Coventry City Ladies Assistant manager Joe Robinson was pleased with City Ladies 3-0 victory at Newcastle United
Joe Robinson, who took charge for this fixture, told Matty Roper: "I'm really pleased with the win.
"To travel such a long way and remain focused for 105 minutes is a credit to all the players.
"To be fair to Newcastle they did not let off and worked hard for the duration of the game, which made it tough for us."
"Their keeper made some fantastic saves, however, our persistence paid off with three well worked goals to secure the points. Destiny Toussaint's bravery led to the second goal and we hope her injury isn't as bad as first thought."
"The atmosphere in the Coventry camp is fantastic at the moment and we will continue to push by taking each game as it comes."
Match report -
The Sky Blues travelled north to Northumbria University to take on a Newcastle side who were in real danger of relegation. Coventry however were looking for a win that would keep them at the top of the FA Women's Premier League table. City would be in confident mood after last week's 4-0 thumping of Blackburn Rovers.
A fast pace was evident early on in the game as both sides battled it out in the middle of the park. It was city who were seeing more of the ball though as they pressed Newcastle high, and they probed forward with Dani Selmes striking straight at the keeper on 5 minutes. Another chance was fashioned on 7 minutes after a superb Ashleigh Neville pass released Destiney Toussaint, the striker then hit a low effort but the keeper was down to save comfortably. Coventry were now in full control early on as the home side struggled to get out of their own half, the keeper remained fairly untroubled however.
Newcastle mounted their first meaningful attack on 11 minutes as Dannie Purdham released Jes Round out wide and she was fouled. Her delivery from the set piece then evaded the bodies in the box but Sue Wood was forced to gather the ball and she responded well. The home side began to look a bit more lively now but the Sky Blues were defending comfortably to thwart any danger, whilst still looking dangerous when travelling forward.
The away side were continuing to enjoy some neat passages of play and a free kick was won down the left wing after good work on 20 minutes. Ashleigh Neville then whipped in a superb delivery which tempted the keeper to come, she could only then parry to Amber Hughes but the winger saw her effort saved. Despite the bobbly surface, Coventry played the ball around with real ease and a swift attack saw Callan Barber strike wide after a superb Annabel Johnson cross caused havoc just minutes later. It was fairly even coming up to 30 minutes though as both teams were struggling to create any clear cut chances.
A scrappy nature started to creep in to the game for the remaining 10 minutes of the half, a moderate level of wind didn't help with either team's fortunes. Newcastle looked very focussed and determined however and they were fighting like a team in relegation trouble, and they shaded the remaining five minutes of the half. It was however the Sky Blues that made the breakthrough just before the whistle as Destiney Toussaint met a Callan Barber corner to fire home!
Half-Time: Newcastle United WFC 0-1 Coventry City LFC
The home side continued to off the ball as they looked to frustrate the Sky Blues, but they were playing a high line which the City would look to exploit. It was a bright start from the away side though and they managed to carve out the first chance of the half. Callan Barber found Amber Hughes out wide and the winger used brilliant feet before rolling in Dani Selmes, the striker was then unlucky to see her curling effort drop wide of the far post. City were unlucky not to the double the lead just seconds later after a magnificent Hughes ball picked out Dani Selmes, she then knocked the ball on Ashleigh Neville but her effort was cleared off the line.
City's dominant start to the half continued and with 59 minutes on the clock Destiney Toussaint saw an effort saved brilliantly by the keeper. With the next move the Sky Blues did score their second however as Amber Hughes picked out Destiney Toussaint with a pinpoint cross and the keeper was on hand to save again, Dani Selmes was there to fire home on the rebound though to make it 2-0. Joy was quickly transformed in to worry though after the ball crossed the line as Toussaint went down in the box. She was forced to leave the field with a serious leg injury and it looks as if her season will be over.
After a lengthy 15 minute delay, the game resumed with 75 minutes on the clock and the Sky Blues started where they left off with controlled possession of the ball. Newcastle's battling efforts continued though as they looked to hassle Coventry, but it was the away side that were getting forward on more occasions as Jade Formaston went close on 79 minutes. It was a high press from City that was putting the home side under severe pressure and a third goal was beginning to look more and more likely. A good move from the home side nearly brought them a goal back on 89 minutes however as a superb cross reached Hannah Keane in the six-yard box, she somehow blazed over though.
With 15 minutes of stoppage time still to play both teams continued to slog it out in the middle of the pitch. Newcastle were having some promising spells but it was Coventry who looked to possess more quality in the areas that matter. 95 minutes were on the clock when City created the next chance of the affair and it was substitute Maz Gauntlett who struck wide. It was 3-0 to the Sky Blues on 98 minutes after their dominance paid off, a Helen Dermody corner caused havoc and the ball eventually fell to Jade Formaston who poked the ball high in to the net. Only a good save denied City a fourth just seconds later as Dani Selmes let fly from the edge.
This was the last piece of meaningful action though as Newcastle's defence managed to make sure Coventry's lead wasn't widened, and the referee sounded the whistle to hand the Sky Blues another victory.
Full-Time: Newcastle United WFC 0-3 Coventry City LFC