Scott Phelan feels his Everton Women side need to rise to the mental and psychological challenges of big games after a spirited second-half fightback couldn’t prevent defeat at home to Liverpool, who led the Blues at half-time by three goals to nil.
A Ceri Holland brace either side of a Martina Fernandez own-goal in the first 45 proved to be just enough, although the dismissal of Grace Fisk and goals from Aurora Galli and Zara Kramzar forced Gareth Taylor’s side into some desperate defending at Goodison
Park.
And Phelan felt that there was fear in his side’s first half performance, something he didn’t like and won’t allow to become common.
“There are little positives that I’m sure we’ll find and reflect on over the course of the weekend,” he said. “We appreciate the fans and their support after the effort in the second half, but we can’t be talking about half of games.
“Not too dissimilar to last week, the second half was better than the first, but we need to step onto the pitch with more intent and get to our idea a bit earlier and quicker, and show what we are about.
“In these bigger games there’s not just a tactical and technical challenge, there’s also a psychological and mental challenge of not being overawed by the occasion, the situation of the derby and the emotion.
“Whatever it was, I thought there was a bit of fear in our game in the first half, which I didn’t like and can’t become common.”
Hannah Blundell and Inma Gabarro were the only two changes from the starting XI that fell to a cruel defeat away at Manchester United, while the bench was boosted by Everton’s Asian Cup stars, as well as Liverpool nemesis Katja Snoeijs, who was back in the squad after injury.
But it was the Reds who were on the front foot and were ahead on 11 minutes, with Holland netting from 12 yards after Gabarro was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area.
Things went from bad to worse nine minutes later as Alejandra Bernabe’s cross deflected off Fernandez and past Courtney Brosnan to double the visitors lead.
Everton looked toothless in the final third and were punished four minutes before the break as Beata Olsson combined with Holland, who ran from her own half unchallenged to curl a finish in front of the Park End.
Phelan turned to his bench at the break, and chose Melissa Lawley to replace Yuka Momiki ahead of the second 45, although any of the front three were candidates for substitution.
Gabarro would make way for Kelly Gago on 53 minutes, although the Spain international looked unable to continue after going down with what looked a painful injury.
Ornella Vignola would come close three minutes later, her arrowed strike whistling inches wide of the mark as the Toffees looked to be finally getting a foothold in the game.
And the Goodison faithful dared to dream as Galli’s sublime 25-yard free-kick gave the hosts a lifeline, as the majority of the bumper crowd to its feet in admiration.
A minute later and Fisk saw red after rashly tripping Kramzar off the ball after the Everton midfielder had barged into her.
The Reds were on the ropes and Lawley was their main tormentor down the right.
And one of her mazy runs very nearly paid off as Kramzar rattled the crossbar following good work from the 31-year-old, who skipped past Risa Shimizu before crossing low to Gago, with the France forward managing to tee up the Slovenian, who struck the upright with Jennifer Falk beaten.
But Kramzar was not to be denied with 91 minutes on the clock as Galli turned provider to clip a neat ball in to the feet of the 20-year-old, who controlled well before firing home.
Despite a barrage of late attacks, Taylor’s side held out for a rare three points in the Merseyside derby in a game where Everton only have themselves to blame for the defeat.
It will be almost a month before the Blues take to the field again in competitive action, with Chelsea travelling to Goodison Park on Sunday, 26 April, at 12pm GMT (7am ET, 4am PT).
Phelan has work to do, with two defeats on the trot being largely down to poor first half performances, the interim coach knows full well his future is on the line, as are a number of the playing staff.
