Tottenham Women Await For The Foxes In WSL
The final fixture of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League campaign sees fifth-placed Spurs face 11th-placed Leicester, with a chance for the visitors to add to their points tally without the pressure of a relegation battle.
Prior to the action getting underway in London, here's all the information you need to know on both sides…
The Foxes camp
A 0-0 draw against Reading at King Power Stadium last weekend - the team's first stalemate of the season - edged City closer to WSL survival before Birmingham City's defeat in midweek confirmed that Leicester would be playing top-flight football once more in 2022/23.
Lydia Bedford revealed in her pre-match press conference that LCFC Women will take strength in numbers to the capital, with recent injury woes eased ahead of the trip, boosting hopes of a positive end to the Club's debut campaign at this level.
The opposition
Tottenham are set to finish in the top half of the WSL for the first time and avoiding defeat against Leicester will assure they secure fifth place in the final standings. Currently sitting on 29 points from 21 matches, a memorable win over Manchester City at Academy Stadium was one of the highlights.
However, a tough run of form, without a win since mid-February and losing five of their last six, has seen Spurs slip away from the race to finish in the final UEFA Women's Champions League spot.
The north London outfit also capped off a solid year by reaching the Continental Tyres League Cup Semi-Finals, negotiating the group stage and defeating Liverpool in the last-eight before the Citizens proved too strong.
In the dugout
Tottenham head coach Rehanne Skinner is a former LCFC Women player, who also progressed through the coaching ranks with the Foxes. She took on the roles of Girls Centre of Excellence Technical Director, Girls Under-19 Academy Director, Community Manager, and Women’s First Team Manager.
In November 2020, Rehanne became Tottenham Hotspur Women’s head coach, since continuing the 11-year success of Karen Hills and the nine-year reign of Juan Carlos Amorós. In Skinner, Spurs have a coach with plenty of experience across club and international football.
Spurs finished eighth in the WSL in 2020/21 and Skinner has now guaranteed the team's highest-ever finish during her first full season in charge.
Ones to watch
Ashleigh Neville has been a standout performer for Spurs this campaign, recently signing a new contract to keep her at the club until 2025. The full-back registered two goals, an assist and two clean sheets in two games across February to win WSL Player of the Month - the first Tottenham player to receive the accolade.
A summer signing from Reading, Molly Bartrip, 25, has played every minute of Tottenham's league campaign, impressing in the centre of defence this term. Previously spending seven seasons with the Royals, racking up over a century of appearances, her experience has been key for the north London club.
Moroccan international Rosella Ayane joined the Lilywhites in 2019 after leaving Bristol City, though the Reading-born forward began her senior career at Chelsea in 2013. Multiple loan spells followed from 2015 onwards at Millwall, Bristol City and Everton before moving to Cypriot First Division club, Apollon Limassol. The 26-year-old has appeared 16 times in the WSL this season, scoring once.
Last time out
Although Tottenham got the better of the Foxes in the reverse league fixture at King Power Stadium, winning 2-0 courtesy of goals from former Fox Rachel Williams and Angela Addison, it was Leicester who triumphed on their last trip to the capital in January 2022.
Coming from a goal down to win 3-1 after extra-time in the Vitality Women's FA Cup Fourth Round tie at The Hive, Shannon O'Brien, Sophie Howard and Esmee De Graaf were all on the scoresheet.
Ticket news
Match tickets remain on sale, priced at £6.50 for adults, £4.50 for young adults (18-21-year-olds) and £3.50 for seniors (over-65s) and juniors (aged 17 and under). Tickets must be purchased directly from the home team. Please note that Fox Travel for this fixture is sold out.