Casey Stoney being interviewed on MUTV

Stoney: Best form's needed to beat Spurs

Friday 11 October 2019 15:59

Casey Stoney believes Tottenham Hotspur will pose a stern test for her Manchester United Women's side on Sunday.

Spurs sit three points and one place above the Reds in the Women’s Super League table after their victories over Liverpool and West Ham United, and Stoney insists her players will have to be at their best if we want to claim a second consecutive win in the league.

“We know they’re organised and can hurt us if we’re not on our game,” said the boss. “We also know it’s a game we’re more than capable of winning and we will try to win.

“We need to make sure we get the detail right in terms of our game plan. We go there full of confidence off the back of a win [against Liverpool] but we know it’s a good side we’re playing against.”

Goals from Katie Zelem and Lauren James helped United get off the mark against Liverpool.

The trip down to The Hive Stadium is followed by a renewal of our rivalry with Manchester City in the FA Women's Continental League Cup on Sunday 20 October.

“It doesn’t get much easier does it? We go away to Tottenham, then City come here,” Casey added.

“It’s another great test for us in the cup and it’s a game we want to win. We want to do well, we want to have a cup run. We’ll acquit ourselves for that.

“Obviously we face Tottenham first and we do literally prepare one game at a time."

Spurs were promoted in second place from the Championship last season, nine points behind United.

Despite two comfortable league wins over the North Londoners in 2018/19 - 4-1 at Leigh Sports Village and 5-1 on our visit to Spurs' old ground in Cheshunt - full-back Kirsty Smith is aware of the test Karen Hills’ side will pose at the weekend.

“I think it’s going to be a tough game for us,” said Smith, who has featured in each of United’s last two matches.

Smith in action during our narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Leigh Sports Village.

“Obviously we’ve both come up from the league below so we know each other’s styles. For us, we want to perform again how we can.

“We both won our last game and that will give us good momentum going into it. We want to continue that.”

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