Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Women’s Super League clash between Brighton & Hove Albion Women and Aston Villa Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Brighton & Hove Albion Women will welcome Aston Villa to Broadfield Stadium for Sunday’s Women’s Super League contest.
The Seagulls head into the weekend in 10th place in the WSL, while the Villans are two points better off in eighth position.
Match preview
© Reuters
Brighton head into Sunday’s fixture off the back of a three-game winless run, leaving them without a win since beating Leicester City 3-2 on March 24.
After playing out a goalless affair against West Ham United, the Seagulls went on to suffer a narrow 2-1 defeat in their home meeting with Everton.
They looked set to bounce back with a win when Elisabeth Terland opened the scoring in last Sunday’s away game against Tottenham Hotspur.
However, Bethany England netted an 81st-minute equaliser to ensure the spoils were shared, leaving Mikey Harris‘s side in eighth spot with 19 points to their name.
The Seagulls will now return to Broadfield Stadium, where they will attempt to end a run of four consecutive home league defeats.
© Reuters
Like their hosts, Aston Villa are also looking to end a poor spell of form after failing to win any of their last four matches.
The Villans lost to Arsenal and Chelsea on either side of a draw with Leicester, before they were held to a point in last Sunday’s home clash with West Ham United.
Alisha Lehmann thought she had won the game with her 71st-minute effort, only to see her effort cancelled out by Shannon Cooke in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Having mustered 21 points from 20 matches, Carla Ward‘s side will fall considerably short of the 37-point tally that saw them finish in fifth place last season.
Although they may have experienced an underwhelming campaign, Aston Villa have the chance to complete a league double in their final away game after recording a narrow 1-0 win in December’s reverse league fixture.
Brighton & Hove Albion Women Women’s Super League form:
Brighton & Hove Albion Women form (all competitions):
Team News
© Reuters
Brighton midfielder Julia Zigiotti Olme is a doubt after she was drawn in the first half against Tottenham following a clash of heads.
Portugal international Tatiana Pinto could be brought into the side if Zigiotti Olme is unable to take her place in the side.
Having scored 13 goals in 20 WSL appearances this season, Terland will be looking to add to her impressive tally when she leads the line against Aston Villa.
As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon the services of goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar due to a hip injury.
Lucy Park and Lucy Staniforth are both closing in on a return to fitness, but it remains to be seen whether she will be passed fit for Sunday’s contest.
Goalkeeper Anna Leat and defender Rachel Corsie are both available for selection after serving one-match suspensions.
Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:
Loeck; Bremer, Bergsvand, Thorisdottir, Pattinson; Symonds, Losada, Zigiotti Olme; Haley, Lee, Terland
Aston Villa Women possible starting lineup:
Leat; Mayling, Patten, Turner, Maritz; Nobbs, Taylor; Leon, Dali, Hanson, Daly
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion Women 0-2 Aston Villa Women
Brighton have lost each of their last four home matches, and we think that run will continue against an Aston Villa side that has won three of their previous five away league games.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.