Bristol City Women will face relegation rivals West Ham United Women in Sunday's Women's Super League fixture at Ashton Gate.
The Robins are currently propping up the table with only five points to their name, while West Ham are just one place above their hosts due to their goal difference advantage.
Match preview
© Reuters
Bristol City have found it tough going in their first season back in the top flight, having won just one of their 11 league games this season (D2, D8).
In fact, their only win of the WSL season took place in the reverse fixture against West Ham in November when Amalie Thestrup, Ella Powell and Brooke Aspin all found the net in a 3-2 victory.
Unfortunately for the Robins, they were on the wrong side of a 3-2 scoreline last Sunday's away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Goals from Abi Harrison and Carrie Jones saw Lauren Smith's side fight back on two occasions, but they were left empty-handed after Elisabeth Terland registered a 95th-minute winner.
Having lost all five of their home league games this term, the Robins will be desperate to clinch a positive result in front of their own supporters on Sunday.
© Reuters
After beating Brighton 2-0 on the second weekend of the season, West Ham have gone nine WSL matches without picking up a victory.
In last Sunday's league clash with Tottenham Hotspur, the Hammers fought back from 3-1 down to level the scoreline thanks to goals from Viviane Asseyi and Amber Tysiak, but a 75th-minute winner from Jess Naz condemned the Irons to their fourth defeat in five league games.
Matters got worse for West Ham in midweek, as they fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat to second-tier Birmingham City in the League Cup to confirm their third-placed finish and a group-stage exit.
They will have to pick themselves up for their first away meeting with Bristol City since recording a 4-0 in December 2020.
Although they have lost three of their five away league matches this season (W1, D1), each of those defeats took place against teams currently in the top four.
- L
- D
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- D
- L
- L
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Bristol City are still without Fran Bentley, Rachel Furness and Aspin who are recovering from their respective injury issues.
After joining the Robins from West Ham on Thursday, Lisa Evans is likely to feature among the substitutes for Sunday's game against her former side.
Danish striker Thestrup will look to add to her five-goal tally for the WSL season when she features up front for the hosts.
As for the visitors, Abbey-Leigh Stringer is a doubt after she was forced off in the first half of Wednesday's League Cup defeat to Birmingham.
Tottenham Hotspur loanee Shelina Zadorsky is expected to come into the side after being ineligible for the club's last two matches.
Zadorsky's fellow January signing Katrina Gorry is set to start a second consecutive league game in the West Ham midfield.
Bristol City Women possible starting lineup:
Yanez; Layzell, Connolly, Mustaki; Powell, Rodgers, Jones, Napier; Syme; Harrison, Thestrup
West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:
Arnold; Cooke, Cissoko, Zadorsky; Shimizu, Snerle, Gorry, Hayashi, Smith; Asseyi, Ueki
We say: Bristol City Women 1-1 West Ham United Women
With both teams level on five points, Sunday's contest could prove to be crucial in the battle to remain in the top flight.
However, with the two sides finding wins hard to come by, we think that they will have to settle for a share of the spoils in Sunday's contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Sully
