Skinner: We reset at half-time

“We didn’t utilise the invasion space in the first half. We were too slow turning to play forwards, so it gave Villa defenders. We were playing inside didn’t use the width enough. We just got those cues wrong and trying to communicate on the side is always the challenge of a coach.

“The reset point is half-time where you go, ‘right, this is clarity’. And that was a difference. We used [the ball] just a little bit higher up, switched the play and then invaded a little bit with brains rather than just legs. We just controlled the spaces a lot better and moved it all over the field.” 

Zigiotti, Terland, Park and Lundkvist scored the goals, while the “incredible” Melvine Malard got two assists to claim a “deserved” Barclays Player of the Match award. But one player specifically singled out for praise by Skinner was Lisa Naalsund, who was put on for the final 24 minutes.

“I’ve got to say, Lisa Naalsund came on and made a massive difference as well,” he said. “She opened up spaces for Jess to drift in, she was really, really pivotal in what I thought was a dominant second half.”