Two points separate Tottenham Hotspur Women and Brighton & Hove Albion Women ahead of Sunday’s Women’s Super League clash at Brisbane Road.
Spurs will be desperate to end a four-game losing run, while the Seagulls are searching for their first WSL win since November.
Match preview
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Tottenham have endured a run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions since they beat Crystal Palace 3-2 on January 26.
Spurs went on to lose 2-0 to Everton in the Women’s FA Cup fourth round, before falling to defeat in tricky league games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.
They appeared to be on course to hold Man City to a 1-1 draw after Beth England cancelled out Viviane Miedema‘s opener, but Aobo Fujino’s 78t-minute effort proved enough to condemn the North London club to a 2-1 loss, leaving them in seventh place in the WSL table.
Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn will be disappointed with the fact his team have the second-worst defensive record in the top flight, having conceded 33 goals in 15 league games this season.
Vilahamn will be challenging his side to produce a strong defensive display on Sunday, as they look to extend their six-game unbeaten run in head-to-head meetings with Brighton (W3, D3).
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Fifth-placed Brighton are two points better off than their opponents, having won five, drawn four and lost six of their 15 league games this season.
Unfortunately for the Seagulls, the most recent of those five victories took place in November when they edged out West Ham United via a 3-2 scoreline.
Brighton have drawn three and lost four of their last seven league matches since that result, although they did produce a battling performance to maintain their unbeaten WSL home record with a 2-2 draw against leaders Chelsea earlier this month.
Marisa Olislagers and Vicky Losada grabbed a goal apiece to give the Seagulls a 2-1 lead at the break, and while Lauren James equalised in the second period, Brighton would have been more than happy with the point, especially as they were just the second team to stop Chelsea winning in the WSL this season.
The South Coast side will try to build upon that display as they head on their travels for Sunday’s fixture, with the visitors hoping to end a run of five consecutive away defeats in the top flight.
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Team News
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Tottenham remain without long-term absentee Kit Graham, who is back working individually on the grass as she steps up her rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Defender Amy James-Turner is also sidelined through injury, while forward Martha Thomas is a doubt after she was forced off in the first half against Man City earlier this month.
Clare Hunt is set to return to the starting lineup after serving a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Meanwhile, they are unable to call upon the services of defender Jocelyn Carabali and forward Bruna Vilamala due to knee and thigh problems respectively.
Maisie Symonds is available following a three-match ban, although she may have to settle for a place on the bench.
In fact, Brighton boss Dario Vidosic could be tempted to select the same side that started the hard-fought 2-2 draw against Chelsea.
Tottenham Hotspur Women possible starting lineup:
Kop; Morris, Hunt, Bartrip, Neville; Summanen, Spence; Holdt, Vinberg, Naz; England
Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:
Loeck; Thorisdottir, Bergsvand, Pattinson; McLauchlin, Losada, Noordam, Olislagers; Haley, Parris, Kirby
We say: Tottenham Hotspur Women 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion Women
With two points separating the Spurs and Brighton in the league table, we expect Sunday’s contest to be a close-fought affair which could see the two sides play out a draw for the third consecutive head-to-head meeting.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
