Match Preview: Sheffield United Women vs. LCFC Women
- LCFC Women's FA Women's Championship campaign continues away at Sheffield United on Sunday (2pm kick-off)
- The game will be played behind closed doors at Chesterfield FC's Proact Stadium
- City got off to the perfect start with a 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers last week
- You can follow the action via LCFC Women's official social media accounts, while the game is also being broadcast live on the FA Player
The early top two in the FA Women's Championship go head-to-head as LCFC Women travel to face the Blades at Proact Stadium (2pm kick-off).
Here's all you need to know about Sunday's clash...
The Foxes camp
Sam Tierney, Sophie Barker and Liv Fergusson will all be facing the club they left to join City in the summer. The trio helped United to a second-place finish in the shortened 2019/20 campaign, before signing for the Foxes.
Meanwhile, forward Natasha Flint will be looking to add to her goal tally after netting twice on the opening day to head up the scoring charts.
Three to watch
Blades forward Katie Wilkinson was top goalscorer in the second tier in 2019/20 and also picked up the FA Women's Championship Player of the Season award. She netted 15 goals in 14 league games during the shortened season and started her tally for this campaign with a brace against London City Lionesses.
Jade Pennock is a potent winger who has chipped in with crucial goals for United over the last couple of seasons. She has now scored a brace in her last three matches, carried over from the end of last season, netting twice against Coventry United, Blackburn Rovers and then London City Lionesses respectively.
Signed in the summer, goalkeeper Fran Kitching is a safe pair of hands, having previously played for Barclays FAWSL sides Chelsea, and most recently, Liverpool, via a loan spell at Watford. Born in Yorkshire, the 22-year-old started her career at the Blades, moving through the youth set-up and returned to make her senior debut last weekend.
Talking points
LCFC Women defender Sam Tierney said: "Obviously, Sheffield finished where they did last season, very good for them, and they were close to going up, so we take every game as it comes. We know that this one's going to be a tough game, but I'm going into it quite positive.
"I'm from Sheffield, it's my hometown. I spent many years there when I was younger. So, it is home for me and going back there will be nice.
"But, again, I'm here at Leicester now and the job in hand is to win that game so, there's no time for sentiment in the game."
LCFC Women manager Jonathan Morgan said: "Sheffield are very, very tough team, [they had a] good start to the season themselves, [with a] 4-1 victory.
"We just want the girls to be aware of that and to make sure they know that they're going to come at us this week and you could possibly say that, based on their opening day performance, they're probably favourites for the game.
"[They are] an aggressive, good footballing side. They look to play forward, and they've got their DNA that was implemented through Carla Ward."
Form guide
Sheffield United defeated London City Lionesses 4-1 on Sunday thanks to two goals from Jade Pennock and Katie Wilkinson, in what was Neil Redfearn's first competitive game in charge of the Blades.
That result took the team to the top of the Championship standings after matchday one, one place above the Foxes.
City, meanwhile, recorded a 3-0 home victory over Blackburn Rovers, with Natasha Flint netting a brace after Charlie Devlin had opened the scoring.
Next up, Leicester host Durham on Sunday 4 October (2pm kick-off) following a week off, while United take on London Bees at home on Sunday 27 September.
Last time out
Sheffield United did the double over City last season, winning 4-1 at Farley Way Stadium in December, with Blades forward Katie Wilkinson scoring a hat-trick, following a 7-1 victory for the Yorkshire outfit in August 2019.
Team news
Defender Ashleigh Plumptre, who missed Sunday's opener due to a tendon injury in her foot, is in contention to make the squad this weekend.
The 22-year-old is back in full training, alongside Ruesha Littlejohn, who suffered an Achilles injury earlier in the summer, but played the final 15 minutes against Blackburn last weekend.
Forward Hannah Cain remains the only absentee, unavailable due to a broken toe.
How to follow
Supporters can stay up to speed with the behind-closed-doors game in Chesterfield by following LCFC Women on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - where you can access live updates, pre-match content and plenty of reaction from the Foxes camp after full-time, including interviews and match highlights on LCFC TV.
The game is also being broadcast live and for free on the FA Player.
All times BST.