After their dramatic penalty shoot-out victory in the last round, Spurs head to Kingsmeadow to take on holders Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final. Given the team’s performance against the top sides, it’s hard to have much confidence. However, the Blues come into the game on the back of that Champions League defeat to Arsenal. Will it drain or inspire them come Monday lunchtime?
Speaking ahead of the game, Spurs boss Martin Ho acknowledged the impact that could have. “Sonia [Bompastor] will want her players to respond in the right way,” he said. “We have to be prepared that this is going to be moments where we’re going to have to suffer”.
Although his side have lost twice to Chelsea already this season. Ho has taken some positives from those performances. “I think we’ve done that really really well in the last game we played them at home. For the first 45 minutes I thought we were very good apart from conceding that goal,” he explained. As for this being another opportunity to get that much desired statement win, Ho said “I don’t think we need it. We we should want it more than just needing it as like a flash in the pan. We should want to win those games and I have no doubt we want to win the game”.
Chelsea vs Spurs: Previous Meetings
As the data below from Twelve Football’s Earpiece show, Spurs have been pushed back/sat back against Chelsea this season. Both times they have lost fairly narrowly without conceding a goal. The recent game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was frustrating in that respect. Spurs did ok, without ever really hurting their opponents.
Given their quality, it is a risk, but might this be an opportunity to have a real go at a tired, frustrated Chelsea side? With Maika Hamano cup-tied, I wanted to see Beth England and Cathinka Tandberg team-up and put an uncertain home defence under pressure. That is the option Ho has gone for. It’s wonderful to see Ella Morris on the bench after her ACL injury.
Up for the Cup
Spurs are in a comfortable position in the league, sitting in fifth. They are nine points behind Man Utd and eight points above Brighton. With three WSL games to go, that position is unlikely to change. Consequently, there is a real opportunity to make an impact on the FA Cup. You’re always going to have to play good teams to win it, but get through Monday and it can be the entire focus for the rest of the season. Further progress, and even a win, would really cap a positive campaign nicely.
Chelsea vs Spurs Women (FA Cup) Starting Line-ups
Chelsea: Hampton, Carpenter, Buchanan, Girma, Charles, Walsh, Thompson, Nusken, Cuthbert, James, Kerr
Subs: Baltimore, Bronze, Buurman, Kaptein, Peng, Potter, Sarwie, Spencer
Tottenham: Kop, Wijk, Koga, Nilden, Blakstad, Gaupset, Spence, Summanen, England, Vinberg, Tandberg
Subs: Ahtinen, Bartrip, Grance, Gunning Williams, Heaps, Holdt, Morris, Nidlen, Rybrink
How to Watch Chelsea vs Spurs Women (FA Cup) For Free
Chelsea vs Spurs in the Women’s FA Cup kicks off at 1.30pm GMT/830am ET on Monday, 6 April. The game is available to watch FOR FREE in the UK on Channel 4/4OD. It is also on TNT Sports/HBO Max. If you’re away, you can still access your usual services by using a VPN. I use NordVPN.
Pingback: Roberto de Zerbi Has Answered on Mason Green. What Now? - Lily White