Two teams in contrasting form meet at The People's Pension Stadium on Sunday, when fifth-placed Reading Women travel to face Brighton & Hove Albion Women.
After a tough start to this campaign, Reading have stormed up the table and now find themselves only three points off the top three, while Brighton have slipped down the league, now sitting in eighth and six points behind Sunday's visitors.
Match preview
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Hope Powell's side continued their poor run of form last weekend, when they travelled to face Tottenham Hotspur but they never managed to get a foothold in the game, eventually falling to a heavy 4-0 defeat.
The Seagulls saw just as much of the ball as Spurs in that game, but they could not translate their possession into chances like their hosts did, with Brighton failing to register a single shot on target.
That result means that Brighton's current winless run in all competitions was extended to 10 matches, a worrying streak of results after such a positive start to this campaign, when they did find themselves among the top three.
A mid-table finish seems the most likely outcome for Powell's side now, so they should be looking to turn their fortunes around so that they end the season well, to give them something favourable to head into next season with.
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Reading are in superb form, having put together an eight-game unbeaten run in the WSL, meaning that they have not tasted defeat since the beginning of October.
Kelly Chambers's side showed good character last weekend to come from behind to secure three points at Walton Hall Park against Everton, with goals from Natasha Dowie and youngster Tia Primmer sealing a 2-1 win late on.
Not only are the Royals just three points off Manchester United in third, they also have a game in hand on Spurs and United, meaning three points on Sunday could put them in prime position to sneak into the top three after the international break.
Reading will need to make sure that a third consecutive away game, having travelled to Brighton at the end of January also, does not affect their performance, but they will take confidence from their trip to face the Seagulls in the FA Cup two weeks ago.
The Royals were pegged back by Brighton in that FA Cup tie after initially taking a two-goal lead, but again Primmer was the hero on that day, scoring the winner in the 83rd minute.
Chambers's side also got the better of Powell's team in the reverse fixture in the WSL in November, when goals from Dowie and Emma Harries ensured a 2-0 win for Reading.
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Team News
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Powell has named the same side in her last two WSL matches and the Seagulls are likely to line up in a similar way despite defeat, meaning that Danielle Carter will continue to lead the line.
Ellie Brazil and Emma Koivisto will look to provide the width, with Inessa Kaagman aiming to add to her four goal contributions this season from her number 10 role.
Centre-backs Victoria Williams and Danique Kerkdijk will want to do a better job at protecting goalkeeper Megan Walsh after conceding four goals last weekend.
Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney was forced off just before half time due to injury against Birmingham City, but she returned to save a penalty last weekend against Everton and will retain her place between the posts.
Primmer has snatched the headlines during Reading's last two victories by scoring late winning goals, but she is likely to remain on the bench to start with, but is almost certain to come on in the second half and make an impact.
Chambers is not expected to change her starting lineup to the side that beat Everton, meaning that Deanne Rose will continue to lead the line alongside Dowie.
Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:
Walsh; Kullberg, Williams, Kerkdijk, Le Tissier; Connolly, Olme; Brazil, Kaagman, Koivisto; Carter
Reading Women possible starting lineup:
Moloney; Woodham, Evans, Harding, Bryson; Eikeland, Vanhaevermaet, Troelsgaard, Harries; Rose, Dowie
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion Women 1-2 Reading Women
Just two weeks ago these sides played out a five-goal thriller, which is why there is likely to be more goals between these two teams on Sunday.
Reading could not enter this match in much better form, and their momentum should be enough to see them edge this encounter and continue their charge for the top three.
Top tip
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Reading Women win with a probability of 51.72%. A win for Brighton & Hove Albion Women had a probability of 24.31% and a draw had a probability of 24%.
The most likely scoreline for a Reading Women win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.4%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (9.68%) and 0-2 (8.87%). The likeliest Brighton & Hove Albion Women win was 1-0 (6.66%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.35%). The actual scoreline of 4-1 was predicted with a 0.6% likelihood.
