Category: WSL

I’ve just about recoverd from the craziness of Aston Villa vs Spurs in the WSL. The 10-goal-thriller finished 3-7, but the visitors could, and should, have been 0-6 up by half time. Chance after chance came and went. Against Chelsea, that wastefulness cost them. Not so on Sunday.

Spurs ended the game with 28 shots, 12 on target and an xG of 5.26. Aston Villa boss Natalia Arroyo described her opponents as “ruthless and clinical,” and the match as “cruel”. The first two figures suggest things could have been even worse for the hosts. Despite this, it was the best attacking performance all season from Martin Ho’s side, as the data from TwelveFootball’s Earpiece show.

Miles ahead on chance creation and attacking transition. The only game with better attacking play was against West Ham earlier this month. Seeing Cathinka Tandberg come on and prove so effective up top was also really gratifying. Ho can enjoy some real competition up top.

These further data points show just what a dominant attacking display it was from Spurs, and how much better it was than their average showing. Speaking ahead of Monday’s FA Cup match against London City Lionesses, Ho said he “was just pleased that we were able to capitalise on a lot of those opportunities we got.”

The manager also revealed that he told his players “someone will be on the end of us scoring that many goals at some point because we are creating a lot of chances.” Never satisfied, Ho added that, having reflected, he believes “there was still a lot of parts where we can be better and more influential with the ball.”

In all the excitement, we cannot lose sight of what happened defensively. There is no way Spurs should have conceded three goals in this game. Indeed, Kirsty Hanson looked like she could score every time she went forward. Lize Kop should not have been beaten at the near post for the first goal. Clare Hunt and Tōko Koga have proven they can handle attacks far better than they. Ho refused to focus on why player for the defensive issues: “I thought we could have done it collectively a lot better.”

It’s hard to focus too much on the negative though, when you’ve gone on the road and scored seven times. This was a devastating performance that shows the levels Tottenham Hotspur Women might be capable of reaching.

After another failure against one of the big four, Tottenham Hotspur Women return to action against Aston Villa on Sunday, 15th February, 2026. It’s a must-win game for Martin Ho’s side, as they try to avoid ending the season in a slump.

As Ho noted in his pre-match press conference, the previous games between the sides so far this season, once in the league and once in the Subway Cup, have “been two really close encounters.”

Ho added that the Villains “have really strong players, they’ve got really good goalscoring threats in that attacking third and they’re very good on the break, plus they’re very resilient when they defend. We’re going to have to be diligent enough to break them down, but we’re going to have to be even smarter to make sure that we stop them at the other end.” 

Ho also demanded flexibility to respond to the hosts, without being too reactive. “We need to give them problems in the way they think about us and our players,” he said. “If we make them think about us more than they’re thinking about themselves, then we give ourselves a really good foothold in the game.”

Finding the Firepower

Aston Villa Women’s attack has been average so far this season, as data from Twelve Football’s Earpiece show. They focus a lot on counter attacks and lean towards long balls.

Their attacking play doesn’t tend to yield goals either. Indeed, they have only netted 19 times in 15 games.

The Spurs back line was ultimately broken down by Chelsea. The defensive showing lacked intensitiy, although the side did win 57% of defensive duels, per Earpiece. A decent Spurs defensive performance of the type we’ve seen throughout much of the season, should stand them in good stead to return to London with all three points. Tottenham have conceded 21 goals this season, compared to Villa’s 29. 

We saw at the game at BrisbaneRoad last year that Spurs will find this tough. Aston Villa have improved under Natalia Arroyo and will be keen to bounce back from their defeat against Everton. Tottenham Hotspur Women cannot afford to be as wasteful with chance as they were last weekend. If they are clinical, they should have enough to pick up at one, if not three, points on the raod.

How to Watch Aston Villa vs Tottenham Women in the WSL

Aston Villa vs Tottenham Women in the WSL kicks off at 12pm on Sunday, 15th February, 2026. You can watch it on Sky Sports+ or for FREE on YouTube in the UK. If you’re abroad and want to use your usual service, you can use a VPN. ​​​I use NordVPN. You can currently get up to 74% off.

