WSL Matchday 4 round-up: Vilahamn lauds character at new-look Spurs

Mitchell Fretton

LiveScore

Tottenham came from behind to beat Aston Villa in the Women's Super League on Saturday

Head coach Robert Vilahamn lauded Tottenham's character after they came from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-2 in the Women's Super League on Saturday.

Spurs have blossomed into a dangerous outfit under the Swede and currently sit third in the table after finishing a lowly ninth in 2022-23.

A hat-trick from summer signing Martha Thomas was enough to cancel out goals from Rachel Daly and Lucy Parker while full-back Ashleigh Neville also bagged her first goal of the season to ensure the North London outfit remain just one point off top spot.

Vilahamn said: "You can see that we have really good character in this group. We know how to keep going.

"You can see how brave we are in the build-up, how we play in the Tottenham way. That's also a big step for us.

"Also, we score a lot of goals and that's what we want to do.

"We see that, the fans see that and I see so many fans here. That's brilliant because going to an away game and having so many fans singing for us, I'm so happy for that as well."

A United front

Nikita Parris was delighted to get on the scoresheet for Manchester United as they thrashed Everton 5-0 at Walton Hall Park.

The Red Devils bounced back from their disappointing Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek to maintain their unbeaten start to the WSL campaign.

Parris, who netted the second and fifth goals for the visitors, told MUTV: "To score five goals here at Everton and get some consistency in front of goal was great.

"In the first half, we didn't get our goals but we played them off the park and we always knew coming into the second half that if we put our chances away then we would win the game comfortably.

"We talk about the Man Utd way and that's what we showed.

"I always want to be in positions to score goals and ultimately put the team ahead and continue to fight for them until the final whistle — that's my job and that's what I love to do.

"The fans always support us right until the end and we as players want to show them the same commitment on the pitch."

Manchester United recorded their second win of the season against Everton

Just getting started

Emma Hayes was impressed with midfielder Sjoeke Nusken's brace in Chelsea's 4-2 win over Brighton but insists the champions still have room to improve.

The Blues went behind at Kingsmeadow yet were inspired to victory by the German who arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt in June.

Speaking to Chelsea TV, Hayes said: "I think we at Chelsea all knew what a talent she was.

"We can see she wants to be front-footed, she wants to be higher up the park. We have to still work with her on balancing out some things at times but it was a wonderful performance from a player who has settled really well into the club.

"I made changes early in the second half because I thought it was like a basketball match and I don't want that!

"We have to have balance. So that's the work we have to do."