Saturday 14 November, KO 14.30pm
This weekend is ‘Women’s Football weekend’ – with no Premier League games due to the men’s international break, focus is on women’s game.
All 6 WSL games are being staggered, so it is technically possible to watch all of them.
This weekend is also the weekend of derbies: Manchester United face Manchester City; Arsenal face Chelsea; and Aston Villa face Birmingham City.
There is no denying that Aston Villa have had a tough start to the season. In Round 1, they pulled off an impressive performance against Manchester City, losing 2-0 after being very unfortunate to have a goal disallowed. Against City, Villa looked strong on the wings, particularly on the left flank, where Portuguese international Diana Silva was repeatedly able to make attacking runs and dangerous crosses into the City box. Villa then lost their 2 subsequent games, to Reading and Everton.
On 9 October, the club announced that the next two weeks of league games would be postponed due to positive coronavirus tests among players. This was followed by the two-week break due to the FA Cup final and the international break. However, Villa appear to have come back fighting, perhaps benefiting from this extended long gap between games which has allowed for rest – last weekend they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0, with goals coming from Anita Asante (formerly of Chelsea) and German midfielder Ramona Petzelberger. On Tuesday they won their Conti cup game against Coventry a cool 9-0, with Portugal international Diana Silva, and Shania Hayles, an England youth international and product of Villa’s RTC, each scoring twice, and they now lead Group A of the competition. Nadine Hanssen netted a first half hattrick.
Birmingham have had a mixed start to the season, despite some strong team performances, and the Blues currently sit seventh in the WSL table.
Striker Claudia Walker in is impressive form and has scored in each of their last four games. Scotland internationals Christie Murray and Rachel Corsie have also contributed to City’s goal tally and attacking plays. Goalkeeper, 19-year old Hannah Hampton received her first senior international call-up in March and was selected for the Lionesses’ camps again in September and October. Hampton has produced some remarkable performances so far this season, and like Everton’s Sandy MacIver, is starting to provide serious competition to current England number 1, Ellie Roebuck.
Birmingham need to win this weekend to retain their position mid-table. Equally Villa will be looking a win to take them safely away from the bottom of the table. While Aston Villa v Birmingham City might be the ‘smallest’ derby this weekend, but it is by no means the least exciting.