Foxes Face Villa Women On Sunday
With the memory of a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur still fresh in the mind, the Foxes travel across the Midlands for the next round of WSL action on Women's Football Weekend, and below is an in-depth look to both camps ahead of Sunday's 2pm kick-off.
The Foxes camp
City head into the weekend currently bottom of the WSL, but only a single point behind Brighton & Hove Albion, who face Reading at the same time that the Foxes are at Villa Park.
Despite a loss against Spurs last Wednesday, due to a second half strike from Beth England, Leicester have been on a decent run of form, earning four points in as many games. Most recently taking a point against Everton at King Power Stadium, the Foxes took all three away at Liverpool back in February before the recent international break.
The side from Filbert Way were also beaten by Manchester United on a day when January signing Remy Siemsen scored on her debut for the Club. Manager Willie Kirk will be hoping the striker can find the net against the Villans, having failed to punish Spurs a week ago.
The opposition
Sunday's hosts are fifth in the WSL, with 26 points from their 15 matches played, and unbeaten in their last six league outings, picking up wins against Tottenham, West Ham United and Everton in the last few months.
Most recently, they were victorious in a Vitality Women's FA Cup Quarter-Final against Manchester City, which saw the Villans book their spot in the semi-finals against Chelsea.
The game was stretched to extra-time, but a 97th minute goal from Lioness Rachel Daly ensured passage to the next round for Villa, who will pose to be a serious threat to Kirk's side come the weekend.
In the dugout
Carla Ward resides in the dugout for Aston Villa, and has done since her appointment in May 2021, after three years in management at Sheffield United (2018-20) and Birmingham City (2020-21).
In 2017, Ward joined the Sheffield club as a player-assistant manager, and later took on the reigns permanently after Dan O'Hearne stepped down from the role. During her year at Birmingham, the 39-year-old was nominated for the WSL Manager of the Year, having guided the Blues to league safety during the 2020/21 campaign.
Last time out
Earlier on in the season, the Foxes welcomed Villa to King Power Stadium, but were beaten 2-0, as a third minute penalty from Daly was rounded off by an 86th minute goal from Emily Gielnik.
Last season, City lost to the Villans on both occasions, narrowly losing 2-1 at home and on the road. In their first-ever WSL match, Natasha Flint's 39th minute strike was cancelled out by two goals in two minutes from Sarah Mayling and Remi Allen, before Alisha Lehmann scored a 90th minute winner at Pirelli Stadium in the return fixture.
Ticket and coverage details
All the information on how to follow the Foxes against Aston Villa this weekend can be found HERE.
All times BST.