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United Ladies plotting cup final giantkilling
Leeds United Ladies will be aiming to exorcise a few ghosts on Bank Holiday Monday when they tackle red-hot favourites Arsenal in the FA Women's Cup final.
United were dismantled 5-0 by Arsenal in a thoroughly one-sided final two years ago at Millwall FC, and they will be keen on redressing the balance at Nottingham Forest's City Ground on Monday.
Then, as now, Vic Akers' Arsenal will be short-priced favourites to complete a league and cup double – as they did in 2006.
An almost peerless league campaign has seen the Gunners – who did the quadruple last term in winning the league, FA Cup, Premier League Cup and Uefa Women's Cup – win 20 of their 21 league fixtures.
Their only major blemish has come in losing the League Cup final to Everton, but despite being written off in many quarters, Leeds – who finished third in the league – won't be rolling over.
The incentive for Rick Passmoor's Leeds – who were beaten by Arsenal in their only other appearance in a final, the Londoners winning 1-0 in last year's League Cup showpiece – is lifting a piece of silverware for the first time in their history.
England ace Smith, whose side have shown their nerve in triumphing in three nerve-shredding penalty shoot-outs en route to the final, said: "We'll be the massive underdogs. Arsenal have played in 'x' amount of cup finals and have been there, done it and got the t-shirt.
"They are top of the league with a team full of internationals and they have great players all over the pitch.
"We've just to go out and perform as well as we can. We've got lots of internationals too, U-19s and U-23s players and players in the full (England) squad as well."
Smith added: "Two years ago, it wasn't the best result and it was a little bit of a disappointment. I think a few of us were just happy to be there, but we're a little bit more motivated now.
"We've been there and have the experience now. We don't want to go there and enjoy the day – we want to perform and win.
"Last time was a huge occasion for most of the girls and many had never experienced playing in front of that sort of crowd. We had an awful start and conceded very early on, which didn't help.
"A few people froze, it doesn't matter how much talent you have, if the occasion gets to you, you have a problem.
"But we've a little bit more experience this time. We've tried to do things as low key as possible; obviously we want to promote the final and want people to come and support us.
"We just want to go out and perform and we do have a bit of belief in ourselves." Leeds have had a tough route to the final, playing against Premier League opponents exclusively in beating Everton, Cardiff, Chelsea and Bristol Academy.
Arsenal have had it far easier in breezing past Lincoln City, Birmingham, West Ham and Newquay, scoring a whopping 29 goals and conceding four. Kick-off is 11am.
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Weather for Leeds
Thursday 24 May 2012
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