READING FC WOMEN will be looking to ease their relegation fears in the Women’s Super League when they host West Ham United on Sunday.
The Royals returned from the latest international break with a spring in their step after making it through to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a penalty shootout success away at Tottenham Hotspur.
Kelly Chambers will be hoping her side can now take that momentum into the league where they face a tense relegation battle to try and preserve their top flight status.
Reading go into Sunday’s match just one point above the drop zone, ahead of Leicester City having played one game more.
The Royals have won just two league games all season from 13 attempts which puts them in the midst of a relegation scrap with four other sides.
Sunday’s visitors to the SCL have managed to avoid getting dragged into the relegation battle having won five of their 13 WSL games.
The Hammers are in seventh position on 16 points which puts them comfortably in midtable.
Prior to the international break, West Ham earned a valuable draw with title challengers Arsenal as they managed to shut the Gunners out in a goalless contest.
The teams have already met once this season in the league in October as the Irons collected three points.
In a disastrous first-half for the Royals, West Ham stormed into a three-goal lead with goals from Dagny Brynjarsdottir and a double from Viviane Asseyi.
Reading came out after half-time with a renewed vigour and spirit and clawed back two goals, firstly from Charlie Wellings before Sanne Troeslgaard scored from the penalty spot with eight minutes to go.
But Reading were unable to complete the turnaround to claim a point as they were let down by their slow start to the match.
