Match Preview: Southampton Women (H).

City Women have enjoyed a 100% start to the 2022/23 Barclays Championship season with three wins from three games, which sees the Reds currently sit top of the league table.

Four goals across three games have seen Lauren Smith’s side gain maximum points and while the City boss will challenging her squad to find another couple of gears in attack, the defensive displays will have brought Smith joy. 

The Robins are yet to concede a goal this season in 270 minutes of Barclays Championship football.

Summers signing Shania Hayles has hit the ground running at City, scoring twice so far this season and the forward provided last week’s match winner against Sunderland at the Robins High Performance Centre.

🎥 WATCH HIGHLIGHTS IN FULL

🆚 OUR OPPONENTS: Southampton

• Formed: 2017
• Stadium: St Mary’s Stadium
• Manager: Marieanne Spacey-Cale
• Nickname: The Saints
• Finish last season: 1st (National League South)

The Saints are new to the Barclays Championship following their promotion from the National League after beating Wolves in the play-off final back in May.

Promotion into the second tier of women’s football has seen the South Coast side transition into fully professional outfit having been part-time last campaign.

Southampton are a familiar opponent for the Robins with the two sides having met at St Mary’s Stadium last season in the Fourth Round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup. That afternoon belonged to the Saints, who progressed into the quarter-final of the competition after an extra-time winner.

The Saints have made a strong start to life in the Barclays Championship. Following an opening day defeat to Charlton Athletic, Southampton bounced back to play out an entertaining 2-2 with Lewes FC Women at the Dripping Pan.

Their maiden victory of the season would come a week later as they beat Crystal Palace 2-1, and in doing so they knocked the Eagles off top spot.

With their recent taste of victory, the Saints will be hungry for more and they’ll be on the hunt for three points in BS3 this Sunday.

📖 ROBINS PROGRAMME

⏮ MATCH REWIND

Result: Bristol City 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
When: 14.11.2021
Competition: FA Championship

A record attendance of 3,053 saw Bristol City Women thump Blackburn Rovers Ladies 3-0 at Ashton Gate.

An own goal by Blackburn Rovers' Helen Seed set the Robin off on the right foot, before goals by Abi Harrison and Aggie Beever-Jones sealed victory for City.

🔎 WHAT'S ON

As well as a band in the Fan Village there will be a whole host of activities taking place in the South Stand concourse!

The Robins Foundation will be putting a range of activities for our young supporters before the action gets underway including; a panna cage, inflatable football pitch and penalty shoot-out!

🚌 TRAVEL

Road closures, roadworks and public bus diversions are in place on matchday so we advise all fans to plan their journey carefully and leave plenty of time.

Fans are advised to use public bus services – a network map can be seen here with full details on the First Bus website. Due to the Great Bristol Run, stop alterations and diversions may affect some services - details can be found here.

The Great Bristol Run has seven road closures across central Bristol, including the A4 Portway (closed until 2.30pm). The closure zones re-open at different times during the afternoon and can be seen here.

VIEW ALL TRAVEL INFORMATION

🎟 TICKETS

Supporters attending are encouraged to purchase in advance and save! 

📺 STREAMING 

The only place to watch the action this weekend will be at Ashton Gate as there will be no stream available for the fixture.