Preview: Brighton and Hove Albion (A).

City are back in Women’s Super League action as they travel to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, January 21st (2pm).

It’s Lauren Smith’s side's first league outing since the 0-3 defeat to Chelsea last month, and the City head coach will be looking for a response after her team were knocked out of the FA Cup by Liverpool last time out.

Despite a strong display against the Merseyside outfit, City were unable to turn dominance into goals, and Smith will be expecting her frontline to be firing at all cylinders against The Seagulls.

Top scorer Amalie Thestrup has been The Robins’ main source of goals this campaign, bagging five so far in the WSL, and The Dane will be keen to pick up where she left off prior to the winter break.

OUR OPPONENTS: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION

Founded:1967
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
Nickname: The Seagulls
Manager: Melissa Phillips
Finish Last Season: 11th

In 2018, Brighton were inducted into the Women’s Super League as part of the restructuring of the Women’s football pyramid in England.

Manager at the time Hope Powell consolidated The Seagulls and cemented them as top flight regulars, finishing in ninth two seasons running, before leading them to their most successful campaign in 2021, seeing them end the season sixth.

Since Powell’s departure in 2022, Brighton have struggled to replicate that success, and narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship last season, finishing second bottom, five points above Reading.

Melissa Phillips was appointed head coach in the summer and it has been much of the same for her side this time round, as they sit tenth after ten games, just three points above City, meaning anything less than a win against The Robins this weekend would see them creep closer to the foot of the table.

MATCH DETAILS

When: Sunday, January 21st 2024 (2pm)
Where: Broadfield Stadium, Crawley
Competition: Barclays Women’s Super League

Referee: Lisa Benn
Assistant Referee: David Middleton
Assistant Referee: Anastasiya Voloshchuk
Fourth Official: Mel Burgin