There is midweek action in the Women’s Super League tonight, with four matches taking place that have big implications at both ends of the table.
Women’s Super League Action in Midweek
Everton Host Chelsea in the Women’s Super League,
Chelsea are back in league action after storming to victory in the Continental League Cup final with a 6-0 win over Bristol City on March 14.
It is a case of one down, two to go for the Blues, who will be aiming to add the WSL and Women’s Champions League to their collection of trophies this season.
Since a shock 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on February 7, Emma Hayes’ side are now unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, which included overcoming Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 and that aforementioned cup final win over Bristol City.
Everton have more modest aspirations this season but have nevertheless made good progress under Willie Kirk this season.
The Toffees bounced back from a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City with a convincing 4-0 win over a struggling Birmingham City side on March 11.
They sit fifth in the table with 25 points from 16 games, in what has so far been an impressive season for the Merseyside club.
Prediction: 0-3
Everton will put up more of a fight than Bristol did on Sunday, but it is hard to bet against Chelsea coming out on top once again.
Aston Villa Take on Brighton
This would have been viewed as a pivotal bottom-of-the-table clash just a few weeks ago, but Brighton’s record-breaking three-game winning streak in the league has left them sitting comfortably in mid-table.
Wins over Chelsea, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur leave Hope Powell’s side seventh and ten points above the Hammers at the foot of the table.
For Villa, the situation is far more precarious and that promising 1-0 win over Spurs has been followed by bruising 4-0 and 3-0 defeats to Arsenal and Manchester United respectively.
They sit tenth and only two points above bottom club West Ham, but head into this game taking solace from their 2-0 win over Brighton in this season’s reverse fixture back in November.
Prediction: 0-1
Aston Villa will certainly view this as a more winnable game following those matches against Arsenal and Manchester United, but Powell’s team are made of sterner stuff these days and it would not be a surprise to see them continue their winning run.
Bristol City Face Manchester City
Matt Beard’s side have had little time to dwell on their thumping Continental League Cup final defeat, with Manchester City up next at Twerton Park.
City have been in scintillating form after winning their last 14 matches in all competitions, which includes a nine-game winning sequence in the WSL.
Despite that form, City still have work to do in the title race and sit two points adrift of Chelsea at the top of the table.
The task is a daunting one for Bristol, but they will take heart from a 3-2 win over Reading last time out – a result which lifted Matt Beard’s side off the bottom of the table.
It has given them more than a fighting chance of beating the drop, but anything gained in this game would definitely be viewed as a bonus.
Prediction: 0-4
It is hard to see anything other than a comfortable City win here, with Gareth Taylor’s side ruthlessly swotting teams aside at the moment.
West Ham United Play Birmingham City
The division’s two most out-of-form sides come head-to-head at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, in what has become a crucial match in the bid to avoid the drop.
The Blues are now winless in each of their last seven games and were beaten 4-0 by Everton last time out.
It has been a troubling past few weeks for Carla Ward’s side, who have been forced to play their recent home matches at St George’s Park after issues with the playing surface at their main home ground in Solihull.
Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was also reportedly “left in tears” after the ill-timed news of her omission from the Team GB squad was confirmed just hours before their last match against Everton.
Life has not been much better for West Ham either, who have lost four of their last five WSL games.
They also confirmed the news that Canada international Adriana Leon would miss the rest of the season with a broken foot, adding to Leanne Kiernan and Mackenzie Arnold on the long-term injury list.
Prediction: 1-1
It doesn’t have the makings of a classic and this meeting between two sides lacking in form points to a draw to conclude an action filled midweek in the Women’s Super League.
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