Match preview: Lewes v United Women

Marc Skinner’s side will be looking to bounce back following a narrow 1-0 loss to Chelsea in the league last Sunday. 

With a place in the semi-finals up for grabs, a win would see us better our best-ever finish in this competition so far. 

Ahead of a big cup clash, here is the key information, including the team news and a guide to both sides' form prior to Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off...

WHAT'S THE TEAM NEWS?

Once again, Skinner expects to have all of his squad available to him for our last-eight clash barring January signing Jayde Riviere. The Canadian full-back is gradually easing into training and is looking "really sharp" according to the boss, who is hopeful that she can join full sessions next week. Fellow winter addition Lisa Naalsund was named on the bench in last weekend’s game against Chelsea but could feature in red for the first time against Lewes. 

The hosts are also in good stead heading into the game, setting up an exciting clash for a sell-out crowd. 

FORM GUIDE

United come into this fixture having only lost two games in the league so far this season, both at the hands of Chelsea. The most recent of those defeats came last weekend when a Sam Kerr goal was the difference as the reigning champions collected all three points at home. 

But Skinner’s side have shown that we can grind out victories on the road, with memorable wins over Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this campaign, as well as a draw at Man City. On our way to this quarter-final clash, the Reds earned a tough win away against Sunderland in the fourth round, before a 5-0 thumping fifth-round victory over Durham at Leigh Sports Village booked our place in the last eight. 

Sunday’s hosts, Lewes, are currently sitting midtable of the Championship with five wins in their 15 league games. They come into the quarter-finals on the back of a defeat to London City last weekend. The south-coast side will, however, be full of confidence after their fifth-round rout of Cardiff City saw them win 6-1 to secure their historical progression to this stage of the FA Cup, for the first-ever time. 

THE LAST TIME WE MET

This is the first time we’ve gone head-to-head with Lewes since our promotion to the WSL back in 2019. In fact, the Reds signed off our title-winning season against the Championship side with a comprehensive 5-0 win at home, in the final game of our inaugural season. 

In December 2018, we faced them for the very first time, at Sunday's venue, The Dripping Pan, and ran out 2-0 winners on that occasion with goals from Mollie Green and Ella Toone.

WHO ELSE IS PLAYING?

Our clash with Lewes is one of four quarter-finals on Sunday - here is the last-eight schedule in full...

SUNDAY 19 MARCH

Lewes v UNITED (12:30)
Birmingham City v Brighton & Hove Albion (14:00)
Reading v Chelsea (14:00)
Aston Villa v Manchester City (18:00)

All kick-offs are listed in GMT.