Preview: Kirby in contention for FA Cup tie

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Albion head to West Ham in the fifth round on Sunday.

Bruce Talbot

2026-02-22T06:00+00:00

Albion face West Ham United at the Chigwell Construction Stadium in the fifth round of the Adobe Women's FA Cup on Sunday, kick-off at 12pm.

This is the second meeting of the two sides this month following the Hammers' emphatic 3-2 comeback win in our WSL fixture two weeks ago.

Team news

Assistant head coach Chris Roberts confirmed that Fran Kirby and Marit Auee could be in contention after recovering from injury.

How we made it to round five

Albion sealed their place in the fifth round of the tournament after a 2-0 victory against Nottingham Forest at Broadfield Stadium.

Chris Roberts' pre-match thoughts ...

Last weekend must have been unusual — you prepared to play Arsenal and the match was called off. How did that disruption affect this week? It was incredibly frustrating. We’d invested a huge amount of work as a group — players and staff — to prepare for Arsenal. We were at the hotel, had just finished the pre‑match meal, and were ready to leave when we got the news. But some things are out of our control. The focus immediately shifted to the next challenge, and we prepared for West Ham. The training week has been excellent. The players are in good form and good spirits, and we’re looking forward to Sunday.

What’s the injury situation right now? Fran Kirby is back training with the group, and if all goes well, she should be in contention for the squad this weekend. Marit Auee is also training well and returning from injury. From that perspective, things are looking positive.

Fran has spoken openly about managing her body. How important is her return, and how do you balance her involvement with a duty of care? Fran is an incredible professional — dedicated, resilient and very aware of her body. It’s important we listen to her, but we also have an excellent medical and performance team. I trust Fran and the staff to judge her availability correctly. We want her on the pitch, of course, but our responsibility is also to look after her long‑term wellbeing.

This game brings a significant FA Cup opportunity, especially with the club launching its 125th‑anniversary plans this week. How special does the competition feel? The FA Cup is an amazing competition, and you have to dream of winning it. I’ve been in a final before, during COVID — an incredible occasion but bittersweet in an empty Wembley. Every player and staff member is in this because we want to compete for trophies. We know how tough it will be, but that challenge is exciting. A few strong performances can take you deep into the competition, and then anything can happen. We understand the importance of Sunday’s game and are ready for a tough test. We’re desperate to reach the next round.

Is Dario Vidosic now back with the team? Yes. He arrived back in the country on Friday and will be with us for the rest of the week, including Sunday’s match. It’s a huge boost for the players. Having him back means business as usual. Even while away, he has been fully present in everything we do. He never took his eye off anything. It’ll be great to have him back on the touchline on Sunday.

How have you personally managed the situation, knowing he was dealing with a difficult time but still staying involved? The key was consistency. Our technical, medical and performance teams are a close‑knit group, so nothing needed to change. It was emotionally challenging — we’d lost someone dear to us. Rado (Vidosic) was a staff member, friend, mentor, and of course Dario’s father. The players have been outstanding: supportive, compassionate and professional. They made leading the team straightforward, and it was a privilege to do so in the period before Dario’s return this weekend. Knowing Dario he’ll be straight into game mode, but everyone will be very pleased to see him.

The last match against West Ham had big swings. You led 2–0 until the 83rd minute before losing 3–2. How much confidence can you draw from the first 80 minutes? At 83 minutes we were 2–0 up and comfortable. They had one good chance in the first half; in the second half, until their first goal, I felt we would score a third. We didn’t play particularly well to be 2–0 up, but we were doing enough. Then a couple of bizarre moments let them back into the game. At 2–2 with their home crowd behind them, momentum turned and we lost. It left a bitter taste, but we’ve learned from it. We’ve talked a lot about game management and feel well prepared for this weekend.

Managing chaos late in games — especially against West Ham’s front three — what needs to improve? We can’t give anything away for free. We must understand the game state and what each moment requires: what risks are necessary and what aren’t. When you’re leading, you don’t need to take risks. Our analysis focused heavily on managing the game. We know their front three are strong, but we’re ready and confident.

Do you expect West Ham to approach this match similarly to the last meeting? Every team makes small adjustments. They played slightly differently against Everton than against us — and Everton play differently to us, too. We’re preparing for a few possible setups, but the emphasis is on ourselves: our game plan, our control, and our execution.

Fans have enjoyed seeing more of the backroom staff while Dario was away. Is that connection important? Our fans have been sensational: the noise, the numbers, home and away. I always enjoy going over to thank them after matches. As staff, our job is to support the players and the manager — we’re not usually in the limelight, and that’s fine. But I’ve enjoyed connecting with the fans, and I hope that continues.

Finally — Charlie Rule has been called up for the Matildas, and Moeka Minami for Japan. Does that create selection challenges in defence? Fortunately, one of our deepest areas is the back line. Caitlin Hayes can come in, Marit is returning, and Maelys Mpome shouldn’t be too far away. Rachel McLauchlan can also play fullback. We have strong options, and we’re delighted for Charlie. Now it’s about managing the squad to ensure we field the best team possible after the international window.