Opposition watch | Spurs vs Man City (WSL)
Fri 26 January 2024, 12:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
We welcome Manchester City to Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road for our first home Barclay’s Women’s Super League fixture of 2024 on Sunday afternoon (2pm KO).
Here’s a closer look at City…
Form
City have been in admirable form in the WSL since they lost to Brighton & Hove Albion back in November, currently unbeaten in five games, scoring 21 goals and conceding just four – sitting second in the table and leaving them three points behind league leaders Chelsea. Despite falling behind in their previous encounter against Liverpool, a Khadija Shaw hat-trick along with Chloe Kelly and Gemma Bonner’s own-goal secured a comfortable 5-1 victory.
Players to watch
Shaw is arguably the most in-form player in the WSL at the minute. The Jamaican international forward is the leading goalscorer in the league, netting 12 goals in 10 appearances so far, and she’s the all-time leading goalscorer for the Reggae Girlz with 55 goals in 42 appearances. Chloe Kelly – who was also on the scoresheet against Liverpool – continues to impress this season, taking her goal involvement to 12 goals (six goals and six assists). It has certainly been a breakthrough season for goalkeeper Khiara Keating as the 19-year-old has claimed the number one jersey this season, keeping four clean sheets in the WSL this campaign. The experienced Alex Greenwood is part of the backline that has only conceded eight goals - the lowest in the league – and has racked up over 100 appearances in the light blue jersey.
Manager – Gareth Taylor
After having an extensive career as a player, making over 650 club appearances in spells with Sheffield United, City and Nottingham Forest to name a few. In the summer of 2017, Gareth Taylor was appointed as City’s academy before leading the under-16s and under-18s, where he guided the team to successive Premier League Cup U18 victories in 2019 and 2020. In May, 2020, Taylor was announced as the new Head Coach of the Women’s first team and secured his first trophy in November, 2020, to win the FA Cup after a 3-1 win over Everton in extra-time. In the following season, he would make it two trophies in two seasons, beating Chelsea 3-1 to win the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup.
Last time we met
It was a tough evening in Manchester when we faced City at the Joie Stadium earlier in the season. Shaw netted a hat-trick inside a 15-minute spell in the first half before Lauren Hemp, Jill Roord and Laura Coombs netted in the second 45 minutes to secure a comprehensive victory. That was our first defeat since the opening day of the season, previously on an eight-game unbeaten run.
How to follow
Sunday's match will be screened live via the FA Player. 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.