The game is also available to watch on YouTube in many countries around the world, as well as on Stan Sport in Australia. Aussies abroad can use NordVPN to make sure they don’t miss any of the action.

Once. That is the amount of times Tottenham Women haven’t beaten one of the “Big Four” in the Women’s Super League. Spurs vs Chelsea in the WSL was another frustrating day at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the hosts. They lost 0-2 against the reigning champions thanks to goals either side of half-time. 

Martin Ho’s side wasted a huge number of opportunities, especially in the first half. Olivia Holdt came closet, smashing the bar in the 11th minute with a rocket of a shot. Bethany England was amongst those who squandered chances that really should have been taken. The outcome, in the end, was inevitable. A Chelsea goal, with Kiera Walsh hitting home from a corner. It drained all the confidence Spurs had started the game with. When Alyssa Thompson netted within five minutes of the restart, that really was that.

Chelsea were missing their x-factor. Spurs could, and should, have got on the score sheet. Cathinka Tandberg, on for England, headed over standing almost under the empty net. Later, Holdt was put through one one but blasted the ball at Hannah Hampton. As well as being frustrating for the home fans, these moments again highlighted the Blues’ vulnerability. 

“We know the reason why we are conceding some situations,” said manager Sonia Bompastor. “We knew in the Arsenal game why we were conceding some situations, why we just conceded two goals. Same from the game when we reflected on the game against Man City.”

They didn’t get away with it in those games. This time, they did.

Bompastor was very complimentary about Spurs and Ho, saying she thought they had progressed over the season. “I really like this club because they are doing a lot for the women’s game,” she commented. “Just to have the opportunity to play in this nice stadium is already a big proof. I like the coach. We had a really good conversation before the game and he’s a really good coach.”

Spurs Cannot Get Over the Line

But that brings us back to the key point. Spurs have that sole, somewhat flukey, victory against Arsenal in the WSL. That’s it.

Ho said that when it comes to actually getting the job done, there is “maybe a lack of experience of being in these situations because how many times has the club been in those positions? Let’s be honest.” It’s a fair point. But the only way to get that experience is by actually doing it.

Ho also conceded that his side is not ready for the Champions League, and that results like Sunday’s prove it. “We’ve still got work to do,” he said. “You can’t change a team that’s finished 11 to be competing for the Champions League.”  However, he says that everyone’s aim is progress towards the Champions League and believes in the progress and young players that are being developed. 

However, there is a long way to go and the subs benches proved it. Spurs were bringing on talented but inexperienced youngsters. Chelsea were bringing on Sandy Baltimore and Sam Kerr.

Tottenham Hotspur have games against Man Utd, Man City and Arsenal still to come this season. Three more opportunities to break this taboo. Doing so still feels a long way off.

No doubt about it, last week’s defeat to Liverpool was catastrophic. It ended any aspirations Tottenham Hotspur Women had of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. This week, they travel to West Ham. It is crucial Martin Ho’s side prove that result was a blip, not the start of damaging downturn in form.

Everyone around Spurs that I have spoken to this week knows it was a disaster. In a pre-match pre-match press conference, Ho said that “if you’re looking at the course of the game and the standards we set ourselves, we were nowhere near where we needed to be in terms of with the ball and the attacking third. But defensively we were two or three yards off everything.”

I suspect it was not a very pleasant week in training for the group. 

Despite the defeat on Merseyside, with nine games to go, there are still things for Spurs to play for. Firstly, the club can regain the title of “best of the rest”. This would be significant progress after finishing second bottom last season. Secondly, they can still finish above someone in the “big four”. That would be a definitive sign of progress. Could they even beat Chelsea in the upcoming London derby? (Almost certainly not.)

The one thing Spurs have to do in order to achieve any of this is become more ruthless in attack. Just one shot on target against the side bottom of the league is unacceptable, especially given the quality of forward players in the team. Bethany England, Tinka Tandberg, Signe Gaupset, Olivia Holdt… goals really should not be a problem.

