- The first-ever WSL fixture between LCFC Women and West Ham United Women takes place this Sunday (3pm kick-off)
- Both sides are looking for their first win of the season when they meet at Chigwell Construction Stadium
- Fox Travel to the fixture is available, with match tickets to be purchased directly from West Ham
- You can follow the action via LCFC Women’s social media channels, with live match updates on Twitter
Following maiden top-flight fixtures against Aston Villa and Manchester United, Leicester City are set to arrive at Dagenham & Redbridge’s Chigwell Construction Stadium for matchday three in the 2021/22 WSL.
Like City, West Ham are searching for their first victory this term. A 2-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion and a 1-1 home draw against Villa leaves the capital club eighth in the early standings, one point and one place above the Foxes.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming fixture…
The Foxes camp
Two weeks since their last competitive fixture, manager Jonathan Morgan will be hoping to welcome back some of the players who missed the 3-1 defeat to the Red Devils on Filbert Way.
There were plenty of positives to take from the game, which was watched by nearly 4,500 supporters inside King Power Stadium, including Abbie McManus’ first goal for the Club on home debut, which was also the team’s first-ever WSL goal on home soil.
Defender Sophie Howard, meanwhile, was away on Scotland duty over the international break, but did not feature in their two FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The opposition dugout
Olli Harder became West Ham’s new manager in December 2020, following Matt Beard’s departure, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the east London club. Harder has previously coached around the world in USA, China, Norway and his native New Zealand.
As first team coach at Klepp IL in 2017, he helped the Toppserien outfit to achieve a top-four placing in the top tier of Norwegian women’s football for the first time in over 20 years, followed by second and third place finishes in the following two seasons.
After serving as assistant coach for Norway’s Under-23s in 2018, Harder became assistant manager at Sandnes Ulf in Norway, who finished seventh in OBOS-Ligaen in 2020, the second-highest level of men’s football in the country.
Ones to watch
Fresh from winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics over the summer, Canadian striker Adriana Leon scored the Hammers’ first goal of the season when she netted an eighth-minute opener against Aston Villa. Her pace and finishing ability could be crucial to the team’s chances of a positive showing on Sunday.
Summer signing Claudia Walker proved herself to be a very useful forward for Birmingham City last term, scoring five goals in six games between September and November 2020. Leon’s strike partner for the opening two games, the 25-year-old will now be desperate to get off the mark for her new club.
One of the most experienced players in the division, captain Gilly Flaherty played all but one of her side’s WSL fixtures last season and is yet to miss a minute of action this term. In the continued absence of defenders Grace Fisk and Hawa Cissoko, the 30-year-old centre-back’s influence carries even greater importance.
Ticket news
All supporters must purchase match tickets directly from West Ham United - HERE – with adults priced at £12, concessions at £10 and juniors (U16s) at £5.
Fox Travel is available from LCFC.com/tickets and priced at £18 per person. One coach will depart King Power Stadium at 10am on the day of the game.
LCFC Women 2021/22 Season Tickets are also still available to purchase, with full details, here.
Last time out
The two sides have met once before in a competitive fixture, all the way back in January 2011, when the Foxes emerged 2-1 victors in the FA Women’s Premier League Cup.
Rebecca Merritt gave West Ham the lead at Oadby Town FC, but Natalie Reay equalised before the break and Courtney Sweetman-Kirk found the winner with 12 minutes to play.
How to follow
LCFC Women’s official social media channels will provide team news at 2pm, followed by regular, live updates to keep supporters updated throughout the afternoon.
After the full-time whistle has sounded in east London, there will be a full round-up of the day’s events on LCFC.com, along with post-match interviews from members of the Foxes camp on the Club’s in-house TV channel.
Extended match highlights from the best of the day’s action are set to be published from midday on Monday via LCFC TV. The game is also being broadcast live on The FA Player.
All times BST.