City Tackle The Royals In Crucial WSL Clash
The Foxes’ final home fixture of 2021/22 sees Kelly Chambers' side arrive on Filbert Way sitting eighth in the table, but like Leicester, are a side struggling for form as the campaign moves towards its conclusion.
For City, it is all about aiming to seal a second season of top-flight football. Ahead of the action kicking off at King Power Stadium on Sunday afternoon, take a look across all the information you need to know…
The Foxes camp
Leicester fell to a 4-0 reverse at Manchester City’s Academy Stadium in their previous league fixture last Sunday, a fifth successive defeat for the team managed by Lydia Bedford.
Abbie McManus and Molly Pike both came back from injury to start the encounter, while there was also a long-awaited return for Connie Scofield, who was introduced from the bench in the second half.
The Foxes hold a four-point lead over 12th-placed Birmingham City, who currently occupy the only relegation spot in the WSL. A trip to face Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium awaits in their final fixture next Sunday (12pm kick-off).
The opposition
The Royals produced an impressive performance to secure a 1-0 victory over WSL title-holders and current league leaders Chelsea in their final home fixture of 2021 on 11 December, courtesy of Deanne Rose’s fourth-minute strike.
The in-form team in the division heading into the Christmas break, Reading have since dipped and, after beating Everton 2-1 in early February, have gone eight league games without a win, losing six.
Currently on 24 points from their 20 matches, Kelly Chambers' outfit could finish as high as fifth or as low as 10th, and still have plenty to play for, with a final-day fixture against Manchester City to come.
In the dugout
Kelly Chambers is Reading’s long-serving manager and director of football, having taken up the post following her retirement from playing, which included a five-year spell with the Royals between 2007 and 2012, during which she became club captain.
The 36-year-old oversaw the transition from a third-tier, part-time outfit, into a professional side in the top-flight, earning promotion into the FA Women’s Championship (then WSL 2) and up to the WSL in 2015, finishing fourth in 2017/18.
One to watch
Experienced forward Natasha Dowie returned to English shores last summer to sign for Reading, following five years playing for Boston Breakers, Melbourne Victory, Linköping, Vålerenga, and AC Milan.
The striker’s career before that was similarly varied, starting out at Watford before spells with Fulham, Charlton Athletic, Barnet, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Liverpool – where she won the WSL title two years running, also being named in the 2014 WSL PFA Team of the Year, after finishing 2013 as the league’s top goalscorer.
Her spell with their Merseyside rivals Everton included winning the 2010 Women's FA Cup, with Dowie named as Player of the Match in the final. She has 14 senior England caps to her name and scored the only goal when the teams last met – one of six strikes for the Royals in 15 league games this term.
Last time out
A closely-contested reverse fixture at Select Car Leasing Stadium ended in a 1-0 victory for Reading in January 2022. Natasha Dowie’s stunning early goal proved the difference between the sides and, despite Demi Lambourne’s penalty save, the hosts took the points.
Leicester last hosted Reading for a match back in February 2020 in the Women’s FA Cup, with the Foxes winning 2-1 after extra-time thanks to a brace from Paige Bailey-Gayle.
Ticket news
Match tickets are currently on general sale, priced at £7 for adults, £3.50 for over-65s and £3 for under-18s, with under-16s going free alongside a paying adult. Click HERE to purchase yours ahead of the weekend.