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Club News

Match Preview: Reading Women vs Bristol City Women.

08 Jun 2026BCW Media Team

It’s the Robins’ first Barclay’s FA Women’s Super League fixture in over three weeks and the squad will be hoping they can carry their momentum to the south-east to face the Royals.

Last time out:

City will be heading to Reading in high spirits after their last outing – a 3-1 victory at Lewes FC in the FA Continental Cup which saw Tanya Oxtoby’s side top their group and advance to the quarter-finals after three dominating wins from three games in the group stages.

Long-range finishes from Jemma Purfield and Ebony Salmon either side of Emma Bissel’s goal secured the win for the rampant Robins.

The victory at the Dripping Pan Stadium and the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the Barclays FAWSL was all under the guidance of Bristol City Men’s Academy Manager Gary Probert, who temporarily took charge of the team due to Oxtoby having to self-isolate after testing positive for COVID-19.

Form:

Reading Women

Last five games: DLDDW

The Royal’s have had a mixed bag season so far, sitting seventh in the Barclays FAWSL table, with nine points from seven games.

In the league, Reading have drawn their last three games, including 1-1 draws with high-flying Everton and Manchester City.

They won their last outing in the Conti Cup 2-0 against Brighton and Hove Albion, which was also their third clean sheet in all competitions.

Bristol City Women

Last five games: LWLDW

After a challenging start to the season, City have started to find their feet and get points on the board in the last few weeks.

Oxtoby’s side picked up their first point in the league in their last WSL fixture when they drew 2-2 with Tottenham, in which Salmon notched her second league goal in as many games.

Memory Lane:

Reading FC Women 3-3 Bristol City Women
Madejski Stadium (Nov 17th, 2019)
Barclays FA Women's Super League

It was an action-packed affair last time out between the two sides, with the Robins coming from two goals down to grab a point in the south-east.

Reading raced into a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Remi Allen and Brooke Chaplen, however hope was restored before the break for City when Charlie Welling’s drilled home.

The goals kept coming as Angharad James restored Reading’s two-goal advantage right after the restart, however Yana Daniels slashed the lead in half two minutes later when she slid the ball in from Salmon’s cross.

Provider turned goal scorer late in the game when Salmon rushed through on goal and scored the vital equaliser in one of the games of the season.

One to watch: Jess Fishlock

The former Bristol Academy player has had a prestigious footballing career and is currently on loan at Reading from OL Reign in the United States.

The Welsh midfielder has shone for the Royals so far this season, with the 33-year-old using her experience to control the midfield going both forward and back. It will be a tough battle in midfield for the Robins against their former player.

Word from camp:

Ahead of the trip to Reading and on her return to the squad, Oxtoby has been impressed with her side’s recent performances, and she’s hoping that her side can use that new-found confidence going forward against Reading.

“We feel like we’re now understanding a bit more of what we’re looking to do,” said the Australian.

“This weekend is going to be no different. Reading are a great side with loads of experience and we’re going to have to be on our game and switched on to make sure that we’re in a position to keep ourselves in the game and hurt them going the other way.”

Welling’s had a similar message to the boss, and with three games in the next eight days fast approaching, the side are raring to go.

“Everyone knows how important this week is. Reading this weekend followed by games against Villa and West Ham, it’s a massive week but I think everyone is ready for it and can’t wait to get going.”