Emma Snerle

Snerle: We have to work hard against a tough Aston Villa

Emma Snerle is confident West Ham United Women can return to winning ways when they host Aston Villa in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Sunday afternoon.

The Hammers seek a league double over the visitors, although Villa edged the FA Cup fifth round tie on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Chigwell Construction Stadium last month.

Still, Snerle, the Club’s first signing of the January 2022 window, is backing herself and her teammates.

The 21-year-old, who made her senior debut in Denmark in 2019, believes the Hammers’ experience, fight, and determination will be key in ending a four-game winless run.

“The most important thing for us is that we always do our best and outrun and out-work our opponent,” Snerle stated, on the identity of the current West Ham Women set-up.

“Obviously, we were disappointed [after the loss to Reading]. We felt like we needed the win and that we should have won the game. We felt that we were the better team, but that’s football, so we have just been working hard this week to get ready for Villa.

"The fans coming to the stadium. We want to make them happy and do our best every time.”

Emma Snerle

Visitors Villa though seek a third straight league win and are recently buoyed by putting seven past Brighton & Hove Albion.

Key to such success has been the midfield with former Hammer Kenza Dali playing alongside Jordan Nobbs. The two have been pulling the strings for Villa, who also boast England’s Rachel Daly - second highest top scorer in the 2022/23 Barclays Women’s Super League with ten goals and two assists in 14 games – as part of their ranks.

“[Villa] have a really good midfield,” Snerle agreed. “And most of their opportunities come through the midfield [in the recent meeting in the FA Cup] so I think we have adapted the way we play, and we are more aware of where they are good and also where they are weak so we can punish them.

“We’ve had a few meetings about them this week and I think we are ready for them. We are playing against big teams and big names but we are here to get a result.

“I think the main thing for us is to be ruthless in our own box and their box. Against Reading, we had a lot of opportunities, but we didn’t score – and we need to be ruthless.”

 

Aston Villa