West Ham host Manchester United at the Rush Green Stadium on Sunday. The game will be the first of four crucial games in December, where they can seal progression to the knockout stages of the Women’s Continental League Cup later in the month.
Recent Form
West Ham’s recent form has been inconsistent throughout the month of November, winning two and losing two of their four games.
The Hammers will be desperate for a win after losing their last two league games, conceding eight goals in the process.
Manchester United go into the game on the back of an impressive run, only losing to league leaders, Chelsea.
After winning the Women’s Super League 2 championship last season, they’ve taken their momentum into this season and are currently in fifth place, just four points behind Chelsea.
Attack Against Defence
West Ham boast the second worst defence in the league, conceding 16 goals in their opening 7 games. Despite being 2-0 ahead in their recent home game to Reading and playing against ten women for the majority of the second half, The Hammers defence capitulated as they conceded 3 goals in seven minutes.
Manchester United recently recorded an 11-1 home win against Leicester City in the League Cup which doesn’t bode well for the Hammers who haven’t kept a clean sheet in the league all season.
United also have the second-best defence in the league, conceding just three goals this season resulting in 1-0 defeats, showing that they’re difficult to score against.
This doesn’t favour West Ham who have scored more than one goal just once in the league this season.
The Return of Jane Moss
The fixture will mark a return for former West Ham striker Jane Moss, who scored eleven goals in her only season for the East London side.
This season, the Scottish striker has scored once in six league games and will be looking to add to her tally against her former employers on Sunday.
Having played in Scotland, Sweden and Manchester City in her career, the 30-year-old has scored 124 goals in 201 games. Ross’ best goal scoring season came in 2012, scoring 37 goals in 27 games for Glasgow City.
Key Players
Leanne Kiernan has been one of West Ham’s standout performers this season. Scoring in the league and the League Cup, the young forward has also been capped by the Irish national team.
Keirnan was complimentary of her teammates when she spoke to the club’s website prior to the upcoming game:
“I’m really enjoying the season so far. We’ve got a good squad and we’ve got some great players here. We need to believe in ourselves to get the results we want. We just have to be positive.”
Another one of the Hammers star performers this season has been Kenza Dali. The French international is West Ham’s top scorer this season with four goals in all competitions, taking up the goal scoring responsibility from the injured Martha Thomas.
The attacking midfielder registered an assist in West Ham’s recent home loss to Reading.
