Manchester United Women will see out the calendar year with a final home game against Sheffield United in the League Cup before heading into the Christmas break. The Reds arrive into this game after drawing 1-1 with Manchester City in last weekend’s league fixture. Our opponent’s last outing was in this competition succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against group leaders Aston Villa.
Despite a 4-2 win against Everton last time out in the League Cup, it was not enough to progress beyond the group stages as results elsewhere have seen Aston Villa top the group. United’s fate had been sealed with successive draws against Aston Villa and Durham early on in the competition and subsequently losing both penalty shootouts to not grab the bonus point. Thus, it makes our final game against the Blades a dead rubber.
We are in fine form with regards to the league currently sitting third in the table going into the winter break but it is disappointing not to go all the way and win the League Cup this season. Head coach shared his disappointment in the pre-match conference about our early exit from this competition.
“I am [frustrated], but sometimes you have to take a punch in the face to appreciate not getting another one in the future. Unfortunately, in life you learn most from the defeats. It was the nature of those [games against Aston Villa and Durham], I don’t want to relive them too much. They were two games we were winning and then drew, and lost on penalties.
It was the penalty shootout factor that stopped us going through. We played Everton and beat them 4-2 and they were arguably the best other team in the group along with Villa.
It’s just about learning. I had a lot of new players and it was a chance to get them minutes – not that they hadn’t earned them. It was just maybe a lack of cohesion at times, but I would hope that we learn from that going forward.
I place no undervalue on this competition at all. I would love to win this competition. But the reality is to keep a team fresh for all of the games, I needed to make sure I had rotation opportunity. Unfortunately, we didn’t get through, but next time we’ll make sure we try and fix that.”
Head coach Marc Skinner speaking in his pre-match conference
Manchester United Women’s Team News
United are likely to rotate the squad for this game as Marc Skinner has no new injury concerns with defender Aoife Mannion set to make the bench after recovering from her ACL injury. It should also see starts for the likes of Sophie Baggaley, Aissatou Tounkara, Jade Moore, and Rachel Williams. Adrianna Leon is expected to be fit after recovering from flu.
We also might see some of our youth players make the matchday squad to give them that first-team experience as indicated by Marc Skinner.
“What I might look at the weekend is potentially bringing a couple of the youth players in, to maybe birth them and give them an opportunity. That depends on [having] a lot of players that are waiting to play anyway.”
Head coach Marc Skinner speaking in his pre-match conference
Manchester United Women Predicted Lineup
Baggaley; Battle, Tounkara, Thorisdóttir, Blundell; Moore, Staniforth; Bøe Risa, Leon, Garcia, Thomas.
Opposition Preview
Sheffield United Women have endured a tough season so far in the Women’s Championship sitting tenth in the table. They have only won two of their nine league games, drawing one and losing five which had seen former head coach Neil Redfearn leave his position at the club.
In terms of the league cup, they have not fared much better as they missed out on the bonus point after drawing with Durham in the opening group game. They subsequently lost both home games against Everton and Aston Villa leaving them bottom of the group.
Sheffield United Women’s Team News
They will be without the services of forward Sophie Haywood, who underwent knee surgery at the beginning of the month but is expected to make her return in the New Year. We could see our former player Naomi Hartley play against us having spent our first-ever season with us.
Form Guide
Manchester United Women League Cup form: LLW
Manchester United Women form (all competitions): WLWWWD
Sheffield United Women League Cup form: LLL
Sheffield United Women form (all competitions): LLLLLL
Prediction
Though United are out of the League Cup, they will want to end the year on a high and give the fans something to celebrate as we head into the Christmas break. With squad rotation largely expected, the Reds should have the quality to get past this Sheffield United side.
Manchester United Women 4-0 Sheffield United Women
