Everton Women have the opportunity to make it two wins from two in Subway Players’ Cup against Newcastle United at Goodison Park, while Scott Phelan will be grateful of a quick opportunity to get back to winning ways after the weekend’s defeat away to London City Lionesses in the WSL.
With just five goals scored in six games this season – two which were own goals – Scott Phelan will look to try and combine a chance to progress in a cup that the Blues have not had a lot of success in while trying to solve what is fast becoming a striking crisis.
Hannah Cain did break her duck for both her and her fellow forwards in the WSL this season, and may well feel she is in contention to occupy one of the forward spots, but who will join her in the starting XI against the Magpies?
Phelan’s subs made an impact on Sunday after a below par opening 45 minutes, with Cain benefiting from fellow sub Aurora Galli’s endeavour and vision to set up the chance. Noemie Mouchon also looked sharp, while fellow forward Jutta Rantala made the matchday squad for the first time since her move from Leicester City in the summer, although remained an unused sub.
While the head coach will not be taking nothing for granted against Newcastle, who will be meeting the Blues for the third straight season in the competion, the fixture does represent a great chance to give those fringe players some minutes as well as experiment with something new in what has been a hit-and-miss start so far for Everton’s campaign.
Moving away from the forward line and the Goodison faithful won’t be surprised to see club captain Megan Finnigan be given the opportunity to continue her comeback from her injury, having successfully come through the Toffees opening League Cup game win against Birmingham City.
Behind the backline and Rylee Foster-Inman may well take up duties between the sticks, while Galli and Honoka Hayashi could be in line for starts, with both players more than capable of being the catalysts to provide a spark to a stuttering forward line.
The Opposition
A league below their hosts, but WSL 2’s pace-setters, Newcastle have been in incredible form so far, with five wins from five games that have produced 14 goals in their favour with just one conceded.
Tanya Oxtoby’s side haven’t fared as well in the Subway Players’ Cup as of yet, going down 1-0 at home to fierce rivals Sunderland this past Sunday – the first game this season where the Magpies have failed to score.
Martha Thomas has been the one catching the eye so far with five goals this season, which sees the forward top both her team’s and the league’s scoring charts, while the side also boasts the experienced Jordan Nobbs, who continues to show her worth despite being in the 18th year of her glittering career.
Previous Meetings
Phelan will be desperate for his side to make it three wins from three against Oxtoby’s team in this competition, having already triumphed twice on Tyneside in the past two seasons.
Goals from Yuka Momiki, Katja Snoeijs and Toni Payne secured a comfortable when the two sides met at the Gateshead International Stadium in this competition last season, which was a lot more comfortable for the Blues than the fixture the year before.
That night belonged to Courtney Brosnan, who produced a masterclass of penalty saves that Neville Southall would have been proud of to ensure it was the Blues who claimed victory.
With the game evenly poised at 1-1 after the 90, the Republic of Ireland international would go on to save all three spot-kicks she faced, with Justine Vanhaevermaet, Snoeijs and Finnigan making no mistake from 12 yards.
But with the new format getting rid of shootouts deciding games, both bosses are aware of the importance of victory, with Phelan in particular desperate to ensure his side finish in the top eight of the league table format to ensure qualification to the knockout stages.
Following this fixture, the Blues will have four more games to guarantee qualification, including home games against Durham and Manchester United, as well as away fixtures against Sunderland and Sheffield United, with the Blades next up for the Toffees on 28 October.
Everton Women take on Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Wednesday, 21 October, at 7pm BST (2pm ET, 11am PT).
Tickets for the clash are still available and can be purchased here.