Match Preview: Manchester City Women Take On Birmingham

Manchester City Women welcome Birmingham to Manchester, looking for the three points that will take the blues above Chelsea at the top of the WSL and put pressure on the current champions.

With Chelsea playing Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final, the Londoners will not play in the WSL until Thursday, when they visit Spurs and any slip up by either team in their final two matches of the season will hand the advantage to the other.

Form

City have won 13 of their last 16 matches, with the only draw coming in April, when Chelsea left Manchester with a point. Their last league defeat was also at the hands of Chelsea, when the Londoners beat the blues 3-1 back in October.

Birmingham re under threat of relegation, having won just 3 of their 20 WSL matches. Their last outing ended with a 6-0 hammering by Chelsea, and they have also suffered successive 4-0 home defeats to City, Arsenal and Everton, but managed draws against their relegation rivals West Ham (2-2) and Bristol City (1-1).

Team News

Captain Steph Houghton is still out for City, with manager Gareth Taylor stating it is unlikely she will play for the team before the end of the season. The skipper has been out of action since sustaining an achilles injury in February.

Previous Meetings

City have won each of their last five meeting home and away with Birmingham, scoring 12 and conceding just once.

The last time out, City thumped the midlands side 4-0 at St George’s Park, with am Mewis grabbing a brace, while Lauren Hemp and Caroline Weir also got on the scoresheet.

How To Watch

The match kicks off at 3pm and will be available to watch live on the BBC Red Button service

Match Officials:

Referee: Emily Heaslip

Assistant Referees: Emily Carney and Georgia Ball

Fourth Official: Kirsty Dowle