Report: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Bristol City.

Shania Hayles and Jodie Hutton both struck the woodwork in the first half but neither side were able to break the deadlock.

✍️ BACKGROUND

Lauren Smith made three changes to the side that beat Oxford United in the Vitality Women's FA Cup as Vicky Bruce, Ella Powell and Chloè Bull came into the side for Gracie Pearse, Maddie Wilde and Grace Clinton.

New signing Rachel Furney was named on the bench.

📝 WHAT HAPPENED? 

City had the better of a cagey first half at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium as both sides struggled to find their feet on a challenging surface.

A Vicky Bruce snap-shot was the game’s first sight of goal, but it wasn’t until the 25th minute that either side went close to opening the scoring.

Rovers keeper Alex Brooks flapped at a cross but Hayles, on the stretch, could only direct her header onto the post.

Four minutes later, Lauren Smith’s side struck the woodwork again as Jodie Hutton’s free-kick from the right struck the top of the crossbar.

The hosts almost broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time as, following a scramble in the City area, Lia Cataldo made the decisive block.

⏱️ HALF-TIME

Three minutes after the restart, Syme went inches away from opening the scoring as she looped a header over the crossbar from Powell’s cross.

The visitors went close again either side of the hour mark as Chloè Bull volleyed wide from Hutton’s corner before Hutton herself saw a header saved.

Powell tested Brooks again with a near-post effort before Ffion Morgan’s cross from the right was well dealt with on 88 minutes.

Blackburn could well have nicked it in the final minutes as Saffron Jordan struck the upright from inside the area, but it wasn’t to be for either side.

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🏃‍♂TEAM

Bentley, Cataldo (Pearse 46'), Layzell, Bruce, Powell (Woolley 82'), C.Bull (Furness 74'), Palmer, Syme, Hutton (Morgan 64'), Hayles (Ward 64'), Harrison

Subs: Clark, Wilde, Teisar

🎥 POST-MATCH REACTION 

🗓 UP NEXT AT HOME

City are back in action at the Robins High Performance Centre on Wednesday (6.45pm) for the visit of London City Lionesses in the Barclays Championship.