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West Ham Women vs Manchester United Women – Match Preview

By Tom Chambers

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Kate Longhurst of West Ham United is challenged by Maria Thorisdottir of Manchester United during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Manchester United Women and West Ham United Women at Old Trafford on March 27, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Kate Longhurst of West Ham United is challenged by Maria Thorisdottir of Manchester United during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Manchester United Women and West Ham United Women at Old Trafford on March 27, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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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.”"

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 17: Jamie Finn of Birmingham and Yui Hasegawa of West Ham in action during the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup match between Birmingham City and West Ham United at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium on November 17, 2021 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 17: Jamie Finn of Birmingham and Yui Hasegawa of West Ham in action during the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup match between Birmingham City and West Ham United at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium on November 17, 2021 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

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.

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 05: Alessia Russo of Manchester United in action during the Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Arsenal Women and Manchester United Women at Meadow Park on February 05, 2022 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 05: Alessia Russo of Manchester United in action during the Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Arsenal Women and Manchester United Women at Meadow Park on February 05, 2022 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /

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

Next. Yarmolenko's emotion filled goal. dark

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