West Ham United Women already know how dangerous Tottenham Hotspur can be.
Rita Guarino’s side were beaten 3-1 by Spurs on the opening weekend of the Women’s Super League season and return to BetWright Stadium on Wednesday for their first Subway Players Cup fixture.
Tottenham have only strengthened their early-season credentials since that meeting.
Martin Ho’s team remain unbeaten after three WSL matches and travel into Wednesday’s cup game having demolished Crystal Palace 7-0.
There was, however, one element of that performance which could offer West Ham encouragement.
Tottenham boss identifies problem West Ham could target
Tottenham’s seven-goal victory requires some context.
Crystal Palace were reduced to ten players after only seven minutes and Spurs eventually made their numerical advantage count emphatically.
All seven goals arrived after half-time.
Yet Ho was not completely satisfied with Tottenham’s performance.
Speaking to Tottenham’s official website after the victory, the Spurs head coach admitted his side had allowed Palace too many opportunities to counter during the first half.
“We weren’t in the right defensive positions to stop their counters,” Ho said.
Tottenham corrected the issue after the interval and Ho felt his side subsequently prevented Palace from breaking effectively.
It nevertheless gives West Ham something to consider.
If Guarino’s side can survive Tottenham’s initial pressure and regain possession cleanly, there could be opportunities to attack space before Spurs can recover their defensive structure.
Tottenham attack presents major West Ham test
Exploiting those moments will only be part of West Ham’s challenge.
Tottenham’s attack has started the season impressively.
Kirsty Hanson scored twice when the teams met on 6 September, while Olivia Holdt arrives after scoring a second-half hat-trick against Palace.
Victoria Pelova also scored twice at Selhurst Park and Shekiera Martinez opened her Tottenham account from the bench.
That gives Ho several different attacking threats to manage even if he decides to rotate for the cup.
Hanson is particularly familiar to West Ham after spending the 2023/24 season on loan with the Hammers.
She has already demonstrated the damage she can cause against Guarino’s side this season.
West Ham need different approach in Tottenham rematch
The first meeting provides West Ham with recent evidence of what can go wrong.
Tottenham won 3-1 at the same venue earlier this month, with Hanson scoring twice and Signe Gaupset also finding the net.
Viviane Asseyi’s late goal proved only a consolation for West Ham.
Wednesday offers an unusually quick opportunity to apply lessons from that defeat.
Guarino has also indicated that members of her squad who did not feature in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat against Everton could receive opportunities.
We have covered Guarino’s selection hint ahead of the Tottenham cup tie.
Any changes will need to produce a disciplined performance without the ball while retaining enough threat to punish Tottenham when transitions appear.
Cup tie gives West Ham immediate opportunity
Tottenham’s form makes them difficult opposition.
They have taken seven points from their opening three WSL fixtures, following the West Ham victory with a draw at Liverpool and the emphatic win against Palace.
That does not make Wednesday’s result inevitable.
Ho’s own assessment provides evidence that Tottenham can leave counter-attacking opportunities when their defensive positioning is not right.
West Ham’s task is to create and exploit those moments without giving Tottenham’s increasingly dangerous attack the same opportunities it enjoyed earlier this month.
Supporters can find TV, live stream and how-to-follow information for Tottenham Women vs West Ham Women, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 BST on Wednesday.
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