Aston Villa boss Robert de Pauw has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s Women’s Super League game against Leicester (kick-off 14:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
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Rachel Corsie and Jill Baijings remain sidelined, while Anna Leat and Georgia Mullett are closing in on a return to team training.
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De Pauw said it is “disappointing” that an appeal to reduce Paula Tomas’ impending three-match ban was rejected.
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On Tomas’ red card against Brighton, he added: “It’s a little bit unreasonable. You get a penalty which is mostly a goal, you lose the game in that moment because you are one player down.”
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Despite the defeat, De Pauw thought his team “fought like lions”.
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On facing Leicester, he said “it will be two teams battling for a first win”.
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“There’s quality in their squad so we have to be ready,” De Pauw added.
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The Villa boss said “everybody is still hungry to push” despite a tough start to the season.
