Match Preview: Blackburn Rovers Ladies vs. LCFC Women

LCFC Women
19 Dec 2020
4 Minutes
Two in-form teams will go head-to-head on Sunday as LCFC Women travel to take on Blackburn Rovers Ladies at Bamber Bridge.

- LCFC Women travel to face Blackburn Rovers Ladies at Bamber Bridge on Sunday (2pm kick-off)
- The FA Women's Championship fixture is the Foxes' final game of 2020
- City sit top of the table and unbeaten in six games all competitions, while Rovers are fifth and also unbeaten in six
- The game will be broadcast live on The FA Player and you can also follow the action on @LCFC social channels

The Sir Tom Finney Stadium is the venue for an FA Women's Championship clash between top of the table Leicester City and fifth-place Blackburn Rovers.

Here's all the information you need ahead of the 2pm kick-off in Lancashire, for what will be the final fixture before a Christmas break.

The Foxes camp

City's momentum continues to build following a 2-0 victory over Charlton Athletic at The Oakwood last weekend, keeping the Foxes at the Championship summit by a single point.

Another stunning strike from Natasha Flint - her eighth league goal of the campaign - put the away side in front before Remi Allen scored a deserved second goal with 12 minutes remaining, after some neat build-up play from Charlie Devlin.

Another three points against Blackburn would make it seven games unbeaten in all competitions and ensure Leicester remain top of the pile heading into the New Year.

Opposition form guide

The Lancashire club are enjoying their best-ever run in the FA Women's Championship.

Rovers are the other in-form team in the division, unbeaten in six games, with draws against three of the top four - Liverpool, Durham and Sheffield United - backed up by victories over London City Lionesses (1-0), London Bees (3-0) and Coventry United (1-0) in recent weeks.

Gemma Donnelly's side were 2-0 up inside six minutes against the Blades last time out, thanks to strikes from Maria Edwards and Saffron Jordan, but were pegged back before eventually drawing 3-3 at Technique Stadium.

The Lancashire outfit currently sit on 15 points from their 10 fixtures, eight points behind Leicester in top spot.

Three to watch

Goalkeeper Alex Brooks has been in superb form for Rovers since taking the No.1 spot.

Goalkeeper Alex Brooks picked up the Championship Player of the Month award after keeping three clean sheets in November and five consecutive league shutouts in total. The 25-year-old had not conceded a goal from open play in 535 minutes of action, before Courtney Sweetman-Kirk's late leveller for Sheffield last weekend.

On loan Everton forward Elise Hughes was Rovers' second nominee for the latest monthly prize, scoring four goals in four games across November, including two against London Bees and a penalty versus Coventry, which secured victory for the Blues. The Welsh international also found the net against the Foxes in last month's Continental Tyres League Cup fixture.

Another loanee looking to make an impact for Rovers is 17-year-old winger Maria Edwards, who found the net for the first time since her move from Manchester United, last weekend. The England Under-18s international scored after just 24 seconds to give the visitors the lead against Sheffield United and will be hoping to add to her tally on Sunday.

Talking points

Jonathan Morgan gave his thoughts ahead of another tough test for LCFC Women.

LCFC Women manager Jonathan Morgan said: "We understand they’re going to be organised, but we’ve got a game plan which we hope can work in our favour. We’re under no illusions about the quality they possess, though. They’ve obviously pulled themselves into the top five in the league, so we know what to expect."

Rovers Ladies manager Gemma Donnelly told rovers.co.uk: "This will be the third time that we've played Leicester this season and they are such a strong team, they have got quality in abundance, so it's good opportunity to gauge ourselves against one of the best teams in the league, at home."

Last time out

The Foxes have already come out on top twice against Blackburn, winning 3-0 on the opening day of the league season at Farley Way Stadium thanks to Charlie Devlin's opener and a Natasha Flint double.

A 5-2 victory in early November, meanwhile, helped City to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Continental Tyres League Cup.

Flint (2) and Devlin were again on the scoresheet, alongside Paige Bailey-Gayle and a late own goal from Kayleigh McDonald, while Charlotte Newsham and Elise Hughes scored for Rovers.

How to follow

City celebrate Natasha Flint's opener against Charlton last Sunday.

The game will be available to watch live and for free on The FA Player platform (free sign up), while @LCFC social channels will have you covered with all the build-up, as well as posting regular match updates from Bamber Bridge.

After the full-time whistle blows, head over to LCFC.com for a comprehensive round-up of the day's action, followed by highlights and post-match interviews on LCFC TV.

All times GMT.