Vidosic: Defensive lapses were punished

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Head coach reflects on Albion's Women's FA Cup exit against Aston Villa.

Bruce Talbot

2025-02-08T15:30+00:00

Head coach Dario Vidosic felt Albion deserved more. 📷 Simon Roe.

Dario Vidosic admitted Albion paid for defensive lapses as they went out of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

Nikita Parris scored twice but Albion lost 3-2 to Aston Villa at Walsall’s Poundland Stadium on Saturday.

Vidosic said: “There’s a bit of disappointment with some of their goals. It just seems that way when we have those little lapses that the ball goes perfectly between two of our players and falls to the opponent for an easy tap in which happened for one of their goals.

“If we don't get things right we can get punished, but I can't fault the girls’ effort today - how hard they were pressing, I think we made it really difficult for them.

Nikita Parris shields the ball. 📷 Simon Roe.

“The surface probably didn’t allow us to play how we like too. There were a lot of bobbles which just slowed everything up. But even when we had the control, we probably rushed our decision making.

“We responded really well after going 3-1 down, but you don't want to ship in too many goals and we definitely didn't defend well enough for Rachel Daly's goal. At times we fall back into those old habits, so we need to experience it, keep practicing it and then we'll get better at that.”

Vidosic was full of praise for two-goal Parris and assessed the performances of debutants Nadine Noordam and Caitlin Hayes.

“Keets drives us forward, she's on the front foot, she's pressing, and that helps everyone behind," he added. "I think she's been a little bit unlucky in the last few weeks and maybe not got what she's deserved but today she got two goals. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to help us to progress.

“I think Nadine Noordam made a good first impression in tough conditions against a tough opponent. She'll only get better as her understanding gets better. And Caitlin Hayes gave us something else towards the end, I'm sure she'll start to compete with the other girls at the back and we'll see a lot more from her as well.”