Sunderland manager Mick Mulhern insists he is not too concerned with how his side play – as long they continue to pile on the points – after stretching their lead at the top of FA WSL 2.
Kelly McDougall’s first-half penalty and a late header from Hayley Sharp earned the Lady Black Cats a hard-fought 2-0 win over Oxford United to move four points ahead of second-placed Doncaster Rovers Belles.
And while it was not his side’s most comprehensive performance of the season, Mulhern admits any win will do.
He said: “You have to win ugly sometimes. Good teams win ugly. You can’t be flamboyant and flash every week, and we’re grinding out results like last week.
“I was more pleased with the second half than the first. We weren’t very good in the first half. We had a chat at half-time about one or two things because our decisions on the ball weren’t as good as what we normally are.
“We were much more positive in the second half. Emma Kelly came on as a substitute and had a big impact.”
The Belles lost ground on the leaders after they were left frustrated in a goalless draw with Durham.
Durham fought hard for a point as Doncaster missed a host of opportunities, Ashleigh Mills going closest when her 90th-minute effort struck the crossbar.
Elsewhere Olivia Fergusson’s second-half strike earned Aston Villa a 1-0 win over London Bees.
And Sarah Lawler’s reign as Yeovil Town manager ended in a 3-0 defeat against Watford, who continued their recent good form with goals from Jo Wilson, Chloe Gunn and Emma Beckett.
Lawler will pass on managerial duties to Jamie Sherwood and she believes the club can continue to move forwards.
She said: “Watford capitalised on a bad start from us and that put us on the back foot and from there on we probably put ourselves under a bit of pressure.
“The important thing now is how we move forward, and what this lot of girls will do is stick together and make sure that they make the strike.
“Watford capitalised on a bad start from us and that put us on the back foot and from there on we probably put ourselves under a bit of pressure.
“Jamie is a quality person and a quality coach and I’m really pleased for him and he’ll fit right in with the girls.”
