Leicester 0-2 Tottenham: Foxes must end nightmare start to WSL season

Leicester 0-2 Tottenham: Flailing Foxes must end nightmare start to Women’s Super League season but Spurs’ winning run continues

• Leicester suffered a fourth-straight defeat as they were beaten 2-0 by Spurs 
• The Foxes are one of three teams still waiting for their first points of the season 
• Goals from Rachel Williams and Angela Addison maintained their perfect start

It has been a baptism of fire for Leicester City in the Women’s Super League.

They were worthy winners of the Championship last season and have had four promotions in six years under manager Jonathan Morgan. But they have now lost four out of four games in the top flight.

The positive for Leicester is that they are not alone. Birmingham and Reading are also on zero points. The Royals, with their experience, are expected to improve but Birmingham look set to be the Foxes’ relegation rivals.

Leicester’s nightmare start to the WSL continued as they were beaten 2-0 by Tottenham

Spurs have four wins from four games after goals from Rachel Williams and Angela Addison

The Foxes are one of three teams still on 0 points with Birmingham and Reading also struggling

The problem is that their next two league games are at champions Chelsea and runners-up Manchester City at home.

Leicester are a team you want in the WSL. The commitment from the club’s owners is obvious. The women train at Belvoir Drive, which was used by Brendan Rodgers’ side until last Christmas, and they play most of their home games at the King Power Stadium.

Club legend Emile Heskey is on the coaching staff and was this weekend appointed head of women’s football. But it is on the pitch where improvements are needed. They didn’t manage a shot on target and they had goalkeeper Kirstie Levell to thank for keeping the score down.

Leicester have invested in their women’s team Emile Heskey is now head of women’s football

It has been a contrasting start for Tottenham, who have won all four games and are level at the top with rivals Arsenal.

Rehanne Skinner has done a fantastic job since taking over from Karen Hills and Juan Amoros last November. Spurs finished eight points clear of relegation last season and there is little chance of them being dragged into trouble this year.

Rachel Williams has made a strong start to the season and could have opened the scoring in the 35th minute when she volleyed Maeva Clemaron’s cross narrowly over.

She made no mistake three minutes later.

Levell could only push out a corner to Ashleigh Neville and the defender toed the ball to Williams, who fired home from close range.

FIVE A-SIDES – TAYLOR SURELY ON THE BRINK OF SACK 

1. Is the writing on the wall for Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor? Three straight defeats surely puts his team out of the title race already — they are nine points behind Arsenal and six behind Chelsea. With the Manchester derby next, it’s a huge week for City.

2. Englishman Paul Riley was this week sacked as head coach of North Carolina Courage after accusations of sexual misconduct and the National Women’s Soccer League fixtures were postponed as a result. Riley denies the allegations.

3. Will we ever see a final between Chelsea and City? Wednesday’s FA Cup draw produced their seventh semi-final, leading Chelsea boss Emma Hayes to joke: ‘Who draws it, Arsenal?’. Arsenal were drawn at home to Brighton.

4. Arsenal captain Kim Little brought up 150 goals for the club with a brilliant double against Aston Villa. What a shame for Scotland that Little, 31, retired from international duty last month.

5. Liverpool’s appointment of Russ Fraser as managing director looks a shrewd piece of business and could help them return to the top flight. Fraser was head of women’s football at Leicester, where he oversaw their first-ever promotion to the WSL.

Addison finally found a second goal for the away side when she finished off a counter-attack

Tottenham should have been out of sight before half-time with Ria Percival wasting a glorious chance and Kit Graham also going close. Leicester did improve in the second half but it was Tottenham who created the better opportunities.

Percival could only fire a close-range shot straight at Levell and the goalkeeper reacted quickly to keep out the follow-up from Chioma Ubogagu.

The second goal finally came in the 88th minute from a counter-attack which saw Rosella Ayane play in Williams who teed up Angela Addison to score.

The perfect start for Spurs but Leicester’s nightmare continues.

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