For the third time this season we are facing Bristol City, but for the first time we’ll be at home. The match is on Sunday 26th March and kick off is at 2pm. It’s our third consecutive home game in so many weeks and one we hope will be a more positive result for our hardworking team. It was back in January 2022 when we first played the Robins at St Marys in the FA Cup, where our team, the then underdogs due to being in the league below Bristol, held them for 90 minutes in a gripping 0-0 where no team gave any quarter. To take the match to extra time and then had to defend the near full 30 minutes for a 1-0 lead, following a goal on the 91st minute by our very own, Southampton born, Ella Morris, it truly was a delicious goal as well. The team also survived a late penalty scare, but this was launched into space and we marched onto the next round. It was a memorable day for all, and Ella’s celebration will live long in memory.
Back to this season, as said, this is the 3rd time we’ll be playing the Robins. They are currently flying high at the top of the table, 3 points above London City Lionesses, and with our recent results, they are likely looking to extend that lead. We hear the team and Marieanne always complimenting and urging the Saints support to #BringTheNoise and this weekend will be no different. It is going to need all of the supporters to show up and be heard. The girls always say they can hear us in the stands, and that it lifts them on the pitch to up their game.
Last time out
Last time out… was in the FA Cup in December, freezing cold, half the team were out with a nasty bug and we had to string a team together. The team, sadly fell to a 2-0 defeat. But, considering we got to see One Of Our Own from the Academy Central Defender, Sam Corrie, take to the pitch, it wasn’t all negative that day. The last time that we played Bristol, in the league, was back in September, were going into our fourth match in the Championship,
and were on a 3 match unbeaten run. The game at Ashton Gate ended in a 1 all draw was a hard battle throughout. Bristol were top of the league when we met them, the same as Crystal Palace the week before, so to come away with a win and point in those two games shows that we were and are good enough to be in the division. I feel the girls need to remember that, considering our performances of late. I believe that this performance was a cracking one, although the first half it felt like we didn’t really gel, the second half was completely different. Bristol, I’d say are quite a physical and strong team, but who know how to play ball, and play it the right way. By that, I mean, without acting, so hopefully, we’ll have a cracking spectacle on Sunday, of quick, skilful and talented footballers, showcasing why we all love and call football, the beautiful game.
The first half saw Bristol grab a goal in the 29th minute, this was scored by Ffion Morgan and assisted by Abbi Harrison. Bristol really took the dominance in this half, creating and taking shots but we didn’t create many chances, with our only shot on target being from Wilko which was from range. The second half however, I don’t know what Marieanne said to them at half time but what a difference it was to the first half.
This is the half where we saw the goal, our goal and our fifth goal of the season. Just 3 minutes after the half started, Ella Morris was played a brilliant diagonal ball by Laura Rafferty to set her off racing down the right wing and beautifully delivered a pinpoint cross into the centre of the box for onrushing Beth Lumsden, to slot it home. That happened to be Beth’s first goal of the season, and Bristol’s first goal they conceded. I think coming out quick after half time, we rattled the Robins, and the way we managed to forge them open, you wondered if they had left the dressing room and caught up in the game.
Despite Bristols best efforts, and a total of 18 shots, our defence and super Kayla Rendell denied their chances. The match ended 1-1 and we took points off the league leaders, result!
Looking ahead
We head into the match on Sunday with Saints sitting in 5 th place in the table, after 2 games were played midweek. We are 12 points behind Bristol City who are sitting pretty in top spot
and are 9 points behind London City Lionesses who sit in 2nd . Charlton move up to 3rd following their draw with Blackburn on Wednesday, and Birmingham, who beat Palace 3-1 move up to 4th . We come off the back of our loss at home to Durham last week. Hopefully, with Bristol being a squad of talent, we can fight a true, well footballing battle this Sunday, and who knows maybe we can grab that win and bag those 3 points, to get that good feeling back again. The girls do deserve for all their hard work in the last 3 matches. Bristol is a team that we know love to play football, and play the game how football should be played, leading to flowing football, that at times we have seen glimpses of from our team as well. Bristol are an experienced team at this level and also have a quite physically strong side who know how to make their strength, skill and speed work for them intelligently when on and off the ball.
As said, Bristol currently sit 1st in the table with 39 points. They have played 17 matches this season, winning 12, drawing 3 and losing 2, scoring an impressive 29 and only conceding 9. Their away form is equally as good as their home form, they sit 2nd in the table on away form and have earned 17 points in the process, winning 5 of those, drawing 2 and only losing 1.
Bristols top scorer for this season is Shania Hayles who has picked up 9 goals, she’s fast, sharp and can play the channels well. Second top is Grace Clinton with 6, she signed on loan in January from Manchester United, and if she carries on scoring, will push Hayles all the way for the Golden Boot at the end of the season. Third top is Abbi Harrison with 5 goals. They really do have a formidable strike force, and our girls will need to be on our best game to keep them from scoring, but, that’s one of our strengths, so fingers crossed.
The last match they played was against fellow title chasers, London City Lionesses, LCL claimed all 3 points by beating them 2 nil at home, showing Bristol they are still in the running and the fight for the top spot is far from over. Both goals come from Southampton, Warsaw born, Atlanta Primus, she is on fire, and if there is one player who I would love to see in a Saints shirt, she really would be first on the list.
Overall
Overall, as was said in the last preview, there is now a 12 point gap between us and Bristol, sadly promotion is looking very unlikely. With that being said, I hope now, without that pressure sitting on their shoulders, the girls can play how we know they can. We are a good side, we defend well, we can win the battle in the middle and we can and do play some delicious football. The only thing they need to do is find their shooting boots again, which I’m hoping will come Sunday.
Bristol are hard side to play against, their statistics are exceedingly impressive and they are a hard to break down, we are in for a great match. We’ve played them 3 times before, we’ve beat them, drew with them and lost against them, will we go back to how it started and beat them 1 nil at St Marys? Ella get that golf swing ready!
We will be welcoming Bristols supporters fun bus on Sunday, they are hoping to sit together in rows in block 11. No doubt they hope to bring their drum and we will be making noise throughout the match.
We want to hear our support raise their game and get behind the girls from the first whistle.
It’s going to be an electric match and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.
Officials
Referee – Ade Soneye
Assistant referee – Harley Hetherington
Assistant referee – Rhiannon Stevens
Fourth official – Aaron Ford
Whether you're bringing family or friends, Southamprton FC have an exciting matchday planned for you so don't miss out on securing your ticket today.
Ticket Prices:
Adults - £8
Under-18s - £2
If you are unable to make the weekends game, you can watch it via the FA Player here.
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