WSL: Birmingham City vs Everton called off for second time

Birmingham City's league match against Everton has been called off for a second time due to a waterlogged pitch.

Damson Park was deemed unplayable on Wednesday afternoon, as flood warnings were called across parts of England due to Storm Christoph. The fixture was rescheduled for the same reason back in December.

Birmingham manager Carla Ward may be somewhat relieved, after admitting ahead of the game that her Birmingham side was depleted following a number of "freak" injuries. At least six first team players were unavailable, and their squad had been training with just 10 players at times this week after a number of departures – including Scotland defender Rachel Corsie, who returned to National Women's Soccer League side Kansas City after a loan spell in Birmingham.

Earlier this month, Birmingham pulled out of their match against Tottenham Hotspur, citing a number of injuries making them unable to field 14 first team players. The move came despite the Football Association denying their request to postpone. It was one of five Women's Super League ties taken off the schedule that weekend, after a coronavirus outbreak across the league left many teams with a number of players in isolation and unavailable for selection.

The latest postponement means Birmingham remain joint with Aston Villa as the club to have completed the fewest fixtures this season, with just nine out of 12 of their games going ahead. Reading are the only side that have played all 12 rounds so far.

With the FA Cup also on hold for the duration of lockdown, due to a number of clubs involved not qualifying for the 'elite' sport exemption, the news of further postponements in the WSL will only intensify team schedules later in the season.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Women's League Cup holders Chelsea travel to Manchester City to play their quarter-final.