Created: Dec 17, 2024 07:59 AM
Aston Villa Women interim head coach Shaun Goater, far right, addresses his players in the team huddle (Photograph courtesy of Aston Villa Women)
Aston Villa Women’s interim head coach Shaun Goater is thrilled to see his team get back to winning ways and hopes they can build on their momentum when the Women’s Super League resumes in the new year.
Goals from winger Adriana Leon, who netted a brace, and midfielder Kenza Dali powered Villa to a 3-1 win over West Ham at Villa Park on Sunday. It was Villa’s second win of the season and came in Goater’s first match as interim caretaker following the sacking of Robert de Pauw last week.
“I am pleased to be able to get the win, get the three points which moves us up to seventh,” the former Manchester City striker told The Royal Gazette.
“Had we not got the result we would have been probably bottom because we were only a point off bottom, so it was a really huge game for us, and we go into a little break and come back refreshed to try and kick on for the second half of the season.
“There were times we played we were almost like a bit of North Village, old-school Somerset along with Boulevard, Dandy Town mixed in parts of our game, so there were parts where I was really happy and pleased, but still a lot more to do and improve on.”
One area of concern Goater wants to address is the nervousness his players experienced despite holding a two-goal lead in the latter stages of Sunday’s match.
“The last ten to 15 minutes it was a bit nerve-racking considering we were leading 3-1,” the former North Village and Bermuda player said.
“The pressure was on to sort of make sure we got a win I think, which is why we was nervous the last ten minutes of the game, so this is something that I’ll look to improve so we can manage that period better.
“But for good periods we were able to keep the ball for several passes, move from one side to the other and then back round, and this is only with having two real sessions to work with the players, so very pleased with that.”
Goater, who holds a Uefa A licence, is also pleased by the performances of goalscorers Leon and Dali.
“They were really good goals from two really good players that made a huge contribution to us getting the result,” he added.
“Kenza Dali plays for France, top international player who also is regularly involved to be chosen in the sort of World XI or being close to the selection. She performed admirably well, also scoring a lovely goal.
“She’s a very creative player and has great game understanding, so I was really pleased in her performance.
“She hadn’t been playing much this season, but knowing her ability I got her into the team and she’s performed well.
“Then Adriana Leon, plays for Canada, she’s another top player. She can go left or right, she’s robust and strong as a player, but at the same time she’s also very difficult to mark because again her ability to go left or right.
“She’s got really good pace and she has a directness about her game. She scored two beautiful goals which warranted her being put back into the team because she’s had very few minutes as well for the most of this season.”
Goater, who netted 103 goals in 211 appearances for City between 1998 and 2003, joined Villa as an assistant coach in August.
Prior to then, he served on City’s academy coaching staff in a varied role for three years and also worked as an assistant to City Women’s manager Gareth Taylor from April 2023 until June this year.
Aston Villa Women interim head coach Shaun Goater (Photograph courtesy of Aston Villa Women)