Preview: Aston Villa (H).

City Women are back in BS3 as they host Aston Villa at Ashton Gate on Sunday (2pm).

The Robins picked up their first three points of the season last time out, beating West Ham United 3-2 thanks to goals from Amalie Thestrup, Ella Powell and Brooke Aspin.

Lauren Smith has seen a resurgence in performances from her side in recent times and the first win of the Barclays Women’s Super League had been coming, following on from a strong display against Arsenal in a narrow defeat prior to the international break.

Thestrup’s strike against The Hammers was her third of the season from only five starts, and Smith’s frontline options have been boosted by the return of both Abi Harrison and Jesse Wooley from their respective injuries.

OUR OPPONENTS: ASTON VILLA

Founded: 1973
Stadium: Trevor Brown Memorial Ground
Nickname: The Villans
Manager: Carla Ward
Finish Last Season: 5th

The Villans were promoted to the Barclays Women’s Super League in 2018, the first time they were in the top flight of Women’s football since 2004.

Under the management of Carla Ward, they have established themselves in the WSL and secured their highest ever league finish of 5th last season, thanks largely to Lioness Rachel Daly, who’s 22 goals saw her finish as the division's top scorer. Villa also progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup last campaign and made the latter stages of the League Cup.

The club’s greatest achievement came in 2013 however when they won their first major trophy, beating Leeds United on penalties to secure the Women’s Premier League Cup.

Ward’s side have made an uncharacteristically poor start to the campaign this time around, finding themselves bottom of the WSL after five games, and coming into this one on the back of a 5-0 defeat to Chelsea last week.

Ebony Salmon will be returning to the West Country this weekend, this time in Claret and blue, having previously spent two successful seasons with City between 2019 and 2021.

MATCH DETAILS

When: Sunday, October 12th (2pm) 
Where: Ashton Gate
Competition: Barclays Women’s Super League

Referee: Mel Burgin
Assistant referee: Jon Ashworth-Sears
Assistant referee: Callum Parke
Fourth Official: Jane Simms

MATCH PACK

Check out all the stats and facts ahead of the game.

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Words: Kory Cook