Game Details
Game: Manchester City Women v Aston Villa Women
Date: Saturday 17th April 2021
Competition: Vitality Women's FA Cup
Venue: Academy Stadium
Time: 12:00
Aston Villa Women return from this month's international break as they take on Manchester City in the fourth round of the Vitality Women's FA Cup.
Villa, however, will welcome their continued rest from league matters.
Having fell to a 3-1 defeat at Everton on April 4th, Marcus Bignot's side now occupy bottom spot in the Barclays FA Women's Super League table, and have just five league games remaining as they try to avoid the drop.
With the obvious pressure that comes with league fixtures in mind, Villa will be hoping they can play without any fear at the Academy Stadium on Saturday.
A moment of encouragement towards the end of the aforementioned defeat to the Toffees was Chloë Arthur's first goal for the club.
The Scotland midfielder rose to head home Asmita Ale's free-kick in stoppage time, and the 26-year-old will be hoping to follow up a maiden strike with a few more contributions between now and the end of the campaign.
Villa return to the Academy Stadium in Manchester on Saturday, as they take on City for the third time this season.
Following 2-0 and 7-0 defeats in the Barclays FA Women's Super League, Marcus Bignot's side face a daunting task in the fifth round of the cup.
Gareth Taylor's City outfit are still in the race for the WSL title with three games to go, but would love to add some silverware to an already-successful campaign which has included reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League as well as securing the 2019/20 FA Cup trophy a couple of months into this season.
Form Guide
Here's how the two sides have fared going into Saturday's matchup...
Last Time Out
Marcus Bignot
Interim manager Marcus Bignot spoke to VillaTV following the defeat to Everton...
“We’ve now come off some very difficult games against a high calibre of opposition” said the interim manager.
“Although results haven’t gone our way, there’s been huge elements in terms of the performances that there’s a belief and togetherness.
“We’re really looking forward to when we go down to West Ham.”
“Going into the run-in, it’s going to be about the team that makes the least mistakes.
“What’s pleasing in a way, is there hasn’t been bad performances but there have been mistakes.
“We’ve got to eradicate, or make the least, mistakes.
“I’m sure those performances will be backed up with results.”
“It seems we’re taking huge steps forward and then you get sucker-punched” the interim manager conceded.
“We finished the game strongly against Chelsea, today we finished the game strong and we got the goal.
“That’s encouraging. Plenty of positives, and it will be this group of four games which will define our season.
“We’re going to embrace it, and we’re going to make sure we do everything it takes to ensure we maintain our WSL status.”
Vitality Women's FA Cup fifth round draw
Aston Villa Women will face either West Ham United or Chichester & Salsey Ladies in the fifth round of the Vitality Women's FA Cup, should they beat Manchester City in this weekend's fourth round tie.
Villa face City at the Academy Stadium this Saturday (April 17) at 1pm.
The FA confirmed the draw for the fifth round, with ties confirmed to be played on Sunday, May 16 2021.
The draw is as follows:
1. Birmingham City/Coventry United v Lewes/Southampton
2. Brighton & Hove Albion/Bristol City v Huddersfield Town/Derby County
3. Arsenal/Gillingham v Crystal Palace/London Bees
4. Wolverhampton Wanderers/Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United/Charlton Athletic
5. Manchester City/ASTON VILLA v West Ham United/Chichester & Salsey
6. Chelsea/London City Lionesses v Everton/Durham
7. Burnley/Manchester United v Leicester City/Liverpool
8. Reading/Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough/Sheffield United
Iwabuchi stars for Japan
Villa's star forward reported for international duty ahead of Japan's recent friendlies versus Paraguay and Panama.
Having quickly become a key figure in the Barclays FA Women's Super League, Iwabuchi linked up with her national squad in buoyant mood.
It didn't take long, either, for the 28-year-old to make her impact known as she scored inside 30 minutes against the Paraguayans.
Iwabuchi doubled her tally after half-time as Japan ran out 7-0 winners at the Yurtec Stadium in Shendai.
Three days later, the Nadeshiko met Panama in Tokyo for another friendly.
Iwabuchi turned provider this time around, recording two assists as Japan again emerged 7-0 victors.
Villa's number 20 will now return to the Midlands in preparation for our fourth round Vitality Women's FA Cup tie versus Manchester City on Saturday.
Another Villa attacker linked up with her national team for a couple of friendlies, as Stine Larsen met up with her Danish compatriots ahead of fixtures versus the Republic of Ireland and Wales.
The 25-year-old came on for the final 10 minutes of Denmark's 1-0 win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, before completing 73 minutes against Wales in Tuesday evening's 1-1 draw at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Like her Japanese teammate, Larsen will return to the Midlands as we gear towards this weekend's cup tie.
