Derby 'battle': Bartrip says Spurs will face tough test against WSL ...

Spurs defender Molly Bartrip [Alexander Canillas/SPP]

A FRESH London rivalry awaits Tottenham Hotspur’s women on Sunday when they kick off the season against newly promoted Crystal Palace at Brisbane Road.

Palace are the 19th team to compete in the Women’s Super League and Spurs have a decent record against newcomers, having won six of their last eight matches against such sides.

But defender Molly Bartrip is fully aware of the dangers this latest London derby could pose Robert Vilahamn’s side.

“It’s going to be a battle,” she told the New Journal. “At the end of the day they’ve got no pressure, they’re in the league and they want to show what they’re made of – similar to Tottenham a few years back.

“Everyone has kind of been in that situation where they are the new ones and you don’t really know much about them, so it’s going to be a tough game regardless, but we fully have to focus on ourselves and what we know we can do.”

Spurs won three of their six London derby clashes last season, doing the double over West Ham while beating Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

They closed out an unbeaten pre-season last weekend with a 1-0 friendly win over Manchester United – the club that inflicted a 4-0 defeat over Vilahamn’s players in May’s FA Cup final.

And while they have lost on-loan Grace Clinton and Celin Bizet to United, the club has strengthened with the arrival of Australia stars Hayley Raso and Clare Hunt, and their head coach is expecting a “fun season”.

“It feels like it’s fun to start with a derby against Crystal Palace,” Vilahamn told the New Journal.

“Pre-season has been good. When you are a new coach last year, it’s kind of nice going into the second season and you know the staff, you know the club, you know the league. I feel like we are in a good spot.”