Millwall Lionesses v Tottenham Ladies preview: Spurs out of form ahead of fixture at St Paul’s Sports Ground

Millwall and Tottenham had contrasting starts to 2018 and both sides now have their eyes firmly set on each other for a forthcoming FA WSL 2 clash on Sundayafternoon.

Spurs currently sit sixth in the league table with seven points, just six points clear of Watford in tenth.

The Lionesses, meanwhile, are lying in third place with 13 points, level with Durham and Brighton & Hove Albion but four points off Doncaster Rovers Belles in top spot.

FORM GUIDE

Since beating Yeovil Town at the start of November it has been a difficult run for the Lilywhites, losing four matches on the spin since that success.

Three 4-1 defeats in a row, at the hands of Brighton, Doncaster and Chelsea, were followed up with another defeat to Brighton, going down 1-0 thanks to a stunning Sophie Perry free-kick.

It has been a promising season for the Lionesses so far though, with the London club hitting their stride in recent months.

Wins over London Bees, Oxford United and Sheffield have seen Millwall move up the standings – with a 5-0 defeat against Reading in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup the only blot on their recent run.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

You have to go back to December 2012 for the last time Spurs and Millwall faced off in a competitive match.

Millwall got the better of Spurs that day thanks to strikes from Emma Whitter and Alicia Ferguson.

And a brace from Whitter plus a strike from Abigail Igbavboa was also enough to give the Lionesses a 3-1 victory in the return fixture in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division that year.

ONE TO WATCH – Ashlee Hincks, Millwall Lionesses

Millwall captain Ashlee Hincks has led from the front this season with five goals that have helped maintain the London side’s unbeaten start to their FA WSL 2 campaign.

Hincks skippered the Lionesses to two November wins, scoring a double in the 4-3 comeback victory over London Bees in the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup.

The captain was an influential substitute in Millwall’s 2-1 victory over Sheffield last weekend, and plays as a totemic figure for her club, driving them forward at every opportunity.

WHAT THEY SAID

Millwall manager Lee Burch commented: “Against Tottenham, we know what they’re about. We played them in pre-season and we’re preparing well for the game.

“Bianca Baptiste is the main threat for them. She’s a top player. She’s powerful, scores goals.

“The girl Green (Josie) in the midfield tries to dictate play quite a lot. If we can make sure we’re tight to players like Baptiste and then make sure we get our players on the ball, at home we fancy our chances against anyone.”

Ashleigh Neville, Tottenham Hotspur full-back, said: “We were supposed to have the week off but we have the re-arranged Millwall game, so we’re back in training this week and then onto Sunday.

“We are definitely confident for the game, I think three more training sessions to get everyone back in and get everyone around each other.”

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