Carla Ward’s Aston Villa Women look to bounce back from consecutive defeats in the Women’s Super League as they take on Melissa Phillips’ Brighton & Hove Albion at the Bescot Stadium.
Here’s the latest heading into this evening’s clash with the Seagulls…
Assistant Editor: Liam Davies
THE BUILD UP
Aston Villa Women look to turn their Women’s Super League form around this week, following recent defeats to Everton and Manchester City.
The Villans find themselves near the bottom of the WSL table (in tenth), having won just two of their nine fixtures this term, but enter today’s game on the back of a mid-week victory in the Conti Cup.
Ward’s team faced up against Women’s Championship side Durham at home and came away 5-1 victors with Adriana Leon, Rachel Corsie and Rachel Daly (3) on the scoresheet.
This result extended the claret and blue outfit’s lead at the top of Group A, with the West-Midlands side boasting three wins from win, scoring 17 goals in that time and conceding just once.
Ward will hope to translate the cup form into the league today as they face a Seagulls side that sit two points ahead of them in ninth.
Melissa Phillips’ women came from 2-0 down to draw with Willie Kirk’s Leicester City last time out in the Women’s Super League.
Lena Petermann and Jutta Rantala put the Foxes ahead, scoring either side of half-time, but two late goals from striker Elisabeth Terland helped Brighton to a point at The Broadfield Stadium.
Ahead of Villa’s final fixture of the year, Carla Ward spoke to the media, discussing the prospect of victory and the weekend opponents, Brighton & Hove Albion.
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TEAM NEWS
ASTON VILLA
Carla Ward will be without starting goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar for this weekend’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Dutch international was involved in a clash of heads during the previous WSL fixture against Manchester City and, under concussion protocols, will miss the home clash with the Seagulls.
On her number one, Ward said: “Daph [van Domselaar] took a hit to the head in quite a nasty collision. She’s out with concussion.”
Villa are reportedly working on bringing in another ‘keeper on an emergency loan for tomorrow’s WSL fixture, with Anna Leat the only fit shot-stopper in the squad.
Forward Alisha Lehmann is considered a ‘doubt’ for the game at the Bescot Stadium, having missed the last two with a knee injury sustained during the international break.
Elsewhere, centre-half Dan Turner is ‘unlikely to feature’, having picked up a knee problem during the defeat to Gareth Taylor’s City.
On the two, Ward said: “Lehmann is still a doubt. She came back from the international break with a knee injury which we’ve been managing. Not sure if she’ll make it into the squad.
Meanwhile, the Villans’ head coach is hopeful that Simone Magill will return to the fold after missing the mid-week clash with Durham through injury.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Brighton head coach Melissa Phillips could welcome duo forward Julia Zigiotti and midfielder Lee Geum-min back for today’s away fixture against Aston Villa.
The two both missed the recent draw with Leicester City through injury but returned to training earlier in the week.
On the pair, Phillips said: “We had a couple players out of the squad – Julia (Zigiotti) and Lee (Geummin) – last weekend. They have trained this week and we’re hopeful to have both of them on Sunday.”
Alongside the returning pair, Phillips has a fully fit squad to take on Ward’s Villans, including the likes of Elisabeth Terland, Guro Bergsvand and Maria Thorisdottir.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
Let’s take a look at my predicted line-up for this upcoming fixture at the Bescot Stadium…
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share yours now and let’s discuss?
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VILLA BELLAS
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