West Ham Women host Manchester United on Wednesday evening at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
West Ham
This fixture represents the Hammers’ third match in six days. This busy run of fixtures combined with the fact that West Ham play again on Sunday in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup means that manager Olli Harder is expected to rotate his squad for the visit of Manchester United.
West Ham currently sit sixth in the Women’s Super League (WSL) after they beat bottom place Birmingham City on Sunday afternoon. The visit of Manchester United will provide a stiffer test for the Hammers who will know they need a result to keep their faint hopes of Champions League qualification alive.
West Ham will be without Maisy Barker and Grace Garrad as they continue their recoveries from their respective injuries. Grace Fisk has missed the last two games with an injury, and it is not clear if she will return in time for this match. Zaneta Wynn was absent from the squad for the Birmingham City match and is a doubt for the game.
Olli Harder gave his thoughts on the fixture when he spoke to whufc.com after the Birmingham City match.
"“We welcome the challenge of Manchester United on Wednesday. We know it’s obviously going to be a tough game because they’re a really good side – but we’ve been able to make our home ground a bit of a fortress this season. Only Chelsea have been able to beat us there, so we’re very much looking forward to the game and hopefully we can get a positive result from it.”"
Manchester United
Marc Skinner’s team are currently third in the WSL. United beat Reading 3-1 on Sunday thanks to two goals from Leah Galton and one from Alessia Russo. The Red Devils arrive at the Chigwell Construction Stadium with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City hot on their heels in the race for Champions League football next season.
Last match between the teams
The teams last met in the 2020/21 season when the Red Devils won 2-0 thanks to goals from Lauren James and Christen Press, Laura Vetterlein was sent off in the second half for West Ham. The two teams have not faced off this season. The reverse fixture is scheduled to take place on May 1st.
Player to Watch – Alessia Russo
Russo joined Man United in September 2020. She is the club’s top scorer this season with nine goals in all competitions. She is fourth in the WSL scoring charts with 7 goals, behind only Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Sam Kerr.
Russo has played for England at every age group from the under-15’s all the way through to the senior side. She made her senior debut in March 2020. In November 2021, Russo took just 11 minutes to score a hat trick in England’s remarkable 20-0 victory over Latvia during 2023 World Cup qualifying.
Russo’s match winning displays for her club this season have caused her profile to rise sharply and the Manchester United forward is expected to challenge 33-year-old Ellen White to become England’s starting striker during this Summer’s Euro 2022 Championships.
Predicted West Ham XI
Arnold, Cissokho, Flaherty, Parker, Longhurst, Brynjarsdottir, Snerle, Hasegawa, Svitkova, Leon, Walker
How to watch
West Ham United F.C Women vs Manchester United F.C Women
Date: Wednesday 16th March
Venue: Chigwell Construction Stadium
Kick-off Time: 19:30 (BST)
TV: The match has not been selected for live television coverage
Streaming: FA Player