Skinner: Spurs draw was an awakening

United opened the scoring early on but two goals in two minutes from the visitors put them in the lead at half-time.

Despite dominating possession, it took us until injury time in the second half to find an equaliser through Maya Le Tissier.

After the game, Skinner spoke to the press about what to expect in the Women's FA Cup final, defensive lapses and beating Tottenham’s plan.

TOTTENHAM CAME WITH A PLAN

"It was frustrating result-wise. I don’t think Tottenham had a shot in the second half so we dominated the ball and the build-up was fine. The goals we conceded were frustrating.

"Obviously Tottenham came here with a plan and I felt we dominated the game in many factors and even statistically it shows that, but we let ourselves down in a couple of moments and that's the game at this level. We have to concentrate for the full 90."

IT’S GIVEN US AN AWAKENING

"I felt that we could get back into the game. I always feel we can score. What we don't need to do is give ourselves that little hill to climb in terms of the goals we conceded, we just don't need that. But the players that came into the game made a big impact.

"One of the things we spoke about at half-time was the energy and the levels of body language - how you wrestle games around sometimes with your body language because when you show the opponent that you're coming back, they get their fear and they drop into deeper shapes. It's hard for a coach on the side to get that often.

"People say it's a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final. Of course, we're playing the same team, but it's going to be a different game. But what it has given us today, it's given us an awakening of what we need to expect from ourselves."

WE NEED TO STOP SLOPPY MOMENTS

"We're just a team that has to try and dominate the ball. Last week against Chelsea, knowing that we've done that before, they came to attack. I think it's just adapting your tactics. But I was happy with that today. I was happy with us in possession, we were good, but we let ourselves down in two sloppy moments and that's been too frequent this year. And we need to stop that and rein it in.

"If you switch off, Tottenham can punish you. No doubt about that. They have the quality in their team to do that. So you need to be ready. If you want to win things, you need to be ready and be at your brain game as well as at your physical game for a full 90 plus, whatever the referee adds on. That is the key message."

TOTTENHAM WILL BE TOUGH OPPONENTS IN THE FINAL

"[Tottenham coach] Robert [Vilahamn] has made a change to the style and sometimes they get that buoyancy. The team then have the quality in that group of players, they have the quality to exact that. And obviously I think that's helped them this season.

"It'd be interesting to see what they do in the second season, because it's always more difficult in the second season when people know what you're about and how you know you're not fresh anymore. But they've been great. Robert has done a good job and you know they're going to be difficult opponents in the final."

SECURE YOUR SEAT 

United Women have only one home game left in 2023/24 and it's at Old Trafford on Saturday 18 May (KO 15:00 BST), when Chelsea will be our visitors. 

It promises to be an exciting fixture to finish the season, with our opponents Chelsea still very much in the title race and preparing to say farewell to their head coach Emma Hayes.

Over 43,000 fans packed out Old Trafford earlier in the season for the Manchester derby and it’s set to be another fantastic afternoon.

Tickets are on sale now and start from just £15 for adults and £7.50 for concessions.