Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Ian Chadband

More kudos to Vidosic as Brighton end Man United run

Dario Vidosic has continued a great start as manager of Women's Super League club Brighton. (Will Murray/AAP PHOTOS)

Australian coach Dario Vidosic has earned more plaudits in his impressive start to life as a Women's Super League manager in England with his Brighton & Hove Albion side ending Manchester United's perfect opening to the season.

In front of a record crowd of 8369 to watch the women's side at their Amex Stadium, Vidosic's charges battled from behind on Saturday to earn a 1-1 draw that scuppered United's 100 per cent record in this campaign.

The draw ensured that Brighton remain at the top of the WSL alongside the two Manchester giants, United and City, on 10 points, though the south coast side have played one game more and lie second behind United on goal difference.

But holding the lavishly-funded United to a draw is another feather in the cap of the 37-year-old Vidosic, who's hardly put a foot wrong since he took over at Brighton as the WSL's lone Australian manager following a glowing recommendation by Ange Postecoglou.    

He's still lost only one match in charge of the Seagulls - to Manchester City - and it was one of his summer signings Nikita Parris, bought from Manchester United, who struck in the second half to earn them a point against the Red Devils.

United had taken an early lead through Grace Clinton and largely dominated but Vidosic has already helped instil plenty of spirit into his new-look side and it was England international striker Parris who struck seven minutes into the second half with a glancing header from Maria Thorisdottir's strike.

It meant Brighton were the first team to score against United this season after they'd gone 322 minutes without conceding.

"That sense of belonging on this stage against a very good opponent and the possibility to go top of the WSL if we want, it's a good learning curve for us," said Vidosic.

"Once we settled down, got into our game and did what we wanted to do we matched them and we created a lot of problems. It was a great game. I had a lot of fun as well.

"We know that there's still lots of improvement in the squad, but we're taking the right steps."

Of their second-half improvement, he added: "We needed something a little bit different, to be more aggressive. I thought we were a bit more brave and we played quicker.

"We started to get into the spaces quicker and caused them numerous issues. It's a good one to learn from."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.