Crystal Palace √ manchester united sun 15 dec 2024 | 2:00pm kick-off
it’s matchday
A warm welcome to Crystal Palace’s final match of 2024, as we face Women’s Super League heavy-hitters Manchester United in Sutton!
The Eagles this afternoon host the Red Devils at the VBS Community Stadium in front of what promises to be a club-record crowd in Sutton. Kick-off is at 14:00 GMT this afternoon.
It’s been a memorable 2024 for Laura Kaminski’s side, clinching a historic Women’s Championship trophy and promotion, before welcoming some of the world’s best players and clubs to South London in the WSL!
Make sure you get down to Sutton to support the team and – for those arriving early – to experience our brand new Fanzone, situated just beyond the Collingwood Road Stand at the far side of the stadium.
Opening an hour before kick-off, the Fanzone will feature face painters, a DJ, Pete and Alice the Eagle, and lots more fun, games, activities, refreshments and music – the perfect way for the whole family to warm-up ahead of kick-off!
Then, as the action draws near, get behind the team – and be loud, be proud… be Palace!
laura kaminski
Good afternoon everyone, and welcome back to the VBS Community Stadium for this afternoon’s Women’s Super League match – our final one of 2024.
Ijust want to take a moment to thank you for all of your fantastic support this calendar year. It has been an incredible journey so far. We have achieved so much, and learned greatly too, but your incredible support has been there throughout that process – and it only continues to grow. You have backed this group and given us so much belief, both in South London and on our away days across the country – so thank you.
We have already played twice this week and, although it has been a challenging week in terms of results, there have positives to take away from both matches.
For long periods of the West Ham match last week, we played some lovely football –probably some of the best I’ve seen us play. We did so well to score twice early on, and we managed to get ahead in the game again, but unfortunately, we’re struggling to manage those situations at the moment. It’s underestimated how emotionally tough it is to manage those moments on the pitch, but we’re working hard behind closed doors to improve. We know this group are capable.
It was tough to go out of the Women’s League Cup against Tottenham on Wednesday, but I had an opportunity to make some rotations, which was really healthy for the squad, getting minutes in the legs and giving opportunities to people who’ve not been really playing to showcase themselves.
A special thank you to all the fans who came out for the game on such a cold night in midweek. You were outstanding, making brilliant noise the whole way through - thank you.
It’s also been great to welcome Hayley Nolan back this week. She’s been out for a long time with a shoulder injury, and to not play for that amount of time and then come back and show up for her team like she has done, I’m so proud of her. She’s made some really positive progress, and I’m really pleased to see that.
It’s our final week of the calendar year and we will keep going. We know we’ve got things to fix, and we’re keeping busy with those. Nobody has been promoted or relegated yet. We have some short-term areas to work on, but this is a long-term battle, and we’re not even halfway through it yet.
It’s our final week of the calendar year and we will keep going. We know we’ve got things to fix, and we’re keeping busy with those. Nobody has been promoted or relegated yet. We have some shortterm areas to work on, but this is a long-term battle
Today’s match against Manchester United is another chance to test ourselves. We’ve got to be positive that if we focus on the things we know we need to, and show all our work hard in training and in the building, it should all come to fruition.
Thank you for being here and for standing with us every step of the way – and let me take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
Laura
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aimee everett
Hello, Palace fans! Welcome back to the VBS Community Stadium for our final game of 2024 against Manchester United.
We’ve had a challenging few weeks in the run-up to the festive break, and exited the League Cup group stage after going down 2-0 to Tottenham on Wednesday night. Obviously, it wasn’t the outcome we aimed for, but it was a positive performance in patches – particularly the first 45 minutes, where we imposed ourselves against strong opposition.
The girls who came into the team did really well – with a special mention to Hayley Nolan, who’s made a recent return after so long out with a shoulder injury.
We just needed to be a bit braver when we were on top. What we’re learning at this level is that our opponents always carry an attacking threat.
One minute you can feel in control of a game, then you can go behind out of nothing and have to try and get back in the game from behind. That is what happened in the Tottenham game, when they scored straight after the break. It was a sucker punch to concede at that point.
