Phillips: We have to work harder

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Head coach reflects on 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa in our final WSL game of 2023.

Richie Mills

2023-12-17T21:25:00Z

Melissa Phillips speaks to the squad after Albion went down 1-0 to Aston Villa.

Melissa Phillips says Albion need to maintain the high levels they reached against the top teams in the Women's Super League when they play the rest of the division.

Albion ended the year on a disappointing note with a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa at Bescot Stadium on Sunday night to slip to 10th in the table.

Now, head coach Phillips has called on her players to replicate the displays they showed against Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United - where they picked up four points from four impressive displays - on a more consistent basis.

"Ultimately in the last couple of games (a 2-2 draw with Leicester City and a 4-0 loss at Liverpool) we haven't emulated the performances that we had in the stretch before that and that's probably what's been the most difficult thing to take and what we will have to iron out going into the new year," she said.

"I think it's quite common in the league. Everyone plays well against those top four teams because you're really stretched and you have to ask yourself to rise to that level and we have not been able to set the tone and play the type of football we want to after that.

"I think we have to all work a little bit harder. I think we all know that as a group we have to be more vocal and demand a bit more, and in the last three games we have not created enough in the final third."

Maria Thorisdottir tries to break through the Villa defence.

Albion's loss to Villa meant they have won just one of their last nine WSL games but Phillips stressed there is a long way to go this season and they can turn their fortunes around.

And that starts with a fourth-round FA Cup trip to Luton Town on January 14, followed by a WSL clash with Bristol City a week later.

"It's a long season and if we lose sight of that then is when things start to fall apart and by no means are we at that point," said Phillips.

"There's still opportunities against every team and we did pick up points in really difficult games and we've got a run of games that I think are in our favour in the new year but equally later down the stretch as well. So I think it's important to keep the big picture in mind and continue to improve the areas we have to grow in."