Game Details
Game: West Ham United Women v Aston Villa Women
Date: Tuesday 20th April 2021
Competition: Barclays FA Women's Super League
Venue: Chigwell Construction Stadium
Time: 18:00
Watch: The game will be broadcasted live on BT Sport.
Aston Villa Women begin a pivotal run of league fixtures with a trip to West Ham United on Tuesday night.
Villa's winless run, however, was extended to six in Saturday afternoon's fourth round FA Cup defeat to Manchester City.
Marcus Bignot's side found themselves down 3-0 at half-time before eventually conceding a further five goals in the second period.
Chloe Kelly (3), Ellen White, Janine Beckie, Georgia Stanway, Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis all got on the scoresheet as Villa exited this season's Cup.
Focus now turns to a group of fixtures which will undoubtedly define the 2020/21 season.
Marcus Bignot and co. head to the Chigwell Construction Stadium before huge games against Bristol City, Birmingham City and West Ham once more.
Having not faced the Hammers yet this season, Olli Harder's side pose a different threat to Villa's survival bid.
Tuesday's hosts, incidentally, saw their run in this season's FA Cup continue at the weekend.
The Hammers took on Chichester & Selsey of the FA Women's National League, winning 11-0 and booking a place in the fifth round.
Like Villa, they will have full focus on the league and their own hopes of staying in the top-flight.
West Ham currently sit two places and only two points above Villa with five games to play.
They come into Tuesday's game in solid form, too.
Unbeaten in three of their last five, the Hammers will know that three points will go a long way to seeing themselves safe.
As for Villa, they'll be viewing these next few games as a golden opportunity to rack up points in quick succession and lift themselves off the foot of the table.
Form Guide
Here's how the two sides have fared heading into Tuesday's matchup...
Marcus Bignot
Interim manager Marcus Bignot spoke to VillaTV following our last league game against 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.”
