After the men’s impressive turnout against Leicester yesterday evening, the women’s team will be hoping for similar fortunes this afternoon (3 pm BST) at the King Power Stadium against a Leicester side who are anticipated by many to struggle this season following their narrow escape from relegation last campaign.
Although Rehanne Skinner’s side are tipped by many to just miss out on the Champions League spots this season, it has not deterred the Spurs Women’s head coach from demanding an improvement on last season’s fifth-place finish.
Speaking to Sky Sports regarding Spurs’ aims this season, Skinner reflected on last season’s shortcomings and this season’s aims on stating:
“We had a fantastic end to last season, but we had some disruption with injuries and losing some players to the Asia Cup in January.
We’ve got to be better in the second half of the season this year. That’s then an improvement on last year and it helps keep us striving towards being in a higher position in the league.”
A curtain-raiser against a team that stayed up by two points, and one that we beat home and away last year, is an ideal opportunity to get off to a strong start, make a statement to the top three and see our seven new signings in action.
Indeed, like the men’s team, the women’s side have recruited seven new faces this summer, a combination of experienced WSL names such as Drew Spence, Ramona Petzelberger, Amy Turner, Ellie Brazil, and Angharad James, and less experienced European prospects in forwards Nikola Karczewska and Celin Bizet Ildhusoy.
All seven are in the matchday squad, with three starting in the line-up and four on the bench:
R. Spencer, A Turner, Bartrip, Zadorsky (C), Neville, James, Summanen, Ale, D. Spence, Ngunga, Ayane.
Substitutes: Korpela, Cho, Karczewska, E Brazil, Petzelberger, Ildhusoy, Simon, Pearse.
The match is available to watch on FA Player. COYS!