Albion bid to halt a run of four successive defeats on Sunday when they take on West Ham United in the WSL, kick off 3pm.
Amy Merricks will take charge of the side after Hope Powell resigned as manager on Monday following last Sunday’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Team News
Megan Connolly, Rebekah Stott and Maisie Symonds are all continuing their recovery from injury but won’t be available for selection. Kayleigh Green, who came off in the first half against Spurs with a back problem, is being assessed ahead of the match.
View from the bench
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Acting manager Amy Merricks said, “Last Sunday’s performance was miles away from where we need to be. The players recognise that and know it’s time to stand up and be counted. There has been some real intent in training this week and we’re going for a professional performance against West Ham where we put on a display that they, the club and our fans can be proud of.
“We have some great individuals who are even better when they play together. If we do that the team will be in a better place, but there also has to be a desire to put in a performance. It’s about coming together and putting our energy into playing well against West Ham. Every game in the WSL is a real challenge, we will approach Sunday’s game no differently to any other.”
Previous meetings
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West Ham are the only side Albion did the double over last season, winning both games 2-0. In the away fixture in March goals from Aileen Whelan and Inessa Kaagman did the trick while Kaagman and Geummin Lee scored in the victory at the Amex on the opening day of the season.
Albion will be aiming to win this fixture for the third successive time, having won 1-0 at Dagenham & Redbridge two years ago thanks to a goal from Rhianna Jarrett.
Stats and facts
West Ham United have lost their last four Barclays Women’s Super League matches against Brighton and Hove Albion, failing to score in every game.
Albion have won five Barclays WSL matches against West Ham, their most against any opponent. Those wins make up 21% of the Seagulls’ total wins in the competition (5/24).
West Ham have won two of their three home Barclays WSL matches under Paul Konchesky (L1), having won just three of their 18 under previous manager Olli Harder (D8 L7).
Only Leicester City (14) have lost more Barclays WSL games in 2022 than Brighton (12), who have lost their last three without scoring while conceding 14. Their last game was an 8-0 defeat to Spurs, their heaviest Barclays WSL loss.
Albion have shipped 48 goals in the Barclays Women’s Super League in 2022, more than any other side. There’s only been five instances of a side conceding 50+ in a year in the Barclays WSL, with two of those coming last year: Birmingham (57) and Aston Villa (52).
West Ham have scored first in five of their six Barclays Women’s Super League matches this season, although they have lost two of those. They didn’t lose any of the 11 games they scored first in last season (W7 D4).
Albion have lost 18 of their last 19 Barclays Women’s Super League matches when conceding the first goal (D1), losing all four this season by an aggregate score of 18-0.
The two teams to face the most shots and shots on target in the Barclays WSL this season are Brighton and West Ham – Brighton have faced 111 shots and 49 on target, while West Ham have faced 104 shots and 39 on target.
West Ham’s Dagny Brynjarsdóttir has scored four goals in six Barclays WSL appearances this season, as many as she scored in her 20 games last season. Only Adriana Leon and Alisha Lehmann (9 each) have more Barclays WSL goals for West Ham than Brynjarsdóttir (8), who has found the net in her last four appearances.