Aston Villa Women look to make it two wins from two in all competitions as they travel to Ashton Gate to face the newly promoted Bristol City Women this afternoon.
Here’s the latest heading into today’s game in the Women’s Super League…
THE BUILD UP
Carla Ward’s side sit bottom of the WSL heading into today’s clash with Bristol City, but the Villans do enter the fixture on the back of a resounding 5-0 Conti Cup victory over Sheffield United on Wednesday.
Forward Rachel Daly grabbed a first-half ha-trick on the night to stun the Blades inside 26 minutes. Ebony Salmon would make it 4-0 to the travelling Villans just past the hour mark to score her first goal in claret and blue since the 2017/18 season.
Defender Dan Turner scored Villa’s fifth of the night just before the hour mark as Carla Ward’s side ran rampant in Alfreton. Sheffield United, who play their football in the Women’s Championship, were awarded a penalty in the closing stages but ‘keeper Anna Leat came to the rescue (as she has done many times before), denying Jodie Hutton from 12-yards, to conserve the clean sheet.
The focus returns back to the WSL however, and Carla Ward and her side will be looking to find their first points of the season this afternoon as they take on Bristol City who were recently promoted as champions.
Lauren Smith’s side found their first victory of the season last time out in the WSL, defeating Rehanne Skinner’s West Ham by three goals to nil, courtesy of Amalie Thestrup, Ella Powell and Brooke Salon’s strikes which cancelled out Viviane Asseyi’s 27th minute penalty and Riko Ueki’s half-time stoppage time strike.
In the week, it was more misery for the Robins however, who found themselves losing 3–1 in the Conti Cup to Jonas Eidevall’s Arsenal at New Meadow.
Frida Leonhardsen-Maanum, Carlotte Wubben-Moy and Stina Blackstenius’ goals were enough to help the Gunners into the next round, despite Cecilie Struck’s 70th minute goal which looked to get City back into the game.
Smith will be looking to make it back to back wins in the Women’s Super League and bounce back from Thursday’s defeat against their North-London opposition.
Carla Ward believes Bristol City have competed well so far in the top-flight.
On her weekend counterparts, she said: “I’ve been impressed with the way they’ve set up. Last night [against Arsenal] they showed a lot of heart, quality and desire. Lauren [Smith]’s got them set up in a good way.
“They’ve shown in the last couple of weeks that they’re not just here to be the whipping boys as some may have thought in pre-season. This is going to be a tough game, it’s not a given.”
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TEAM NEWS
ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa Women midfielder Kenza Dali is in contention to start today’s game at Ashton Gate having completed a comeback from injury.
The France international has missed the entirety of the season thus far but gained her first few minutes of the campaign during Wednesday night’s resounding cup victory over Sheffield United and is back for to feature in claret and blue.
Forward Simone Magill will miss the upcoming fixture in Bristol, however. The number 22 arrived back from October’s international break with a ‘quad injury’ and will be assessed ahead of next week’s game against West Ham United.
Defender Lucy Parker remains unavailable with the ankle injury picked up whilst away with the Lionesses.
BRISTOL CITY WOMEN
Bristol City manager Lauren Smith has confirmed that defender Satara Murray faces some time on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury.
The Jamaican number 44 has missed the previous two fixtures against Arsenal and West Ham and will play no part today at Ashton Gate.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Fran Bentley remains out with a leg injury, while Abigail Harrison and Ffion Morgan, who missed Thursday’s encounter with Arsenal, could return to the fold for today’s crucial game at the bottom of the WSL and will be decided upon ahead of the fixture in the South-West.
To finish, Scottish midfielder Jamie-Lee Napier pulled up during the warm-up in mid-week’s cup fixture and is not available.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
Let’s take a look at my predicted line-up for this upcoming fixture…
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share now and let’s discuss?
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share yours now and let’s discuss?
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VILLA BELLAS
Villa Bellas is the Official AVFC Women’s Network. In an unequal and often unrelenting world we work to break down barriers for equality.
Our network aims to raise the voice of women and non-binary people at @AVFCOfficial We support inclusion & diversity and with our allies, we can challenge sexism and misogyny, creating a safe and welcoming environment for the fans in the stands and the women on the pitch.
Let’s celebrate ourselves and champion each other while having fun doing it!
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