But as I’ve said before, this season we’re learning all the time about what it takes to compete against the best. And I think you can see that since September, the progress in our performance levels has been clear.
The challenge now is to turn that into results, both when the season resumes in January, but also here today against Manchester United. They’re a good side, but we know we have the ability in our squad to give anyone in this league a tough game.
The mid-season break will then provide us all with a nice chance to recharge over the festive season and enjoy some time with our loved ones. But it also gives us a chance to reflect on what a magical year 2024 has been for this group.
To gain promotion to the WSL as Championship winners after such an incredible season and then compete week-in, week-out, in the top-flight, it has been a brilliant 12 months. I’m always proud just to be associated with this club, let alone as captain, but particularly so this year.
Thank you for all your support during that time. Let me also take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Up the Palace!
Aimee
To gain promotion to the WSL as Championship winners after such an incredible season and then compete week-in, week-out, in the top-flight, it has been a brilliant 12 months. I’m always proud just to be associated with this club, let alone as captain, but particularly so this year
last time out
Despite another strong first-half showing, Crystal Palace exited the League Cup after going down 2-0 to Tottenham at Sutton.
Palace started the better of the two sides, creating several opportunities with Annabel Blanchard going close early on after good work from Ashleigh Weerden.
Despite naming a heavily rotated team, Laura Kaminski will have been pleased with the Eagles opening 45 minutes, although Milla-Maj Majasaari was called into action, making a smart save from forward Lenna Gunning-Williams.
But the visitors slowly grew into the contest and got the crucial breakthrough after halftime, winger Matilda Vinberg given an easy finish after an assist from Martha Thomas.
Spurs then settled the tie in the 71st minute when substitute Araya Dennis – formerly on loan at Palace – turned on the edge of the box, bending the ball into the far corner.
The result ended the Eagles interest in this season’s League Cup after finishing third in Group E.
In the first-half we looked good on the ball, but didn’t get many shots off. We tried to be more aggressive in the second-half, but we were a little bit rushed in getting our shots off laura kaminski
“Yeah it was tough. But we had our opportunity today for some rotations which is really healthy in terms of getting minutes in the legs.
“It was an opportunity for people who have not been playing to be part of the starting line-up which is really positive. Hayley Nolan is making some really positive progressions and I’m pleased to see that.
“In the first-half we looked good on the ball, but didn’t get many shots off. We tried to be more aggressive in the second-half, but we were a little bit rushed in getting our shots off. Now all attention turns to the weekend.”
Aimee
manchester united
WSL High-flyers
Manchester United Women have consistently fought at the top end of the table since first winning promotion to the WSL in 2019. They challenged for the title in 2022/23, narrowly finishing as runners-up to Chelsea in both the league and FA Cup. United went one better last season to win the cup final at Wembley, securing a first major trophy.
A Brummie BOSS
Manager Marc Skinner took charge at United in 2021 and is now looking to add a league title to his CV after lifting the FA Cup in May. Skinner’s first real coaching breakthrough came at hometown club Birmingham City, leading them to fifth in the WSL, before a twoyear spell in charge of NWSL side Orlando Pride.
The Red Devils
A NEW ERA
It was all change for United in the summer, with England goalkeeper Mary Earps and captain Katie Zelem among the departures. Seven new players were signed in a bid to strengthen the group, with Lyon’s Melvine Malard joining on a permanent deal and Elisabeth Terland’s arrival from Brighton adding attacking firepower.
PAST MEETINGS
Palace and United met twice during the Red Devils’ first season following their relaunch in 2018-19 with both sides then in the second tier. United triumphed 5-0 in the first meeting in Bromley, and 7-0 in the reverse fixture which secured the Championship title, with future England star Lauren James scoring four. Today will be the first WSL fixture between the sides.
United have a wealth of options in attack – but striker Elisabeth Terland has already proven an excellent summer signing from Brighton. An instinctive finisher
powerful in the air, Terland has already been likened to fellow Norwegian forward Erling Haaland. The 23-year-old has five goals so far this
“I think it was about making sure we had a win tonight, but also looking forward to the weekend. We’ve got a three game week so it’s about balance.” Marc Skinner
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