West Ham United Women injury boost as double Chelsea blow emerges for League Cup
Chelsea have confirmed Lucy Bronze and Sandy Baltimore will not feature in the League Cup clash against West Ham Women.
The Irons travel to Kingsmeadow on Wednesday (5 February) to face the Women’s Super League leaders in the semi-final of the League Cup.
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor confirmed the news via the club’s official website (4 February). The injured duo will remain on the sidelines after missing the 1-0 win against Aston Villa last weekend.
Rehanne Skinner’s side can reach their first-ever League Cup final on Wednesday evening after crashing out of the rescheduled FA Cup tie against Liverpool in a 5-0 loss at the Chigwell Construction Stadium (29 January).
West Ham Women get boost ahead of League Cup semi-final
Although the Hammers face a relegation scrap in the WSL, Skinner refused to rest on her laurels in the winter transfer window.
Verena Hanshaw arrived from AS Roma on 22 January, joining Kristie Mewis, Shelina Zadorsky, and Katrina Gorry to help the side to kick on in the second half of the season.
The loss against Liverpool in the FA Cup was an untimely blow to Skinner, but a League Cup final appearance would transform what has proven to be an underwhelming league campaign.
With only a five-point gap to bottom-of-the-table Crystal Palace, the Irons’ form in the League Cup this season has been night and day compared to the WSL.
West Ham won three out of three against Portsmouth, Southampton, and the London City Lionesses to top the Group C table.
In what has proven to be a remarkable cup campaign, Seraina Piubel and Kirsty Smith completed a sensational comeback in the 2-1 win against Tottenham to progress to the semi-finals.
Chelsea will be heading into the contest as heavy favourites to make the final, but the Hammers are leading scorers in this year’s competition – a historic underdog victory cannot be ruled out.
In other West Ham news, Ally McCoist completely agrees with Stamford Bridge claim after the Irons lost against Chelsea.
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