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Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion Women vs. Leicester Women - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 25 May 2023, 21:12
On Sunday, Brighton & Hove Albion Women will welcome relegation-threatened Leicester Women to the Broadfield Stadium for the final game of the 2022-23 season.

While Brighton sit in the safety of 10th position in the Women's Super League table, 11th-placed Leicester are two points above the sole relegation place.

Match preview

Having clawed together 16 points from their 21 games, Brighton have made sure that their stay in the top flight for a sixth season.

Although their WSL status is assured, the Seagulls will still be keen to pick up a positive result on Saturday as they look to bounce back from consecutive defeats.

After losing 4-0 to Arsenal in their most recent home meeting, Brighton look set to collect a point from Sunday's away game against Everton.

The Toffees took the lead through Katja Snoeijs before Katie Robinson restored parity, but Brighton returned home empty-handed after Hanna Bennison scored a dramatic winner in stoppage time.

Having conceded 62 league goals this term, the Seagulls are set to end the 2022-23 campaign with the worst defensive record in the top flight.

Leicester fell to a 2-1 defeat in their home meeting with West Ham United last weekend, ensuring the relegation fight went to the final game of the season.

The Hammers established a two-goal lead courtesy of a Sophie Howard own goal and Dagny Brynjarsdottir, and while Hannah Cain pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the ninth minute of stoppage time, it was all too little too late as Leicester lost for the third consecutive game.

Although their WSL status is yet to be secured, they would have taken their current position when they began the season with nine straight defeats.

The Foxes know that a win will guarantee their survival on Saturday, but they will be relegated if they fail to beat Brighton and Reading pull off a shock victory over Chelsea.

After beating Brighton 3-0 in the reverse fixture, Leicester will be hopeful of claiming maximum points in the final game of the season.

Brighton & Hove Albion Women Women's Super League form:

W

L

D

W

L

L

Leicester Women Women's Super League form:

L

W

W

L

L

L

Team News

Jorja Fox's loan spell with Brighton got cut short after she sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury earlier this month.

Victoria Williams, Kayleigh Green, Megan Connolly, Megan Walsh and Danielle Carter will all leave the club at the end of the season, and the five players will all be involved in some capacity on Saturday.

After dropping down to the bench last weekend, Green and Lee Geum-min are expected to return to the lineup this weekend.

As for the visitors, Leicester boss Willie Kirk has revealed that he has no new injury concerns, although he will be unable to call upon Ruby Mace, who is suspended after being sent off last weekend.

With Mace unavailable for Saturday's encounter, Molly Pike could be brought into the side to feature in a midfield three alongside Aileen Whelan and Sam Tierney.

Kirk has said that Georgia Eaton-Collins has returned to full training, and will be involved in the matchday squad.

Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:

Walsh; Connolly, Bergsvand, Morse; Robinson, Olme, Green, Pattinson; Terland, Sarri, Lee

Leicester Women possible starting lineup:

;eitzig; Bott, Howard, Plumptre, Nevin; Whelan, Pike, Tierney; Siemsen, Jones, Cain

We say: Brighton & Hove Albion Women 2-1 Leicester Women

Although Leicester will be desperate to pick up a positive result, they have struggled on their travels, losing their last five away matches.

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