Match Preview: Crystal Palace Women vs. LCFC Women
- LCFC Women are on the road this weekend away at Crystal Palace Women
- The FA Women's Championship encounter at Hayes Lane is scheduled for a 2pm kick-off on Sunday
- City have picked up eight points from their opening four league games
- The Foxes defeated Liverpool 2-1 at Farley Way Stadium last time out
Crystal Palace are City's next Championship opponents on Sunday (2pm kick-off), as the Foxes look to record back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
The south Londoners, meanwhile, have made a decent start to 2020/21, sitting sixth in the early standings.
Here's everything you need to know about this weekend's fixture...
The Foxes camp
City defeated league leaders Liverpool 2-1 last Sunday thanks to goals from Paige Bailey-Gayle and Lachante Paul, leaving City in fifth position in the FA Women's Championship table after four games.
After October's international break, Leicester are back in the capital to face London City Lionesses on Sunday 1 November at Princes Park Stadium (2pm kick-off).
Three to watch
Palace winger Bianca Baptiste started the 2020/21 season in top form, scoring five goals in five games. The 28-year-old has plenty of experience to her name, with nine seasons at Tottenham Hotspur Women, including top scoring for the Lilywhites on their way to securing promotion to the second tier of women's football in 2017.
Goalkeeper Chloe Morgan arrived at Hayes Lane from Women's Super League side Tottenham in August 2020 following the expiration of her contract and has added a wealth of experience to the team.
Another coup for the Eagles was the summer signing of midfielder Coral Jade Haines, also from Spurs, after three years with the north London club. A former England Under-23 international who has played in the Women's Champions League for Birmingham City, Haines scored two goals in her first six games all in competitions this season.
Talking points
LCFC Women manager Jonathan Morgan said: "We've come into training this week naturally with a positive mindset, but we've firmly turned our attentions to Crystal Palace and we know what they're about, we know their capabilities. We're getting ourselves ready for that and hopefully we can come out with another successful victory."
Crystal Palace manager Dean Davenport said: "The signing of several Women’s Super League players, along with capturing some of the best Championship talents from last season, has given them [LCFC Women] the opportunity to bring together a fantastic squad which is going to make it a very tough encounter. But it is one we are prepared for and we'll make it as difficult as possible for them to leave with maximum points."
Opposition form guide
Dean Davenport's Crystal Palace have taken five points from their opening five games of the campaign, losing 2-0 to Durham last time out.
They did, however, record a 4-1 away win over London Bees and take one point from both games against London rivals Charlton Athletic and London City Lionesses, ahead of losing to Blackburn Rovers.
Their Continental Tyres League Cup campaign also got off to a good start, beating Lewes 2-1 to sit second in Group F.
Next up, the Eagles travel to Proact Stadium to play Sheffield United on Sunday 1 November (2pm kick-off).
Last time out
City were victorious the last time the two sides met at Hayes Lane, winning 3-1 in January 2020.
Annabel Blanchard opened the scoring with a smart finish inside the area and after Amber Stobbs levelled, Ella Rutherford's breakaway goal made it 2-1 before Paige Bailey-Gayle wrapped up the points for Leicester.
Team news
City will be without captain Holly Morgan, due to ligament damage in her foot, while midfielder Freya Thomas also remains out of contention.
Annabel Blanchard came though the final moments of last weekend's game against Liverpool unscathed, for her first appearance since the opening day of the season, and has enjoyed a full week's training for the first time in a month.
Forward Hannah Cain continues to recover from a broken foot and Sam Tierney has also been added to the injury list after being forced off in the win over Liverpool.
How to follow
Supporters can stay up to speed with all of Sunday's action and access live updates by following LCFC Women on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, while plenty of post-match content from the Foxes camp, including interviews and match highlights, will be available on LCFC TV after full-time.
A full match replay will also be available to watch on The FA Player after full-time.
All times BST.