West Ham v City: Match preview | OneFootball

Everything you need to know ahead of Manchester City's FA Women's Super League (WSL) game against West Ham United.

WHEN AND WHERE

City face the Hammers at the Chigwell Construction Stadium on Sunday 9 May and kick-off is at 14:30 (UK).

Gareth Taylor's side must triumph and hope Chelsea drop points to hold any chance of lifting the title.

A Chelsea defeat and City victory would clinch our second league crown, while a Chelsea draw would require a City victory by four clear goals to overtake the Londoners on goal difference.

The game will be broadcast live on the FA Player and BT Sport Extra in the UK, and the following channels in the countries listed below:

If you can’t tune in, you can follow all the action as it unfolds on our dedicated matchday Twitter account: @ManCityWomen and our Matchday Centre.

A comprehensive match report, as well as reaction from Gareth Taylor and one of our players, will also be available just after full-time here on mancity.com and the Man City App.

RULES

For safety reasons in the wake of the pandemic, the fixture will be played behind-closed-doors.

In line with current protocols, additional balls will be placed at intervals around the pitch.

INJURY NEWS

Chloe Kelly is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering an ACL injury to her right knee in Sunday’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture against Birmingham City.

Steph Houghton is likely to remain unavailable due to the Achilles injury which has seen her miss the last nine games.

Long-term absentee Megan Campbell is also injured, but Taylor declared that the rest of the squad is in contention for Sunday's clash.

GARETH TAYLOR PREVIEW

“I’ve enjoyed every minute and I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved so far.

“It’s not in our hands on Sunday but the fact we’ve taken it to final game is a real positive.

“We’re gong into this game Sunday really ready to give it our very best, get the result we need and see what happens.

“That’s all we’ve done all season, we’ve taken it game by game, focused on that, not looked too far down the line.

“Sometimes when you start to worry about elsewhere and the next game you can lose track.

“We always try to focus on what we can affect and what we can determine, we’ll train tomorrow, travel down to Dagenham and get ready for Sunday’s game.”

FORM GUIDE

City are enjoying a superb run of form and come into the game having won 13 of our previous 14 league games, whilst we have also scored the most goals in the WSL.

Ninth placed West Ham have won one of their last five games in all competitions, but have failed to score in any of their previous four outings.

Taylor’s side boast a 100% record over the Hammers, recording wins in each of our last five meetings.

LAST MEETING

City eased to a 4-0 victory at the Academy Stadium in January to extend our record-breaking winning streak at home to 28 games.

Abby Dahlkemper made her debut and Aoife Mannion celebrated her long-awaited return from an ACL injury as goals from Caroline Weir, Georgia Stanway, Ellen White and Rose Lavelle wrapped up a comfortable win.

WATCH: FA WSL highlights: City 4-0 West Ham United

LAST TIME OUT

Birmingham City were beaten 4-0 as City scored the 100th goal of Taylor’s tenure.

Kelly’s first half brace got the home side off to a flying start, though that was marred by the sight of the striker being stretchered off following a collision with Rebecca Holloway.

The Birmingham defender conceded a penalty for her challenge and though Weir missed from the spot, Esme Morgan’s first goal for the Club and Sam Mewis’ late strike sealed the three points.

WATCH: City 4-0 Birmingham: Highlights

Stats

- City have won each of our previous four Barclays FA Women’s Super League matches with West Ham, scoring at least three times in each (19 in total), while conceding only twice.

- If Chelsea beat Reading, City finish in second place for the fifth consecutive Women’s Super League campaign (including the 2017 Spring Series). Their current points total of 52 would already be the most ever by a runner-up.

- West Ham’s last four Women’s Super League matches have produced only two goals, with both of those coming from the opposition (0-2 vs Arsenal). The last WSL side to go five games without a goal was Birmingham between January and September 2020 (6).

- City have won each of our last six away games in the Women’s Super League by an aggregate score of 22-2, with only Chelsea (27) picking up more points on the road this season; City have played one away game fewer.

- Lauren Hemp has assisted a goal in each of her last five starts in the Women’s Super League, already a competition record. She has now either scored (six times) or assisted (eight times) at least once in 11 consecutive league starts.

- Should Keira Walsh feature, she would make her 100th Barclays FA Women's Super League appearance.

- Two City goals would mark our 300th in the Barclays FA Women's Super League.

- Ellie Roebuck is currently tied with Chelsea's Ann-Katrin Berger on 11 league clean sheets in the race for the Golden Glove.