Spurs Tottenham Hotspur

Man City Manchester City

WHEN AND WHERE

The game will take place at the Hive Stadium on Sunday 4 April, with kick-off at 14:00 (UK).

The game will be shown live on the FA Player, and you can also keep up to date with all the action as it on unfolds on our Twitter page: @ManCityWomen.

A comprehensive match report, as well as reaction from Gareth Taylor and one of our players will also be available just after full-time here on ManCity.com and the Man City App.

rules

For safety reasons in the wake of the pandemic, the fixture will be played behind-closed-doors.

In line with current protocols, additional balls will be placed at intervals around the pitch.

FORM GUIDE

City head into Sunday’s clash in scintillating league form, having won 11 straight league games in a row.

This remarkable run has kept City firmly in the WSL title race, as Gareth Taylor‘s side sit just two points behind league leaders, Chelsea with four games to go.

Spurs will be looking to rectify their recent form in this one, having gone seven WSL games without a win, including a 3-0 defeat to local rivals Arsenal in their latest outing.

TEAM NEWS

City will be without a number of players who are all nursing injuries, including skipper Steph Houghton, Demi Stokes, and Rose Lavelle.

Lauren Hemp and Laura Coombs will be assessed ahead of Sunday after picking up an ear infection.

“Lauren has missed the last three days of training,” said boss Gareth Taylor.

“She’s been in really good form. She had ear infection and has had minimal sleep. She came in today and trained but she is probably feeling the effects of tablets she is taking.

“We will monitor her but hopefully she’s’ better (by Sunday).

“Other than Lauren, nothing has changed really from last game. Just that addition of Lauren could help us a lot in terms of extra body and extra person to call on.

“We are in better shape than we were for Barcelona, but it’ll be after international break before we see Demi and Steph. 

Asked how Laura Coombs was progressing, Taylor added: “After the game she had a bit of a period where she didn’t feel great. She felt dizzy. We had an issue on Monday and couldn’t train.

“So at that point we took a step back. She came on and played the final period of the Barcelona game. She was back in training today feeling better and hopefully she’ll be fine for the weekend.”

The City boss also revealed he is hoping Rose Lavelle can shake off her injury niggles and win a place back in the starting XI after what Taylor described as a “difficult” first campaign in England for the US international.

“It’s been difficult for Rose with the transition,” he said.

“Coming from a different league, we’ve seen with a lot of players from the US join WS clubs.

“She’s picked up injuries in the period she’s been out - and also there’s been good form from other players in that position.

“Rose always trains well and gives her best. She will have a contribution to make in the last part of the season.

“Her minutes are starting to go up now. Unfortunately against Everton she sustained an injury.

“Most of the time she’s been available is when the US camps have happened. Hopefully now she can stay injury free and do her bit for the team.”

GARETH TAYLOR PREVIEW

“It’s a big game for us.

“Every game we approach is the same. We have got ourselves in a fantastic position but there’s more work to be done, we know that.

“We need to approach this game in the right manner, which we will, and hopefully we achieve our objective. 

“We are focused on Tottenham and want to achieve our objective.”

LAST MEETING

The last time the two sides met resulted in victory for City, as we ran out 4-1 winners at the Academy Stadium back in October.

Taylor’s team opened the scoring 30 minutes in through Chloe Kelly, before the forward double her, and City’s account from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half.

Sam Mewis and Ellen White then added our third and fourth midway through the second half, before Anna Fibley added a consolation for Spurs with ten minutes left on the clock.

WATCH: Highlights: City 4-1 Spurs

LAST TIME OUT

City head into the game on the back of victory after defeating Barcelona 2-1 at the Academy Stadium in the second leg of our Women’s Champions League quarter final tie.

Goals from Janine Beckie and Sam Mewis either side of Asisat Oshoala’s equaliser gave Taylor’s side the win, however it was the Spanish side who advanced to the semi-final with a 4-2 aggregate victory.

WATCH: City 2-1 Barcelona: Match highlights

STATS

• Gareth Taylor‘s side are currently the leading scorers in this season’s FA Women’s Super League with 54 goals in 18 games. An average of three goals per game.
• City have won all three previous fixtures against Sunday’s opponents, with an aggregate score of 11-2.
• City head into Sunday’s game having kept five clean sheets in our last five games.
• Prior to their recent seven-game winless run, Tottenham had won four league games on the bounce.