Aston Villa Women head into their final league fixture before October's international break, as they get set to take on Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.
Villa saw their unbeaten start to the 2021/22 campaign come to an end last weekend, but will still be encouraged by their overall showing in the 4-0 defeat to a formidable-looking Arsenal side.
Carla Ward and co. will be hoping to draw upon previous wins against Leicester City and Brighton & Hove Albion as they hope to go into the international period with another three points on the board.
Villa will also be buoyed by the impending return of Sarah Mayling to Sunday's matchday squad.
The full-back, who was nominated for September's WSL Goal of the Month award, missed the defeat to Arsenal through illness but is back and raring to go ahead of this weekend's clash.
Sunday's game will be live on the FA Player, while tickets can be purchased on Reading's website.
Sunday's opponents come in the form of Kelly Chambers' Reading.
The Royals have been on the losing side in each of their opening four league games, although Carla Ward is under no illusions that they will present her Villa side with a tough test at the Madejski.
“Everyone’s talking about Reading in a way that surprises me because I think people are talking about how poorly they’ve started and let’s put it into context… they played Man Utd on the opening weekend where at 1-0 a clear goal should have been given which potentially changes the game – the one that obviously went over the line," explained Ward.
"Then they played Arsenal and we all know what it’s like to come up against Arsenal in the form they’re in, they’re outrageous.
"I think Reading are getting unfair criticism at the minute. Kelly [Chambers] will set them up well and it will be a really difficult game.
"And certainly we go into it knowing we have to be absolutely at our best to win the game.”
Standout Stats
- Reading are unbeaten in their two FA WSL matches against Aston Villa (W1 D1), winning 3-1 at home last season.
- Aston Villa’s first ever away FA WSL match was at Reading last September, losing 3-1; indeed, the Villans were 3-0 down at half-time, one of only three times they have been 3+ goals down at HT in the competition.
- Reading are only the third side in FA Women’s Super League history to lose their opening four league matches of a season without scoring, along with Yeovil Town in 2017-18 and Brighton in 2018-19. Only Yeovil have failed to score in their opening five, failing to find the net in their opening 14 games that season.
- Aston Villa’s last five away FA WSL matches have seen just five goals scored (three for, two against) with the Villans unbeaten in all five (W1 D4), winning 1-0 at Brighton last time out.
- Reading have shipped 21 goals at home in the FA WSL in 2021 – including 14 in their last four games – the second-highest figure behind only Birmingham (23).
- Aston Villa and Reading are the only two FA WSL teams this season yet to score in the first half, with the Royals failing to score at all and all four of Villa’s goals coming in the second half.
- Reading have only managed six shots on target in their first four FA WSL games this season, four fewer than any other side. It is the joint-fewest any side has managed after four matches in a season along with Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2016-17 and Birmingham City last season.
- Seven of the last 10 FA WSL goals Aston Villa have conceded have come in the final 20 minutes of games, with only Man City (4) shipping more in the final 15 minutes of games this season than Villa (3).
- All five of Reading’s goals against Aston Villa last season were scored by different players: Amalie Eikeland, Lauren Bruton, Fara Williams, Angharad James and Rachel Rowe; only Eikeland and Rowe still play for the Royals.
- Aston Villa’s Meaghan Sargeant has only scored four FA Women’s Super League goals in 85 appearances but two of them have been against Reading, scoring twice for Birmingham in the 2018-19 season.
The Last Meeting
Villa Women came from behind twice to secure a vital point in a 2-2 draw against Reading the last time these two sides met.
Mana Iwabuchi notched on her full debut, before Diana Silva poked home a late equaliser to give Villa a huge confidence boost in their fight for survival.
The result saw them pull further away from Bristol City who had occupied the league's relegation zone.
The Boss
Carla Ward spoke to VillaTV following last weekend's defeat to Arsenal at Villa Park...
