Opposition watch (WFA Cup) | Man Utd's form ahead of the Women's FA Cup Final
Thu 09 May 2024, 13:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
A new name will be written on the Adobe Women’s FA Cup trophy on Sunday afternoon (2.30pm UK) as we face Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in our first-ever major final and we take a closer look at Marc Skinner’s side…
Form
Having only face United just under three weeks ago, United went on to secure an important 1-0 win over Leicester City in the following game, after a fantastic strike from Ella Toone in the closing stages of the game, but they will head into the showpiece event this weekend on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in their last outing. However, their form under Skinner in the Women’s FA Cup has been impressive, winning nine of their 11 matches and scoring 30 goals across those games (2.7 per game), including victories over Newcastle United, Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion and last season’s winners, Chelsea, in their run to reach the final for a second consecutive campaign – narrowly losing 1-0 to the Blues in last year’s final.
Players to watch
Melvine Malard has netted in our two WSL meetings with United this season, scoring twice, and also assisted in the 4-0 win in December, with the France international racking up six goals this season. The other goalscorer in our 2-2 draw with Skinner’s side last month was defender Maya Le Tissier, who netted the equaliser in injury time, and she has started all WSL games so far, playing every single minute. The 22-year-old was rewarded with a contract extension last month following her impressive performances this season. Fellow Lionesses star, Ella Toone, has registered 17 goal involvements this season (eight goals and nine assists), most recently, scoring the winner in their 1-0 victory over the Foxes in April. They also have a familiar face in Rachel Williams, who spent two years with us and scored six goals in 38 appearances, and the 36-year-old has found the back of the net on four occasions in the Women’s FA Cup this season.
Manager – Marc Skinner
Skinner certainly made an impact in his first job, leading Birmingham City to the FA Cup Final in 2017 and then to fifth place in the WLS in 2017/18. Indeed, the Blues were fourth when Skinner made the big move to the USA and Orlando Pride in the NWSL. He returned to England and United in 2021/22, taking the Reds to fourth in his first season and then a title charge last term, when they won 17 of 22 matches but that still didn't prove enough to get the better of Chelsea, who took the title by two points having won 19 of their 22. United have reached back-to-back FA Cup finals this season, having previously lost 1-0 to Chelsea in May, 2023, Skinner’s side overcame the Blues in the semi-final to book their spot at Wembley.
Last time out
It was a hard-fought performance in our last outing against United, but a late leveller from Le Tissier saw us have to settle for a 2-2 draw at Leigh Sports Village last month. Having fallen behind early in the first, Malard giving the hosts the lead, we turned the game around by the half hour mark as Bethany England and Jess Naz grabbed the goals. United provided plenty of pressure in the second half and, despite a resilient defensive performance, we saw the points shared after Le Tissier’s close-range equaliser in injury time.
How to follow
Sunday's match will be televised live on BBC One, iPlayer and BBC Sport Website, with kick-off at 2.30pm UK. You can follow the game on our women's social channels - Instagram and X - and minute-by-minute text coverage via our Match Centre here on tottenhamhotspur.com. Match highlights and reaction will also be available via SPURSPLAY and tottenhamhotspur.com.
