Reading F.C. Women vs Chelsea F.C. Women
The search for the Treble continues in our busy March as we head to the Madejski Stadium for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. They are an opponent we are very familiar with, just because they aren’t at their best doesn’t mean we’ll walk into the semi-finals. After losing out bitterly on the Conti Cup already this season I highly doubt we will let this chance slip through our finders. But, nothing is a given in football. We still have to perform.
Chelsea
Form: W-L-W-W
Two good results after our last defeat have kept us in high spirits, our 1-0 win over Manchester United catapulting us to the top of the WSL table can only brighten our moods. With a treble more to play for this season, there is no doubt we have taken a hit but are still well and truly in the race elsewhere. With the FA Cup taking priority Sunday we will have to put every ounce of energy we have left into this game.
As I mentioned we come into this game off the back of two league wins that will have sweetened the pot for the girls to work towards. Sitting top of the WSL table with a game in hand and two points on United who sit in second. No doubt our repeat of last year’s Conti Cup final has hurt, but we seem to be handling the loss like the Champions we are. With the treble still ours to lose we can’t let any result slip now.
Reading
Form: L-D-W-L
The Royals are struggling for form this season, sitting tenth in the WSL table and only three points off the dreaded relegation spot they will be hoping to jump back into the good form they’ve seen before. A team that’s never drifted far from the top to the middle of the table they will be worried about their current string of results. Kelly Chambers will be feeling the pressure, a Reading legend who can’t seem to hold the team to the standards that have been set previously.
Their last result a 4-0 loss to Arsenal will have done nothing to settle their nerves. Knowing they have upset us before will be a big help to the mentality of the team heading out on Sunday. The record doesn’t work in their favour, but I can never remember not being nervous heading off to watch us face Reading. They like to make Chelsea sweat and it’s always an interesting watch. An opponent I never like facing who must see their record against the reigning champs should be proud that many Chelsea fans will sweat more about this fixture than a game against Manchester City. They will hope to put a halt to our dreams of another treble and why wouldn’t they, I think any English team would like that at the minute.
Previous Meetings
Having met on 17 occasions since 2014 this is a very familiar match-up with a reasonably typical outcome. Chelsea have 13 wins over the Royals, the spoils were shared a mere 3 times and Reading have only managed to beat The Blues once, although especially for me it was a very memorable one. The Blues have scored an impressive 49 goals and Reading have scored a respectable 16. As I mentioned Reading got a memorable win over us in December 2021, knocking us off our pedestal and crashing back to earth. In a season where we clinched the trophy with a single point difference on second place Arsenal, it was a massive result for the struggling Royals.
Team News
Chelsea
Much of the same for the Chelsea squad, Pernille Harder is still out after having surgery for a hamstring injury. Fran Kirby picked up an injury just before the international break and is unlikely to be match fit. Kateřina Svitková is also out injured after having surgery on her knee.
Erin Cuthbert was missing from the squad in our match against Brighton and Manchester United with a tight hamstring, hopefully this will be cleared up in time for Sunday.
Reading
Deanne Rose is back out on the grass after her Achilles injury in September last year I am unsure if she will be fit enough to play a full 90 on Sunday but good to see her recovered none the less.
Players to Watch
Chelsea
Lauren James and Jessie Fleming are two Chelsea players to keep an eye on in this match.
Lauren James, our young superstar. Amid a beautiful partnership with Assie superstar Sam Kerr it doesn’t get much better than those two at the minute. Her first season in Blue was a struggle to get and stay fit on the back of injuries, but she’s taking the bull by the horns this season. Her assist for Sam’s eventual winner in our game against United was talent and flair on display for the world to see. Dreams of a treble earnt will be in LJs mind and I hope she puts this out on the pitch.
Jessie Fleming, the talented Canadian has been in a poor bit of form for the Blues recently. Any player would take this hard being unable to work their way into the team. However, with her performance against United it seems she used the energy to figure out how to help the team in other ways. A complete display from the midfielder had me in awe, she may not have received the praise deserved but it did not go unnoticed just how important she was in that win.
Reading
Rachel Rowe and Charlie Wellings are two Royals to keep an eye on in this game.
Rachel Rowe has been heavily relied on in this Reading team recently, and wilst she may not be doing as well as she could, it is a testament to the player herself that she has managed to put in solid displays for 90 minutes in almost every game. Scoring the winner against West Ham in early March you’d think she might be settling but I believe the 30-year old has much more to offer, she just needs to figure out how to display it on the pitch.
Charlie Wellings is still only 24 years old, the young forward player has a lot to prove if she ever wants to break into the England squad. With three goals and two assists in 13 WSL matches this season it isn’t a striker’s return but as a player who prefers the wings, she’s doing a fine job of making her mark.
Match Details
Date/Time: Sunday 19th March, 14:00
Venue: Select Car Leasing Stadium, Reading
Referee: Unsure
How to Watch
UK: FA Player
Rest of the World: FA Player
Final Thoughts and Prediction
A good opponent for what should be an interesting Fa Cup tie we’ll have to wait and see how the Royals handle facing the reigning champions on Sunday in their own backyard. Every Chelsea fan (myself included) will be hoping for a Blue win to progress in the FA Cup this season, but nothing is written in stone. With treble nerves creeping up after losing out on the quadruple could Reading pull off a major upset? Anything is possible, we’ll have to wait and see.
Final Score Prediction: Reading 1 – 3 Chelsea
Written By A Bradley (@A_thensomething)