Rachel Corsie recalled, Laura Blindkilde Brown benched – Aston Villa Women predicted XI v Manchester City
Carla Ward’s Aston Villa will look to claim an impressive league double over Manchester City when they face them on Saturday lunchtime (21 January) in the WSL.
The two sides entertained fans with a thrilling encounter on the first day of the season, which Villa eventually won 4-3 thanks to goals from debutants Rachel Daly and Kenza Dali, as well as a strike from Alisha Lehmann.
After defeating Spurs 2-1 on the WSL restart following the mid-season break, Ward will still make some tweaks to her starting line-up, with a host of players starting to build up to full fitness following injury.
Anna Leat will continue between the sticks despite increased competition from Euro 2022 Lioness Hannah Hampton, who has blown hot and cold so far this term. After signing from West Ham in the summer, the 21-year-old will make her tenth appearance and hope to add to her single clean sheet this season.
Both Sarah Mayling and Mayumi Pacheco will continue at full-back following a pair of brilliant performances last time out, and Pacheco, in particular, will look to bomb forward and look to assist Kirsty Hanson in attack down the left wing.
Carla Ward confirmed centre-back Rachel Corsie is fit enough to feature against Gareth Taylor’s side, and she will come straight into the side to add a calm head and an experienced pair shoulders to an otherwise youthful defence.
She will pair up beside Danielle Turner, who has make her transition from full-back to centre-back look a mere formality in recent months. Despite Anna Patten playing well upon her return to the team against Spurs, she is resigned to a spot on the bench.
In midfield, competition for places is hotting up nicely following Ruesha Littlejohn’s return from the sidelines, as well as Remi Allen’s positive injury update. The former of these may well be fit enough to start, but Ward will be reluctant to tinker with her successful formula in the middle of the park.
After dominating possession against Spurs and controlling the game in a very-unlike Villa manner from seasons gone by, the midfield three will remain unchanged, with Jordan Nobbs sitting at the base and dictating proceedings with her wide passing range.
Lucy Staniforth will play just in front of her Lioness teammate and will be tasked with keeping a lid on City’s star midfielder Filippa Angeldahl. Dali, meanwhile, will be given the freedom to roam and be Villa’s creative source in advanced areas and will look to build on her stunning goal from 20 yards last week.
In attack, Laura Blindkilde Brown has been dropped to the bench after struggling to impact proceedings in her unfamiliar right-wing position last time out. The 19-year-old is extremely unlucky to miss out on a starting berth, but the settled midfield three means she is condemned to a spot on the bench.
In her stead, Lehmann starts on the right wing and look to repeat her goalscoring feat from the opening day of the season. The Swiss International will be tasked with supplying WSL golden boot leader Daly with goalscoring opportunities at the tip of Villa’s attack.
After picking up a pair of assists last week and accumulating four attacking returns in her last four games, Kirsty Hanson will continue on her left flank. Her ability and willingness to take on a defender in a one-on-one situation has become a key facet of her play since her loan move from Manchester United in the summer.
Aston Villa predicted XI v Manchester City: Leat; Pacheco, Corsie, Turner, Mayling; Nobbs, Dali, Staniforth; Lehmann, Daly, Hanson.
In other Aston Villa news, this 17-year-old academy prospect has signed his first professional contract with the club.