Russo: We have to move forward

Our no.23’s opener in the 1-1 draw with Spurs at the weekend – her third goal in our last four WSL outings – looked to be the winner at The Hive before Ria Percival’s free-kick from long range crept in to rescue a point for the hosts, deep into second-half stoppage time. 

Russo then nearly restored United’s lead at the other end, in the final seconds of the contest, but her downwards header was parried away by Tottenham goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela. 

It meant the Reds had to settle for a point but, having been so close to taking all three, it ultimately felt like a defeat for Marc Skinner’s side in the aftermath of the final whistle. 

Despite that, Russo says there is no time to dwell on the result and that the Reds must learn from the moments that saw us drop two points quickly, with three games in the space of a week to come before the late-November international break, starting with a trip to Everton on Sunday (14 November, kick-off 12:30 GMT).

“I think we have to stick together, learn from this, but we have to learn fast,” Alessia told MUTV, post-match, in the capital. 

“We’ve got a massive month ahead with some massive games coming up. 

“So we have to stick together, we have to be a group and we have to move forward.”

Reds 'keeper Mary Earps echoed those statements and says the team need to work meticulously in order to build towards producing a response during our visit to Merseyside at the weekend. 

“It’s incredibly frustrating, but it’s really important that we stick together and just look forwards because there’s nothing you can really do,” Earps said, speaking to MUTV. 

“But we also have to face up to our responsibilities individually and be critical of ourselves, because to be at a club like Manchester United, you have to find a way to win. [It] doesn’t really matter how or why, you just have to find a way and that’s the magic. We have to be critical, and we have to find that.

“There’s no point in dwelling, you can’t change what’s gone,” our no.1 added. 

“But what you can do is be honest in your analysis and look to push forwards, and we’ll make sure we do everything we can to take even more points for the rest of the games forevermore, but obviously for the rest of the month and building into Christmas.”

Although it will provide little consolation, Skinner’s side are now unbeaten in four matches across all competitions, having suffered just one defeat in six outings this season. 

The boss has picked out the one thing in particular he wants to see from his team off the back of the draw at Tottenham, as the Reds look to climb from fifth place in the Women’s Super League table over the coming weeks. 

“[We need to show] grit. With the ball, without the ball. Tactically, we know we can beat the opponent,” Skinner insisted. 

“We have to have this individual grit and belief that is led by me to make sure we take it to every opponent and, once we do that, this team will fly.”