Villa Women Clash Previewed Ahead Of WSL Meeting
Going in search of a third consecutive home league victory, City have the momentum of last weekend’s success over Brighton & Hove Albion behind them and a win on Sunday move the Foxes to within one point of their visitors.
Ahead of the encounter with Carla Ward’s side in Burton, take a look at the key information to know…
The Foxes camp
It’s two wins out of two for Lydia Bedford at King Power Stadium thanks to Shannon O’Brien’s second-half finish against Brighton, which lifted the Foxes above Birmingham City in the top-flight standings, a month on from overcoming the Midlands side on Filbert Way.
Able to welcome back forwards Natasha Flint and Jess Sigsworth to the matchday squad against the Seagulls, the latter played 90 minutes on Filbert Way. Missy Goodwin was also handed her debut as a substitute, while fellow January signing Freya Gregory made her first start for the Club, but will be ineligible to face her parent club on Sunday.
At the other end of the pitch, Demi Lambourne has now kept back-to-back home clean sheets in the WSL.
The opposition
After a promising start to the season, taking seven points from their first three league fixtures, Aston Villa have lost their last four by an aggregate score of 15-1, though three of the games came against Manchester City and Manchester United.
They currently sit in 10th on 10 points, with their last WSL victory coming at St. Andrew's Stadium, against arch-rivals Birmingham City on 14 November, 2021.
In the dugout
Former Birmingham City and Sheffield United manager Carla Ward took charge of Villa in May 2021, following the conclusion of the 2020/21 campaign. Keeping Blues in the top-flight, her side eventually finished 11th, one place below their second city rivals, who collected 15 points from their 22 games and achieved survival with a draw away to Arsenal on the final day of their maiden campaign in the WSL.
Ones to watch
Villa made a host of signings ahead of the new season, including England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton from rivals Birmingham City and Swiss international winger Alisha Lehmann from West Ham United.
With three goals to her name, former Leicester midfielder Remi Allen, who left the Foxes in the summer, is Villa’s top scorer so far this term. Previously of Reading and Birmingham, the midfielder’s WSL knowhow has proved crucial and added a decade of top-flight experience to the Villa side.
Another former Fox who played a part in gaining promotion from the FA Women’s Championship in 2020/21 is Republic of Ireland international Ruesha Littlejohn. The versatile forward left Birmingham ahead of signing for Villa.
A long-term member of the squad, German defender Marisa Ewers, brought up 50 appearances for Villa last week after a spell with rivals Birmingham.
Talking points
Manager Lydia Bedford told the media: “No one is getting ahead of themselves. We are very focused on each game as it comes and the girls know that they can’t be enjoying last weekend too much because we can’t take our eyes off what we have to achieve this weekend.”
Defender Esmee De Graaf spoke about playing at home again on Sunday: “It’s very important. If other opponents are coming, they must think it’s going to be a tough game because Leicester are doing well. I think we need to ensure that we keep that going.”
Last time out
The opening match of the 2021/22 campaign – and Leicester’s first-ever fixture in the WSL – saw the Foxes travel to Banks’ Stadium, taking the lead via Natasha Flint’s first-half strike, only for Sarah Mayling and Remi Allen to turn the game in Villa’s favour during the second half.
Ticket news
Match tickets can be purchased from the Pirelli Stadium ticket office on matchday, alongside limited pay-on-the-day car parking, which is priced at £5 per space.
Tickets are priced at £7 for over-18s, £3.50 for seniors (65+) and £3 for under-18s, while under-8s go free. Please not that online tickets are no longer available to buy for this fixture.