Reaction'We need to learn from that' - Amber Whiteley on Aston Villa defeat

The Reds took a 57th-minute lead in Sunday’s clash at St Helens Stadium, with Marie Höbinger converting a penalty won by Ceri Holland on a counter-attack.

But Kirsty Hanson levelled soon after for Villa and the away side were able to claim all three points after an unfortunate Jenna Clark own goal late on.

Post-match, Whiteley gave her reaction to the defeat to Liverpoolfc.com. Read a summary below.

On ‘frustration’ summing up the afternoon…

Yeah, not a lot in the game. I think we did well to go 1-0 up, a great break from a corner to win a penalty. I just didn’t think we did enough then to protect the lead, and that’s something we have done really well in recent weeks. And when we have been up we have been hard to beat then. It’s something we need to look at and learn from for after the [international] break.

• Read our match report here

On failing to go two goals clear before Villa equalised…

We knew that Villa were going to come out fighting today, so we knew that one goal wouldn’t be enough. We had a good opportunity to go two up and I think if we get that second goal then the game is dead then, it kills any belief that they’ve got. But 1-0 they’re still in it and they’re going to go for it at 1-1. Yeah, disappointing.

On Villa getting belief after scoring the equaliser…

I think that was always going to be the case, any goal they scored today was going to give them huge belief and help push them on. I think it certainly gave them that belief to put pressure on us and obviously we conceded the second.

On missing Olivia Smith on the day due to an injury…

Yeah, I think we missed her pace in the top line, and that’s where they have been vulnerable in recent weeks. But it gave opportunity for Leanne [Kiernan] to come into the team, for Mia [Enderby] to get minutes today. There’s positives in that respect.

On an Adobe Women’s FA Cup semi-final to look forward to after the international window…

Hopefully everyone comes back fit and healthy after the break. And then a big one for us in Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final. Focus and preparation turns to Chelsea now.