Report: Birmingham City 2-0 Bristol City.

The hosts struck twice in the first half through Lucy Quinn and Charlie Devlin and, despite a much-improved second half, The Robins couldn't find a way back into the encounter.

📝 BACKGROUND

Lauren Smith made two changes, both at wing-back, as Jazz Bull came in for Ella Powell and Jodie Hutton was replaced by Chloe Mustaki who made her first start since returning from injury.

✍️ WHAT HAPPENED? 

After a bright start, it was the hosts who opened the scoring after 14 minutes.

Lucy Quinn dropped a shoulder in the area and fired a well-struck effort across goal and into the bottom right-hand corner of Fran Bentley's goal.

It took brave Brooke Aspin defending to keep it at one-nil as she blocked a dangerous effort with her head four minutes later.

Claudia Walker almost doubled the hosts lead two minutes later as her cross from the left looped over everyone and glanced the far post before bouncing behind for a goal kick.

With 23 minutes on the clock, City were denied a fantastic opportunity to equalise as Shania Hayles was tripped just outside the Blues penalty area.

Grace Clinton struck the resulting free-kick over the crossbar.

A smart interchange between Shania Hayles and Emily Syme saw City's top scorer have a great chance to level things up but her strike from inside the area struck the offside Clinton.

Some patient build-up from City allowed Hayles a good opportunity to drive into the area from a tight angle before seeing an effort bravely blocked.

Devlin then mad it two on the stroke of half-time as she lashed home the rebound after an excellent Bentley save had denied her header at the first attempt. 

⏱ HALF-TIME

City looked more like themselves after the break and soon went close through Rachel Furness after some great work from Clinton, but her effort was saved.

Abi Harrison and Syme both saw efforts blocked in quick succession before, a few minutes later, Clinton fed Hayles who saw her low shot saved.

City almost bundled one across the line after 68 minutes as Brooke Aspin saw her prodded effort saved after Morgan's corner with Bruce then smothered on the follow-up.

Clinton almost bagged herself a worldie after 78 minutes as she charged though the midfield before firing just wide of the top corner.

Five minutes from time City were once again denied after a goal-mouth scramble as the Blues defence once again stood strong.

🏃‍♂TEAM 

Bentley (C), Layzell, Aspin (Cataldo 72'), Bruce, J.Bull, Syme (Ward 57'), Furness (C.Bull 72'), Mustaki (Morgan 57'), Harrison, Clinton, Hayles (Teisar 77')

Subs not used: Clark, Wilde, Pearse, Woolley

🎥 REACTION

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