Analysing West Ham vs Spurs

Ho believes that new West Ham coach Rita Guarino has “given them definitely a lot more organisation and stability.” Analysis from Twelve Football’s Earpiece tool shows that West Ham have are, at best, average defensively. The trendline is not pretty, but they were solid against weaker sides Liverpool and Leicester.

Perhaps more encouragingly for Spurs, the Hammers really struggle at the other end of the pitch, they tend to rely on long balls and play with a slower tempo then others in the league.

It is also fair to say, their form is somewhat erratic. 

This should all give the visitors confidence heading in to the game. But we said that last week, didn’t we…

It’s been an unbeaten start for Spurs Women in 2026, defeating Leicester City in the league and then the FA Cup. Next it’s a trip to the North West, as they take on Liverpool at the St Helens Stadium. It’s a game they have to win in order maintain their Champions League challenge.

Signe Gaupset is already showing her class, shining in both matches against Leicester. Other new recruits are also being integrated into the side. 

Cathinka Tandberg could well be available for Martin Ho tomorrow. The Spurs boss says that “she gives you a different profile in that front line… It gives you an energy and a personality up the pitch that obviously has made a big impact for us when she first came in.” Olga Ahtinen might be involved too.

Despite the Reds languishing at the bottom of the WSL table, Ho is not taking the opponents lightly.  “I don’t think their performances have been where the table shows, if I’m honest,” he said. “They’re in good control of games, they’re possessing the ball well, they’re very offensive-minded, and maybe just lack that cutting edge around the attacking third.” Spurs also need to show their cutting edge – three goals away from home last weekend is a good sign, but that needs to happen more consistently.

Spurs won 2-1 back in November. However, the record on Merseyside is terrible – no win in three attempts. Tomorrow would be a very good time to turn that around. 

Liverpools vs Spurs kicks off at 11:55am GMT on Sunday, 25th January. It is available to watch on Sky Sports+ on for FREE on YouTube. If you’re away, you can still access your usual services by using a VPN. ​​​I use NordVPN.​​​ You can currently get up to 74% off.

Spurs have made huge progress under Martin Ho, but they still lack that statement win. A victory over one of the “Big Four”. Can they change that this weekend?

Spurs were not fantastic last time out against Aston Villa, but that 95th minute Olivia Holdt winner will give them a huge confidence boost going into the game. Ho described it as “huge”. He added that “when you’re not at your best and you can win games, I think it’s the signs of a good team in the making.”

The Dane finished after a wonderful reverse pass by Drew Spence, who this week signed a new contact with the club. Ho regards the Jamaican international as one key leaders in his squad. Spence and captain Bethany England will certainly have to stand up if their team is going to get anything at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium.

The manager is clearly going into the game with a positive attitude: “If we put in a big performance, and we perform to the levels I know we can, with and without the ball, I believe we can be a match for anyone, and we’ve shown that in large spells now.” 

Interestingly he said “that we go into this game with a totally different mentality in terms of how we’ve been in the previous game against Arsenal just recently.” This perhaps suggest a bit more attacking intent. However, Ho was clear that “I’m under no illusion that it’s big task in terms of when we play these teams”.

Spurs will have to get this win, and a lot of others, without Jessica Naz. The England winger has cruelly got the second ACL injury of her career and will not be back for some time. “She’s doing okay,” said Ho. He conceded that Naz “will be a big loss in terms of in and out of possession”. Molly Bartrip’s return to the heart of the Tottenham defence is timely though. However well they have been playing without her, it’s yet another senior player back in the mix.

Spurs proved recently against Arsenal that they can grind it out against the top teams. It’s been a remarkable turnaround since that early-season shambles against Man City. However, getting over the line  is going to require a real creative spark. Maybe a bit of magic from the bench. I cannot quite see where that is going to come from. But Spurs barely had a sight of Arsenal’s goal in that famous derby almost exactly two years ago and, in Holdt, they have a special player who provide those standout out moments.