West Ham United Women vs Chelsea Women preview: Kick-off time, where to watch live and more!
From the official Chelsea FC website:
Chelsea Women will be aiming to return to the top of the Women’s Super League when they take on West Ham United at the Chigwell Construction Stadium on Wednesday night.
We clinched our third consecutive FA Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday, where Sam Kerr’s second-half strike saw the Blues register a fifth FA Cup under manager Emma Hayes.
There is little time to reflect as the Blues prepare for a return to WSL action when we travel to face West Ham on Wednesday, knowing victory would take us to the top of the table with two matches before the season draws to a close.
Clinical displays against Everton and Leicester in our previous two league matches contained 13 goals scored without reply, and we will need to show similar conviction in front of goal to overcome a stern test in the shape of West Ham.
When and where?
We make the short journey to Dagenham to face West Ham United in the Women’s Super League on Wednesday 17 May, with kick-off scheduled for 8.15pm (UK time)
How to follow
As always, you can follow the game via Chelsea Women’s social media channels. There will be live commentary on our Twitter page and regular updates on Facebook and Instagram. Simply search ‘ChelseaFCW’ on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Supporters who cannot attend will be able to watch the match which has been selected for live broadcast on Sky Sports.
The form
We make the trip to Essex occupying second place in the WSL table with 49 points having won 16, drawn one and lost two of our 19 matches to date. We have scored 57 goals and conceded 15 leaving us with a goal difference of +42 ahead of our final three league matches this season.
Victory at West Ham would see the Blues extend our winning run in the league to five consecutive matches since the start of April, while our FA Cup triumph last time out will generate confidence as we enter the final run-in.
As for our opposition, West Ham are sitting eighth in the WSL table after five wins, two draws and 12 defeats from 19 matches, leaving them on 17 points. They have scored 19 goals and conceded 37, leaving them with a goal difference of -18.
In their most recent outing, West Ham were narrowly beaten 1-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion with Kayleigh Green netting just before the hour mark. In their last home match at the start of April, the Hammers held Liverpool to a goalless draw.
West Ham United Women vs Chelsea Women recent head-to-head record
Our previous encounter with West Ham came away from home at the semi-final stage of the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup, where we secured our place in the final with a 7-0 victory at Victoria Road in February.
On a bitterly cold evening, the Blues were relentless in front of goal with Kerr netting four on the night, while strikes from Guro Reiten, Fran Kirby and Lauren James added gloss to a resounding display before the February international break.
In the reverse league fixture at Kingsmeadow in September, we secured a 3-1 victory but it was not all plain sailing. Dagny Brynjarsdottir gave West Ham the lead inside three minutes but we responded with goals from Kirby, Kerr and Millie Bright to turn the game around.
Next up for the Blues
It is another swift turnaround as we prepare to take on Arsenal in our penultimate WSL fixture of the season at Kingsmeadow this Sunday 21 May.
Kick-off is scheduled for 12.30pm (UK time) and for supporters who cannot attend the match, it has been selected for live television coverage on BBC Two.
‘Chelsea Supporters Group’ can also be found on Twitter and Facebook
