Preview: West Ham v United Women

Wednesday 16 March 2022 09:56

Manchester United Women will be aiming to make it two league wins in the space of five days when we make the trip south to face West Ham United on Wednesday (16 March) evening.

The 19:30 GMT kick-off, which is a rearranged fixture from January, sees the Reds on the road in the WSL again off the back of our 3-1 victory at Reading at the weekend. 

Ahead of the game at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, where Marc Skinner’s side will be looking to solidify our top-three credentials, we’ve got all the key information that you need…

HOW TO WATCH 

Tickets remain on sale for Wednesday’s game at Dagenham & Redbridge’s home stadium and can be purchased online here. Alternatively, you can watch the match live on the FA Player, while we will also keep you in the know with updates and coverage throughout the evening in the Manchester United App and via our dedicated women’s team social media channels (@ManUtdWomen). 

TEAM NEWS

Skinner revealed during his preview interview that January signing Jade Moore could make her United debut during the trip to West Ham, having travelled as part of the Reds’ squad for the first time after working her way back from a long-term knee injury. The match will come too soon for fellow previous absentees Signe Bruun, Hayley Ladd, Aoife Mannion, Kirsty Smith, Lucy Staniforth and Millie Turner however, according to the boss, although our head coach did note that Bruun and Ladd have both returned to individual training. 

As for the hosts, Grace Fisk and Zaneta Wyne will both be assessed prior to Wednesday’s fixture having missed their last outing at Birmingham at the weekend, while Grace Garrad and Maisy Barker are confirmed to be out.

THE OPPOSITION 

Olli Harder’s side come into the fixture occupying sixth place in the WSL table and looking to further cement a position in the top half of the league with three points from the midweek encounter. The Irons have favoured a three-at-the-back system under the New Zealander, which often sees them play deploy two forwards in attack – a duo that can include this season’s top scorer Claudia Walker, who has netted six times across all competitions. They’ve also boasted a strong home record across the campaign, with Chelsea the only side to win at their Dagenham home (twice) throughout 2021/22 so far.

Skinner previews West Ham trip Video

Skinner previews West Ham trip

United Women's head coach looks ahead to Wednesday's game and has a positive update on Jade Moore's injury recovery...

FORM GUIDE

West Ham recovered from a first home league defeat of the season against Chelsea just under a week ago with a 1-0 win at Birmingham on Sunday and will be looking to pick up back-to-back victories across all competitions for the first time since November, come Wednesday evening.

United were also winners at the weekend, following our triumph at Reading, and Skinner’s side can make it three wins on the bounce during the midweek clash, in our pursuit of Champions League football for next season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD


Despite the game being the first of both sides’ final six of the campaign, the teams are yet to meet this season, with Wednesday a rearranged date after the fixture was initially postponed in early January.

It means that the sides will face off twice over the closing weeks of 2021/22, and United can take confidence from last season’s results in the fixture, having completed a WSL double over the Hammers (4-2 away, 2-0 at home). West Ham did get the better of our first and only other league meeting however, a 3-2 triumph on home soil in 2019/20, after the Reds emerged 2-0 victors from a Continental Tyres League Cup quarter-final at Leigh Sports Village in 2018/19.
United took the points in the fixture's most recent contest, at Old Trafford, back in March 2021.
RIVALS WATCH

Our trip to the Chigwell Construction Stadium is one of three rearranged fixtures in the division taking place on Wednesday night, as you can see via the WSL's full midweek schedule below…

WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH

Everton v Chelsea 
Manchester City v Reading 
West Ham United v UNITED (19:30 GMT)

All kick-offs are 19:00 GMT unless stated.

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