Brian Sorensen has warned his Everton Women team not to underestimate West Bromwich Albion, but has stated that he will rotate his squad ahead of Thursday’s FA Cup fourth round clash against the Women’s
National League Northern Premier Division side.
The Blues begin their FA Cup run with a trip to Alexander Stadium and the Dane has urged his players to show why they are favourites in the fixture.
The Toffees head coach has also confirmed that Katja Snoeijs will be out for potentially up to six weeks after turning her ankle in Sunday’s defeat to WSL leaders Manchester City, but has confirmed that everyone else that featured at the weekend, or was in the squad, is ok.
And even though Sorensen has hinted at rotation, it is still expected to be a strong team in a competition he values highly.
“The FA Cup is really important. Where we are in the league, it is something that we can hopefully go on a good run in,” he said.
“We have shown this season that we can beat any team on our day.
“We shouldn’t underestimate them [West Brom] at all. We are the favourites and we know that. We need to showcase that.
“Every time we play a team from the lower leagues, it is never a walk over. It is Thursday night under the lights – a good opportunity to showcase some good football.
“We will rotate a little bit.”
The Opposition
Sitting fifth in their division with a mixed bag of results in their 12 league games played, Siobhan Hodgetts-Still’s team will be desperate to cause an upset, particularly as promotion looks increasingly unlikely due to indifferent form.
The game against Everton will be West Brom’s first since December, with the league clash scheduled for last week against Hull City being postponed.
A decent start to the season by the Baggies has waned with just one win in the last six games, but Hodgetts-Still’s underdogs will be taking to the field with nothing to lose and everything to gain by causing an upset against WSL opposition.
FA Cup Form
Exiting twice in the last two seasons to current holders Chelsea, Sorensen has dared to dream in this competition only to find his hopes shattered the last two times courtesy of the West London outfit, with the fixture at Walton Hall Park two seasons ago a tough one to take given the narrow scoreline and effort shown by the Blues.
Indeed, the cup run to the last eight during the 2023/24 season saw Everton plunder ten goals on route to the quarter-finals, with an impressive 3-0 win over Aston Villa being followed by a 7-1 demolition of Nottingham Forest.
And a cup run is what Sorensen and his team need, and something the success-starved fans crave.
But to do that, a performance will be needed in the West Midlands.
Everton Women take on West Bromwich Albion in the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup on Thursday, 15 January, at 7.30pm GMT (2.30pm ET, 11.30am PT)
