Featured image credit: James Boyes (CC BY 2.0)
It’s been a turbulent start for Leicester City women, winless after their opening eight games, scoring only three goals in the process. As a result, the club parted ways with their manager Jonathan Morgan, who’d spent seven years at the club and earned them promotion from the Championship last season.
Lydia Bedford was appointed manager last week as Emile Heskey took interim charge of the foxes side that beat Manchester United in the WSL Cup. With tough games on the horizon against league leaders Arsenal and relegation candidates Birmingham City, we’ll preview the start of the Bedford era and earmark the starlets who could help reignite this East Midlands engine.
Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal were defeated in the COVID delayed FA Cup final at the hands of Chelsea who completed their domestic treble with the win. Bouncing back quickly will be of paramount importance to the Gunners.
Arsenal are currently unbeaten in the league with Vivianne Miedema (103), Beth Mead (110) and Katie McCabe (106) leading the side in ShePlays fantasy points scored. Miedema has scored the second most goals in the league this season but Leicester will be hoping that Natasha Flint can rediscover her goalscoring form from last season when she scored 20 goals.
The foxes have had some embers of a creative spark. Averaging 12 shot creating actions every 90 minutes and completing around 60% of their passes. Though overall, the lack of a clinical edge has really hampered the sides progress this season.
Despite conceding the second most goals this season, Leicester have held their own in some aspects of their defensive game. They rank third highest in both tackles won in the defensive third and on pressures applied upon the opposition.
With this in mind, Bedford’s blues will hope they can pounce on any lethargy remaining in the Arsenal side following their midweek European clash with Champions League winners Barcelona and claim their first win of the season.
Following this, the foxes face Birmingham City also struggling in the WSL this season having only gained a point from their opening eight games. Birmingham also sacked their manager Scott Booth after just five months in charge.
Like the foxes, Birmingham have struggled to score goals and prevent conceding them so far. Despite defenders Louise Quinn (46) and Rebecca Holloway (32) being amongst the teams highest point accumulators of ShePlays fantasy points, the Blues are yet to keep a clean sheet.
The West Midland side have struggled following the departure of manager Carla Ward to local rivals Aston Villa, taking two key players Hannah Hampton and Sarah Mayling with her in the process. With new manager Darren Carter at the helm the 11th placed side will be hoping for a change in fortunes for their upcoming games.
With only two league games remaining before the winter break, Leicester will be hoping for a Christmas miracle this year that will lift them from the bottom of the tree and help build momentum for the remaining games of this season.