With just five games remaining, Leicester City need to rapidly turn things around to avoid relegation from the Women’s Super League.
Defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday was their sixth in a row and kept the Foxes three points adrift at the foot of the table.
There were faint hopes of their fortunes turning around at King Power Stadium, when Alisha Lehmann netted to give them a 1-0 advantage at the break – but normal service soon resumed.
They lapsed in the second half and Villa came from behind to win.
It was a result former England striker Ellen White described as “gut-wrenching”.
Leicester fans have become accustomed to disappointment this season, this their 12th defeat in the league, but despite their situation, Leicester manager Rick Passmoor is hopeful “the tide will turn” for his side.
“The will is there, the togetherness is there, the culture is there,” he told BBC Sport.”We are not going away – we are not turning our back on this fight. Our destiny is still in our hands.”
This loss was particularly galling given victory would have taken them out of the relegation place above West Ham on goal difference and followed a promising first-half display.
Speaking on BBC Two, White said: “They were so positive, so direct and they got 1-0 up in the first half. Then, they just needed to shut up shop.”
Even if Leicester finish bottom this season, it will not be fatal for them.
As the Women’s Super League is expanding to 14 teams, no side will be automatically relegated, but the 12th-placed club will face a relegation play-off at the home of whoever finishes third in the WSL 2.
