Crystal Palace boss Leif Smerud believes Sunday’s meeting with fellow Women’s Super League strugglers Aston Villa is a “great opportunity”.
Palace are rock bottom of the standings having only picked up six points from 15 league games this season, with their sole win coming against Leicester back in October.
In his third game in charge since replacing Laura Kaminski, Smerud’s side now have a chance to close the gap with Villa, who sit only one place above them with four more points.
Smerud said: “It’s a great opportunity to close in. We of course know what kind of game this is, so we are looking forward to it and know that it’s a good chance for us to close the gap – for that reason we are looking forward to it.
Focusing on the weekend ⏳#CPFC pic.twitter.com/13qcJ4uSi5
— Crystal Palace F.C. Women (@cpfc_w) March 12, 2025
“It’s probably a ‘must perform’ game for us. So we have to do that, we know that, and that’s my focus.
“There are still many games left but everyone can read the table and understand what this game means. So we must perform.”
Sunday’s remaining fixture sees a mid-table clash when Brighton visit Tottenham, with only two points separating the pair.
Spurs go into the match on a three-game losing run following defeats to Manchester City and Manchester United either side of a 5-0 thrashing by bitter rivals Arsenal.
Looking ahead to the game, Spurs boss Robert Vilahamn said: “I’m learning every year here that the top teams are very hard to beat. Arsenal away was not a good performance and we were smashed that game.
“We adapted a little bit for the Manchester City game, and we had a really good game actually, we were pressing high, defending well, creating chances and we could’ve won that game or at least got a point from it.
“Even if it’s a three-game losing streak, the last game is a statement that we have a good chance, if we have a good day, to beat the top teams.
“Now we go to Brighton, who are also one of the best teams this season, and we need to make sure we have a good combination of the press, creating goal chances and try to win this game because it’s an important game for us.”
