Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion Women vs. Leicester Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Leicester Women are still looking for their first win in the Women's Super League, while Brighton & Hove Albion Women secured back-to-back wins in the league last time out, and the two teams meet at The Amex on Sunday.

The Seagulls are sitting healthily in fourth spot in the WSL, their best-ever start to a top-flight campaign, while the Foxes are rooted to the bottom of the league in their first season in this division.

Match preview

© Reuters

Hope Powell's side bounced back from disappointment in the FA Cup, after being knocked out by Arsenal in the semi-final, by defeating Jean-Luc Vasseur's new Everton team last weekend.

Aileen Whelan netted her first WSL goal of the season to secure a 1-0 win for Brighton at Walton Hall Park, and those three points meant that the Seagulls leapfrogged Manchester United into fourth spot, after the Red Devils dropped two points against Tottenham Hotspur.

Brighton's points return at home and away is exactly the same so far this season, claiming six points on the South Coast and as many points on their travels, but they have managed to score three more goals away from home.

A major contributor to that stat is the 5-0 result which Brighton secured when they travelled to face Birmingham earlier in the season, but coming up against a side which is rooted to the foot of the table perhaps presents an opportunity to increase their goalscoring stats at The Amex.

Despite sitting 12th in the table with the worst defensive stats to their name, Leicester City have shown signs of resilience this season, demonstrated in their away performance against Chelsea before the international break.

However, on return to WSL action last weekend, Jonathan Morgan's side suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City, in what turned out to be a comfortable day for Gareth Taylor's team.

Jessica Sigsworth got the Foxes off to the perfect start in that game, netting her first goal of the season inside two minutes, but from there on in Man City gained a foothold in the game and their pressure on Leicester's defence paid off.

The Foxes will be wondering where their first points of the season are going to come from, but by all means they must record at least a draw soon, to put pressure on 11th-placed Birmingham City.

As only one team gets relegated from the top flight come the end of May, Morgan's side are well within their target of survival in the WSL, currently only one point behind Birmingham, but it will be a confidence boost for the squad if they can lift themselves off the foot of the table.

For their first win of the season to come on Sunday, Leicester will have to produce a better performance than their previous six league outings, and Brighton will be confident of making it three consecutive wins in the WSL for the first time this season.

Team News

Powell set her side up with a back five against Everton, as opposed to a back four which Brighton have mainly set up with this term, and that leaves Geum-Min Lee and Danielle Carter to lead the line at the other end of the pitch.

Whelan is certain to start for the hosts in a midfield along with Megan Connolly and Inessa Kaagman, while Emma Koivisto and Felicity Gibbons will provide the width from their wing-back positions.

Goalkeeper Megan Walsh picked up her third clean sheet last time out against Everton, and only Arsenal keeper Manuela Zinsberger can better that stat so far.

Leicester right-back Georgia Brougham was forced off after just 34 minutes against Manchester City due to injury, and she was replaced by Sophie Howard, who is expected to start this weekend.

Sigsworth is certain to lead the attack for Leicester and she will be joined by Paige Bailey-Gayle up top, with the latter still in search of her first WSL goal.

Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:

Walsh; Williams, Kerkdijk, Le Tissier; Gibbons, Whelan, Connolly, Kaagman, Koivisto; Lee, Carter

Leicester Women possible starting lineup:

Levell; Purfield, Plumptre, McManus, Howard; De Graaf, Pike, Tierney, O'Brien; Sigsworth, Bailey-Gayle

We say: Brighton & Hove Albion Women 2-1 Leicester Women

Leicester's last away performance against Chelsea will give them confidence, despite the result, as they frustrated the champions for large periods, and that could help the visitors keep the game a tight affair on Sunday.

Brighton, however, are full of confidence after back-to-back WSL wins and Powell will know the significance of stringing three victories together in their quest to continue to challenge the top three.