After battling it out against Arsenal in the women’s league cup, Southampton will be getting a second dose of what it is to fight with the big guns. Having drawn one of the biggest teams in the history of English (women’s) football for their tie in the FA Cup, Southampton will host the giants that are Manchester United.
Big contenders in the women’s super league, having a presence in the Champions league and reaching an FA Cup final in 2023, they are an intimidating force, but the saints are not a side to underestimate. While the odds will be against them once again, there has never been a team these girls have faced who have made the game a “write off”, always stepping up to the plate and at least being in contention.
This game will once again be a huge opportunity for the club, who previously attracted a record crowd of 13,428 in their clash against Arsenal. It’s another chance to put their foot in the door and prove they have what it takes to be battling in the WSL in the coming seasons. With United having another huge fan base, home support for the girls has never been more important. This is the perfect platform to showcase their talent and capability.
The game will take place at Eastleigh’s Silverlake stadium due to the men playing at St Marys in the same week, but tickets will be released in 3 stages as the club hope to sell the stadium out for the team’s first ever FA cup quarter final.
It won’t be easy, United has a squad that is laced with talent in every position, however if there was ever an underdog to put money on, it’d be Southampton.
Having faced every hurdle in their road to promotion up through the league system (more details of which can be found in my earlier article “Gunners in town“), these girls have shown they want success for themselves and the club more than almost any other team.
With regular starters Kayla Rendell, Ella Morris, Molly Pike and others all breaking into the England youth sides, and other internationals picking up caps, the growth of these once “part-timers” is testament to the soul they play with.
They play quiet but clever football, with a game plan that revolves around building to the perfect break away rather than a constant attack, they have a high back line with a standout talent being Millie Mott.
Mott (shirt number 3) is one of the most exciting talents Southampton has to offer. After joining the club in 2017 from Dorset’s Regional Academy Programme, she has marked her spot in Spacey-Cale’s side. From guiding the club through their promotions to stepping up for England U19s, at only 20 she is still one to watch for the future. Her ability to defend 1:1 is unrivalled in the Championship, so to see her on-field battles against United will be something to look forward to.
Manchester United have centralised their game plan around having a positive emphasis on attack and direct front-footed possession. This could blend with Southampton’s high line and love for holding the ball to make for an interesting game and one that potentially comes down to who is most able to capitalise when they’re on top.
When it comes to opportunity makers within the Southampton squad there is one player who I can’t not highlight. Known for coming on in the second half and having impact, but starting to push for her spot in the starting 11, is attacking midfielder Lexi Lloyd-Smith. Smith is a dynamic weapon, full of pace and skill to accompany it. She only scores beautiful goals, and her ability to feed others shines through her game. Again, at only 20 she is one to watch as her development continues.
Scoring goals when they had the chance was the biggest failing for the Saints when they faced Arsenal, but after two convincing wins in the league against Sunderland and Watford, hopefully confidence and momentum will continue to build in their matches between now and their cup tie. Facing Tottenham Hotspur (in Continental Cup) and Sheffield United (in the Championship) between now and the 11th, it is an opportunity to play yet another WSL side and hopefully find some stability and assurance in the squad after a few wobbly results in the build up to the international break over Christmas and New Years.
With both teams having similar strengths and weaknesses displayed through alternate approaches, it will be an interesting blend. The greatest risk for Southampton will be United’s utilisation of their wingers and wide play, and the greatest risk for United will be the unmanned space they have been prone to leaving. I encourage anyone able to get behind the girls as we watch the narrative of what could be another huge game for the Saints unfold.
For further details and to keep up with updates on this fixture, interest can be registered on the Southampton FC website ahead of ticket release.
