Holders Leeds United Ladies have been drawn against Sunderland Women in the last 16 of the Women’s Premier League Cup.

But club officials have expressed their surprise that the two sides were drawn against each other, having just faced each other during the group stage of the competition.

“We’re happy to face any team, anywhere, any time,” said Leeds manager Gemma Grainger, “but this is the only competition I’ve seen where you play a team in the group stage and then immediately face them in the knock-out stage.

“After the win against the Vixens we were speculating on who we’d be drawn against – Sunderland was immediately discounted because we’d played them in the group stage. We are both strong, well-supported, northern sides, and it’s a pity one of us will have to go out so early in the competition.”

The tie will be played at The Hetton Centre, Hetton-le-Hole, on Sunday 31 October. Full match commentary will be available through the club’s web site, with regular updates on Twitter and Facebook.

Full Draw

(to be confirmed after the QPR-Barnet fixture on Sunday 17 October)

Portsmouth FC Ladies v Aston Villa LFC
Millwall Lionesses LFC v Coventry City LFC
Barnet FC Ladies v Brighton & Hove Albion WFC
Leicester City WFC v Blackburn Rovers LFC
Gillingham LFC / QPR LFC /West Ham United LFC v Nottingham Forest LFC
Sunderland WFC v Leeds United LFC
QPR LFC / West Ham United LFC v Reading FC Women
Curzon Ashton LFC v Cardiff City LFC