The 2020/2021 FA Women’s Continental League Cup gets underway later today with 22 clubs from the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship contesting the opening round of group matches.
Ahead of the start of the competition, we have analysed each of the six groups. Here are our thoughts on Group A which contains top tier side Aston Villa and tier two clubs Durham, Coventry United and Sheffield United.
Group A looks really competitive and it will be fascinating to see just how the action unfolds. Given their Barclays FA Women’s Super League status, Aston Villa will naturally be the favourites to qualify as group winners, however, Sheffield United and Durham will have plenty to say about that.
Villa are still transitioning into their new division and have been conceding lots of goals. The priority for Gemma Davies’ side will undoubtedly be safeguarding their top flight status and she could use the competition to rotate her squad and experiment.
Last season saw two second tier sides reach the quarter-finals, those sides being Villa and Sheffield United. The Blades travel to The Banks’s Stadium for their first group fixture this evening and will fancy themselves to get one over on last season’s FA Women’s Championship champions. The Blades boss Neil Redfearn has enough depth to compete on more than one front, his squad oozes goals from many areas even without mentioning the club’s ultra-deadly attack. Sheffield United have a real chance of topping the group.
Durham are another side who can mix it with the best. Manager Lee Sanders’ qualities really come out when he fields sides to take on both Barclays FA Women’s Super League sides in domestic cup competitions and the FA Women’s Championship’s elite. This was highlighted as The Wildcats drew 2-2 at promotion rivals Leicester City at the weekend. Sanders’ side can stifle the opposition whilst playing a brand of winning football of their own.
The final club in Group A, Coventry United, have improved their squad over the summer and are now back under the trusted guardianship of club legend Jay Bradford. The Warwickshire club boasts plenty of quality in their squad with youngster Shannon O’Brien being the jewel in their crown. Bradford’s side will need to defend strongly to have any chance of reaching the last eight which looks like a tall order given the level of competition in the group.
Gameday One Fixtures
Aston Villa v Sheffield United
Durham v Coventry United
Predicted group winner: Sheffield United