Everton 2-0 Spurs (WFA Cup) | Robert's verdict | OneFootball

Robert Vilahamn was pleased to get minutes in the whole squad, but was ultimately left disappointed as our Women’s FA Cup journey came to an end on Wednesday evening with a 2-0 defeat to Everton.

After quite an uneventful first period at Walton Hall Park, where chances were few and far between, the game burst into life in the early stages of the second half as Kelly Gago found the back of the net from a tight angle just three minutes after the restart.

We did come close to a leveller in the final stages of the game, Rosella Ayane striking the woodwork and Clare Hunt seeing a header cleared off the line, but as we pushed bodies forward, the home side capitalised at the other end as Heather Payne struck home the second goal of the evening that brought an end to our FA Cup campaign in the fourth round stage.

“The result is not we wanted,” said Robert, speaking to SPURSPLAY after the game. “On the other hand, we made sure players got minutes in their body and we made sure to build some relationship. I think, we saw some good chemistry in that but obviously they scored two goals in the second half, and we don’t create enough chances, it’s a disappointment."

On how the early goal affected the second half…

“It’s another Wednesday game, so it’s the second week where we have played a lot of games, and the rhythm wasn’t really there in the first half, plenty of possession but not enough chances. We were better at the beginning of the second half, but then we made a bad decision where they go and transition in behind us, they put in an early cross, we fail to clear the ball and they score, and that’s basically the main thing in this game for why we don’t compete and win because they get that goal and can defend, we try but we can’t break down, and they then obviously score a second in injury-time.”

On getting a number of players minutes…

“I really like to see the players who haven’t got a lot of minutes to get them because I feel like it’s a great chance for them to get going and show me where they’re right now, and many of them are doing some good minutes today. It’s good for the squad to make sure we can go into the game on Sunday and the rest of the season with all the players actually playing so, in one way, it’s really good. Obviously it’s the FA Cup, you want to make sure you go to the next round, this year wasn’t for us for different circumstances, but we’re going to make sure we’re sad and angry today, tomorrow we will rest and recover, and then Friday is full focus on the game for Sunday as it’s a big game for us.”

On what to take into the Man Utd game…

“I mean, we have seen all the players now so we have really good competition for places, who will be starting the game and who will be finishing the game. I think you can tell we’re quite calm on the ball, found some good build-up phases, but we need to make sure we’re sharper in the decision-making in the final third and, obviously, we need to make sure how we look when we lose the ball and how we defend the early crosses because we can’t concede those goals anymore.”

On being back at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday…

“It’s going to be amazing to meet our fans at that stadium, we have a big game and I want to make sure everyone comes and watches the game because we have some good self-confidence in the league, good form in the league, so we will make sure to go into that game and go for the win.”

Watch - Vilahamn reflects on Everton defeat