Anna Morphet Hoping Wolves Surprise Women’s FA Cup Holders Man United

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ captain Anna Morphet is hoping the FA Women’s National League side can spring a surprise in the Women’s FA Cup against holders Manchester United.

One of two Tier three sides to have reached the Fifth Round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, the Wolves training ground has this week become a hive of activity with the country’s media descending on their training ground in anticipation of an encounter with the reigning Cup holders, Manchester United, who currently sit second in the Women’s Super League.

The Women’s FA Cup trophy was brought to the ground where the squad lined up for pictures with it. As captain, Morphet is potentially four wins from lifting the cup at Wembley but refrained from touching it on this occasion. Speaking ahead of a training session Morphet told me “I think it just made the game on Saturday suddenly feel quite real. I think the group as a whole have been focused on not getting carried away with it.”

After ten consecutive wins in all competitions, Wolves dropped two points last weekend away to Rugby Borough, the only other tier three side remaining in this season’s FA Women’s Cup. The result allowed Nottingham Forest to reclaim the promotion spot at the top of the FA Women’s National League ahead of the two team’s showdown at the City Ground next weekend. Morphet admits “in the grand scheme of things, the league is our main priority but actually this week has given us this opportunity to almost have a break from the league and how intense that can be and enjoy this occasion.”

Morphet was one of three Wolves players who, in October, became the first women in the team’s history – alongside Tammi George and Katie Johnson – to become salaried, signing part-time contracts at the club. Morphet also works as a physio for the NHS and the change in her contract has allowed her to spend more time on her game.

She told me “it’s allowed me to cut my hours slightly. I’ve taken that decision so I can put more time and effort into football because, you know, your football career’s quite short. I’d love to give it the best shot. It’s really good to be involved in that next step with Wolves and that progression hopefully towards a professional setup.”

Nonetheless, Morphet continues to work two and a half days a week for the NHS alongside evening training sessions with Wolves. She is also required to work one Saturday a month but fortunately her rota does not prevent her from playing in the tie this weekend which has been shifted from the normal Sunday afternoon start to a prime time Saturday evening kick-off.

Growing up in the Midlands, Morphet recalls being inspired as Birmingham City won the Women’s FA Cup in 2012 where one of the stars of the team was the former Wolves player Rachel Unitt. Morphet, spent her formative years in the Aston Villa Development teams. However, her schoolteacher was Wolves captain Anna Price who soon enticed her to switch clubs.

The left-footed defender was earned herself a similar reputation to Unitt as a dead-ball specialist from free kicks and penalties, scoring over 50 goals for the club, including three this season. Last summer, Morphet inherited the armband from the retiring Price.

With the men’s team playing away, the women’s team had the option of moving their game against Manchester United to the club’s 31,750-capacity Molineux Stadium to maximise ticket sales. However, the club hahas listened to their players who preferred not to play the match at a half-full ground. Instead the game will be staged at the 6,300-capacity New Bucks Head ground 20 miles away in Telford.

Head coach Dan McNamara said “walking out to a half empty stadium is tough, it’s daunting, and it would have played into Manchester United’s hands. They play in the big stadiums more than we do, so when I found out it was going to be played at Telford I was absolutely buzzing.”

His opposite number Marc Skinner said Wolves will “try and make it a cauldron-based affair”. Morphet agreed, telling me that Wolves will attempt to maximise their home advantage. “It’s about creating the kind of atmosphere that actually benefits us. Telford is our home ground. It’s where we’re comfortable and where we’ve had great results and building momentum through the season so far.”

“Whilst we could get just the same amount of people at Molineux, you’re still playing in a mostly empty stadium. To pack out the Bucks Head I think will be something quite special, it’s close to the pitch. I think it will be incredible, and just give that extra buzz.”

It will be the third successive season in which Wolves have hosted a Women’s Super League team at Telford in the Women’s FA Cup, losing 0-2 to West Ham United in the Fourth Round in 2023 before going one round further the following year, going out 1-4 to Brighton and Hove Albion last season. On both occasions they held their more vaunted opponents until late in the game, succumbing only to goals in the final quarter.

Morphet believes that is always the danger her team faces going up against full-time professionals. “Of course, that’s certainly a big aspect of it, as you go up, players are stronger, faster, quicker and obviously have that fitness to keep going for ninety minutes at a really top level.”

“I think we competed really, really well in those games. What will benefit us going into Saturday is we’re used to now dealing with big occasions. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still going to be another step up. We kind of know, a little bit of what to expect. It will be a completely different challenge with Man United.”

“We’ve had these wonderful memories and we know what it means to represent the club in this competiton. We can use that experience that we’ve had in previous seasons on the weekend.”

The Adobe Women’s FA Cup Fifth Round tie between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United will be streamed live on YouTube on Saturday February 8 at 1215 EST (1715 GMT) here