Match Preview: Bristol City Women vs Brighton & Hove Albion.

Last time out: 

A trip to Merseyside ended in defeat for the Robins last Sunday as they lost 4-0 to Everton at Walton Hall Park in what was their first WSL game of 2021.

The Toffee’s managed two goals in each half including a brace from Isobel Christiansen and goals from Simone Magill and Megan Finnigan.

The defeat kept City at the bottom of the league but despite the result, Beard was able to find many positives to take forward after his first game in charge.

Form: 

Bristol City Women

Last five games: LWLLL

The Robins face a period period ahead with 3 league games and the FA Continental Cup semi-final with Leicester City on the horizon.

City's fortunes could change with a strong run of results and Matt Beard has been vocal this week in targeting the club's first 3 points of the season in Saturday's fixture against the Seagulls. 

Brighton & Hove Albion

Last five games: LDLLL

Hope Powell's side will travel to the West Country in search of available win also. Their only points in the league from the last five games came in the form of a 0-0 draw with Birmingham. 

The Seagulls will be coming to Twerton Park with a point to prove following a heavy 7-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City last weekend.

Memory Lane:

• Brighton and Hove Albion 1-2 Bristol City
• FA Continental Cup
• October 20th, 2019
• People’s Pension Stadium

The Robins came out victorious in the last meeting between the two sides, with goals from Abi Harrison and Salmon giving City a 2-1 victory in the Conti Cup.

Harrison opened the scoring when her drilled effort from the corner of the box beat the Brighton 'keeper and found the bottom corner.

Salmon doubled the lead on the stroke of half time when she latched onto Carla Humphrey’s pass to power the ball into the net. 

Kayleigh Green halved the deficit with a penalty in the second half, however the Robins held onto the lead and went back to Bristol with all three points.

One to watch: Inessa Kaagman

The Dutch international linked up with the Seagulls in the 2020 summer transfer window from fellow WSL members Everton, and Kaagman has hit the ground running so far this season.

The midfielder has managed three goals this season for Albion, making her the club’s top scorer in the WSL. 

Kaagman made her Oranje debut in 2019 and has been a part of the squad ever since, so City will have to be wary of the tricky midfielder come Sunday. 

Word from camp: Ella Mastrantonio

Mastrantonio believes a new-found confidence in the side can help City overcome the Seagulls on Saturday.

“It’s a massive game this weekend,” said Mastrantonio.

“The Chelsea game being called off has probably been a blessing in disguise to get another week to work under Matt [Beard]. I couldn't speak highly enough of him since he’s come in. He's installed confidence in us, putting his ideas and his philosophies in to practice and I think they're all coming together really nicely. I think we're going to build and hopefully have a good run in for the rest of the season.

"I think we're all relishing the run of games ahead, because I think we've got some points to prove from the last few results. We're going in with a different mindset, a different set of confidence and a different way of playing so we're really looking forward to it."

Where to watch:

Supporters can watch Bristol City Women take on Brighton and Hove Albion live from Twerton Park via the FA Player App from 14:00 on Saturday afternoon.