villans...
Ella Franklin-Fraiture
"One of our long-term injuries. Her rehab is progressing really nicely. It is our hope that very soon, she will be returning to some form of pitch-work. She's progressing well and isn't too far away."
Chloë Arthur
"Chloë picked up a niggle at Manchester City as well. Again, not thought to be serious. She joined the team today for non-contact training. Won't be in the matchday squad for this fixture, but will be back in full training next week."
Ramona Petzelberger
"Petz sustained an injury at Manchester City. At first, we were hoping it would just be severe cramp. On assessment, it was more substantial than that. However, it's not thought to be serious. She won't be in the matchday squad for this weekend, and we'll see how her rehab progresses over the next couple of days."
Jodie Hutton
"Jodie returned to pitch training this week and will return to the matchday squad for this upcoming fixture."
Form Guide
Here's how the two sides have fared coming into Saturday's matchup...
The Boss
Gemma Davies spoke to VillaTV following Sunday's defeat...
“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).
