West Ham United Women will look to end their 10-game winless run in all competitions when they face Tottenham Hotspur Ladies in Sunday's Women's Super League contest.
While the hosts are in 11th place, Spurs are currently sitting in sixth position with 15 points to their name from 10 matches.
Match preview
Former Tottenham boss Rehanne Skinner has seen her West Ham team win just one of their 10 league games this season (D2, L7), leaving them hovering above basement side Bristol City on goal difference.
Their sole league victory took place against Brighton & Hove Albion in October, before they went on to take just two points from their final eight WSL matches of 2023.
They did at least manage to halt a five-game losing run in the top flight with a 1-1 draw against Leicester City before the winter break.
The Hammers returned from their time off with a difficult fixture against Chelsea in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and while Vivianne Asseyi put West Ham in front inside the opening 20 minutes, the current holders fought back to win 3-1 after extra time.
They will now turn their focus to Saturday's league game at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, where they will attempt to claim their first home league win since November 2022, having drawn four and lost seven of their previous 11 WSL home matches.
After taking over the reins from Skinner in the summer, Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn has overseen a promising campaign that has yielded 15 points from 10 WSL matches.
Despite having 12 league games left to play, Spurs are already just one win away from equalling their total points tally from last season.
In their most recent league outing before Christmas, Tottenham recorded their first-ever WSL victory against their North London rivals Arsenals thanks to a Martha Thomas effort.
They had a month to reflect on their derby success, before they returned to action with a dramatic 3-2 victory over second-tier Sheffield United in the FA Cup last weekend, with Beth England netting a brace before Rosella Ayane scored a stoppage-time winner to help Spurs fight back from two goals down.
Although they will now be targeting a third straight competitive victory, picking up all three points may be easier said than done, as Spurs have failed to win their last four meetings with West Ham since winning 1-0 in January 2021.
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Team News
West Ham have already strengthened their squad in the transfer window, having recruited Katrina Gorry and Kristie Mewis on permanent deals.
Shelina Zadorsky has also joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, but she is ineligible to face her parent club on Sunday.
Having scored five of West Ham's eight league goals, Riko Ueki and Asseyi are expected to operate in the front two against Tottenham.
As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of Luana Buhler, Drew Spence and Shuang Wang.
Charlotte Grant and Matilda Vinberg will both be involved following their debuts last weekend, although the latter may have to settle for a place among the substitutes after coming off the bench to make her Tottenham bow last weekend.
Vinberg could be joined on the bench by her fellow Swede Amanda Nilden, who recently arrived on loan from Juventus.
West Ham United Women possible starting lineup:
Arnold; Cooke, Tysiak, Cissoko; Shimizu, Gorry, Snerle, Hayashi, Smith; Asseyi, Ueki
Tottenham Hotspur Ladies possible starting lineup:
Votikova; Neville, Summanen, Bartrip, Grant; Bizet, Petzelberger, Graham, Clinton; Thomas, England
We say: West Ham United Women 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur Ladies
Although West Ham have avoided defeat in their last four meetings with Tottenham, they head into Sunday's contest off the back of a poor run of form.
In contrast to their hosts, Spurs have won their previous two competitive matches, and we think that they ultimately prove too strong for the Hammers on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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