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De Pauw on Tomas ban, 'fighting like lions' and Leicester

Aston Villa boss Robert de Pauw has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Women's Super League game against Leicester (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

  • Rachel Corsie and Jill Baijings remain sidelined, while Anna Leat and Georgia Mullett are closing in on a return to team training.

  • De Pauw said it is "disappointing" that an appeal to reduce Paula Tomas' impending three-match ban was rejected.

  • On Tomas' red card against Brighton, he added: "It's a little bit unreasonable. You get a penalty which is mostly a goal, you lose the game in that moment because you are one player down."

  • Despite the defeat, De Pauw thought his team "fought like lions".

  • On facing Leicester, he said "it will be two teams battling for a first win".

  • "There's quality in their squad so we have to be ready," De Pauw added.

  • The Villa boss said "everybody is still hungry to push" despite a tough start to the season.

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[BBC]