Skinner: Brighton are aggressive in their front line

Head coach Mel Phillips left her position at the Women’s Super League club on Thursday evening, but Skinner says United will prepare to be equipped for a change in our opponents' game plan, if necessary.

The Reds go into the fixture after a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa last weekend and are aiming to keep the momentum going.

Skinner spoke to the press on Friday morning about Brighton, our Continental League Cup exit and injury news ahead of the weekend. You can see a selection of the key quotes from his media briefing below...

PHILLIPS PARTS COMPANY

“I heard the news as you guys did. I thought she had been doing a fantastic job. I wish her all the very best, I am actually on my pro licence with her so I wish her all the very best. It maybe changes the concept of the game because we don’t know if they will continue with their game plan or not.

“When you watch Brighton play they are very aggressive in their front line, and the back line. We have a plan B but you have to prepare even more because you don’t know for 100 per cent what you are going to get. I would imagine those players are quite attuned to what Mel wanted and it will be some version of that just in the way they play. When I look back at how they have been performing recently, I know they haven’t been taking results but Mel would have been happy with how they were performing.”

CONTI CUP EXIT

“I don’t believe there is a scope to challenge it. It’s obviously disappointing but we have to take it. I don’t believe we have the opportunity to have any input as we were not a team involved in that game [Sunderland v Aston Villa]. That’s all we know. We are disappointed to be out but we will move on very quickly.”

"I will always say that we are about bringing the right people in. In this moment, that wasn’t the case and so the club and the team will not spend money that we will waste. We are in a position where the right people were not there but we are continuing to work towards the summer window and beyond. From our perspective it wasn’t the right time to bring some of our targets in and we will continue to work."

GALTON'S CONTRACT EXTENSION

“Since I have been here, Leah has been a fantastic pro, a model pro. She was unbelievable last season, she has grown so much. She has a lot of competition this year but on her day, she is one of the best forwards in the league, I have no doubt about that. For us to continue to have her at Manchester United is fantastic for our fans and I can’t wait to work with her and to push her even more and get even more out of her. She is a great character and she is extremely frightening if you are playing against her.”

TEAM NEWS

“Nobody has suffered any issues this week. We had a couple of knocks after the [Villa] game to Jayde Riviere and Geyse but Aoife [Mannion] is closer – probably the next couple of weeks which is fantastic news. She has been playing in some of the Under-21s' fixtures and that has been great for her. Evie Rabjohn is back on the grass and running which is fantastic.”

HOME GAMES

Make sure you come down to Leigh Sports Village, and Old Trafford on 18 May, to support United Women in our remaining WSL home games this season.

Sun 4 Feb: Brighton (12:00 GMT)
Sun 17 Mar: Bristol City (12:00 GMT)*
Sun 31 Mar: Everton (14:00 BST)*
Sun 21 Apr: Tottenham (12:00 BST)*
Sun 18 May: Chelsea (15:00 BST)**

*Times and dates TBC
**This game is being played at Old Trafford

You can buy tickets for all of these games here.