Women

West Ham United Women v Manchester City - All You Need To Know

14th April 2022

West Ham United Women v Manchester City
Vitality Women’s FA Cup semi-final
Chigwell Construction Stadium
Saturday 16 April 2022

West Ham United Women are looking to reach their second FA Cup final in four years, as they take on Manchester City in the semi-final of the competition on Saturday.

The Hammers have beaten Sheffield United, Reading and Ipswich Town to reach the last four, and will now be hoping to pick up a win against City, who beat them 2-0 in their last WSL outing.

But this time around, the home side are hoping that a strong backing from their home supporters can push them into the final.

How to watch

Every supporter's voice will count in the east London contest - so come along and watch the Hammers in action against Manchester City, with tickets available to purchase online.

Alternatively, the game is being broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, with the broadcast beginning at 11.30am on Saturday.

We will also be bringing you live Twitter updates, as well as exclusive reaction to follow after the full-time whistle right here on whufc.com.

Team News

Olli Harder will be assessing those players that have returned from international duty over the coming days, as he looks to see which players will be available for this exciting contest.

Olli Harder watches on against Chelsea in the WSL — Olli Harder

One confirmed absentee is Maisy Barker, who will not play any part in proceedings, as she continues with her long-term injury recovery.

Team news will be revealed at 11.15am on Saturday, an hour before kick-off, on our social media channels and whufc.com.

The Opposition

After a slow start to the 2021/22 Barclays FA Super League season, Manchester City have found their form again, and are on the charge to get back into, and finish within, the UEFA Champions League places come the end of the season. On Saturday, they will be looking to book their place in the final and go onto win the competition for the fourth time in their history.

Gareth Taylor’s team have been in sensational form in recent weeks, finishing the month of March unbeaten whilst also clinching the Continental Tyres League Cup with a 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Plough Lane.

And the Citizens beat Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Everton to reach the semi-final stage.

During his playing days, current Man City manager Taylor made no less than 575 appearances across 20 years, scoring a total of 142 goals.

During this time, he featured for a host of clubs, including Sheffield United, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Tranmere Rovers, and Wrexham, where he hung up his boots.

He once featured for the Citizens between 1998 and 2001, has been a part of the furniture at the City of Manchester Stadium since starting out as a youth coach in 2011.

Progressing from developing young talent in Dubai to becoming the U18s coach, the 48-year-old was appointed head coach of Manchester City Women on 28 May 2020, replacing Nick Cushing, who departed to become Ronny Deila’s assistant at New York City FC.

In his first season in charge, Taylor led City to a 3–1 victory over Everton in the 2020 final of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup at Wembley Stadium.

He is also a former Wales international and boasts a 67.86 per cent win percentage at the Citizens.

Ones to Watch

Lauren Hemp: At just 21 years of age, it feels as though Hemp has been around for a lot longer, such has been her consistency.
The flying winger joined City from Bristol City in 2018 and has gone on to make 56 league appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals in the process.

Hemp is a regular with England too, scoring her first of four Lionesses goals in the 20-0 win over Latvia in November 2021, the national record for the largest victory in a senior international football match. Hemp has six goals in the WSL this season.

Ellen White: A West Ham United fan, Ellen White has been performing at the top level for almost two decades now.
Having played for the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Notts County, Birmingham City and now Manchester City, she has bags of experience and, as she has proven through her 49 goals in 104 games for England, certainly knows where the back of the net is.

Georgia Stanway: Stanway has been with Manchester City since 2015 and has made 91 league appearances for the club.
At only 23, Stanway is a key cog in the City machine, capable of performing in a variety of positions, but tending to excel further forward.
Stanway has five goals this season in the WSL – and found the net against the Hammers last time out.