Relegation-threatened Birmingham City Women enter a must-win encounter against West Ham United Women on Sunday, when the eighth-placed side travel to St Andrew's.

The Blues are going in search of just their second win of the campaign, which has left them rock bottom and eight points from safety with six games to play.

Match preview

© Reuters

Darren Carter's side are currently on a five-game losing run in the WSL, and have the FA Cup to thank for getting some wins under their belt in recent weeks.

Last time out, the Blues faced a tough challenge against league leaders Arsenal at Meadow Park, where Birmingham fell to a 4-2 defeat despite goals from Libby Smith and Lucy Quinn giving them some hope of a point towards the end of that match.

Despite defeat on Sunday, those two goals should be the focus of Carter and his side, as that showed they still have the fighting spirit they will need in the final few weeks of the campaign to complete a great escape.

Birmingham has an FA Cup and WSL outing against Chelsea to come, as well as a tough test against Manchester City in their final fixtures, putting major pressure on getting three points this weekend.

© Reuters

West Ham have already surpassed their points tally from last season, and look sure to better their ninth-placed finish from last year, which is all they can aim for in their final seven WSL matches.

Olli Harder's side were played off the park on Thursday evening by title-chasing Chelsea, with a 48th-minute strike from Dagny Brynjarsdottir only a consolation goal in their 4-1 defeat.

Sunday's outing will be a different sort of challenge for the Hammers, but they can expect their hosts to be full of fire as they fight for their survival in the top flight, meaning that West Ham will have to match that desire to avoid an upset.

West Ham will have to improve their away form next season if they are to achieve a better campaign, having only scored six goals on their travels while conceding 14 in eight matches.

These sides shared the spoils in the reverse fixture, which ended in a 1-1 draw, but the Hammers were comfortable 4-0 winners in their last meeting, which came in the League Cup in November.

Team News

© Reuters

Number one goalkeeper Emily Ramsey was forced to miss out last weekend due to injury, with Marie Hourihan filling in between the posts in the 21-year-old's absence.

Jade Pennock also missed out against Arsenal, but after nearly spiriting a full come back from 3-0 down against the league leaders, Carter is expected to name the same side to show that fight this Sunday.

Smith will lead the line, with Quinn and youngster Emily Whelan supporting the attack from a front three, while Harriet Scott, Louise Quinn and Gemma Lawley will have the responsibility of protecting keeper Hourihan.

West Ham will also operate with a defensive trio including Lucy Parker, Gilly Flaherty and Hawa Cissoko, with Zaneta Wyne and Kate Longhurst providing the width from their wing-back roles.

Brynjarsdottir offers an attacking threat from midfield, supporting Tameka Yallop and Claudia Walker, who will lead the line looking to add to their four goals between them this season.

Birmingham City Women possible starting lineup:
Hourihan; Scott, Louise Quinn, Lawley; Holloway, Sarri, Murray, Finn; Lucy Quinn, Smith, Whelan

West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:
Arnold; Cissoko, Flaherty, Parker; Wyne, Brynjarsdottir, Svitkova, Hasegawa, Longhurst; Walker, Yallop

We say: Birmingham City Women 2-1 West Ham United Women

This is a must-win game for Birmingham and they will put up a determined fight, which against a side with not much to play for apart from their own pride, could be enough to help them secure three points.

The Blues have shown before that they can perform well, particularly on home soil, having beaten Arsenal at St Andrew's this season, and that level of performance is expected on Sunday.

Written by
Sammy Wynne

Previews by email