Preview: West Ham United Women vs. Reading Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Reading Women will be targeting a third successive league win when they travel to West Ham United Women on Sunday.

The Royals have recovered from a poor start to the campaign and sit ninth in the Women's Super League table, while the Hammers are two points better off in sixth.

Match preview

© Reuters

West Ham have made their best ever start to a Women's Super League campaign, picking up eight points from their opening six matches.

A 4-0 loss to Arsenal last weekend was their first defeat since the opening day of the season, with Olli Harder suggesting that his side lacked quality against the league leaders, despite no lack of effort.

The Hammers remain unbeaten on home turf in 2021-22, winning one and drawing two of their WSL matches at Victoria Road.

West Ham thrashed Reading 5-0 the last time that the two teams met in April, with all of their goals coming in a stunning first half at the Select Car Leasing Stadium; Martha Thomas netted a hat-trick but then joined Manchester United in the summer.

That result was one of only three league wins that they recorded last season and stands as the club's joint-biggest victory in the WSL.

Reading lost their opening four matches of this season without even scoring a goal, but they have now recorded back-to-back 3-0 wins over Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

Kelly Chambers praised her team for executing the game plan brilliantly at St. Andrew's last weekend, as Natasha Dowie opened the scoring less than two minutes after half time and then Deanne Rose netted a brace.

The Royals will now be on the hunt for a third successive league win for the first time since April 2019 and will know that victory will also see them leapfrog West Ham in the table.

Reading's win at Birmingham was their first away from home since February, but they did triumph 1-0 at Victoria Road last season.

Team News

West Ham forward Adriana Leon has undergone successful foot surgery this week and now begins her recovery, while Maisy Barker is also on the sidelines.

Grace Fisk made her return from injury as a half-time substitute last weekend and is pushing for a start this time around.

Loanee Lisa Evans is available for selection again after being ineligible to play against parent club Arsenal.

Kelly Chambers could name an unchanged starting XI following such a comprehensive win over Birmingham last weekend.

Welsh international Rachel Rowe missed the trip to St. Andrew's with a muscle issue, leaving her as a doubt for this game.

Deanne Rose's two goals against the Blues were her first for Reading since joining in the summer; she is beginning to form a strong partnership with Natasha Dowie in attack.

West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:

Arnold; Fisk, Flaherty, Longhurst; Svitkova, Yallop, Filis, Wyne; Hasegawa, Walker, Stringer

Reading Women possible starting lineup:

Moloney; Bryson, Cooper, Evans, Harding; Eikeland, Vanhaevermaet, Chaplen, Woodham; Rose, Dowie

We say: West Ham United Women 2-2 Reading Women

There is little to separate these two teams in the league table and we think there will be little to separate them on the field. Reading will come into the game in a confident mood, but West Ham have shown plenty of promise this season and will want to protect their unbeaten home record.