WSL preview: Aston Villa v Spurs
We’re back in Women’s Super League action this Saturday, our first game of 2023 kicking off against Aston Villa at 12.30pm at Walsall’s Poundland Bescot Stadium.
Tickets for those wishing to travel to the game are available on Aston Villa’s website.
Last time out, we beat Southampton 1-0 at St. Mary’s Stadium in the final group game of the Continental League Cup before Christmas.
Villa’s story so far
Founded in 1973 as Solihull FC, the team became Villa’s official women’s side in 1996.
In 2014, they were elected into the WSL2, and then into the Women’s Championship in 2018.
The club won promotion to the WSL in 2019/20, returning to the top flight of women’s football for the first time since 2004.
This season has been one of mixed fortunes for Carla Ward’s side so far. They got off to a flying start with a 4-3 win at home to Manchester City before beating Leicester City 2-0 away from home.
But defeats to West Ham United, Everton and Chelsea followed, which saw Villa drop to eighth.
They again registered back-to-back wins though, this time against Liverpool and Reading, before being defeated by Manchester United and Arsenal.
Summer signing Rachel Daly has made an impact, and January recruits Jordan Nobbs and Lucy Staniforth will be looking to do the same.
Match officials
The official in charge of Saturday’s match is Thomas Kirk, with Emily Carney and Nicoleta Bria as his assistants and Steven Hughes the fourth official.