Eco

You'd hope so. Hopefully a decent crowd will turn up, maybe 6-7K for this one.

A quality midfielder, or two, is what we've missed all season, Emily Syme is probably the only one who looks comfortable on the ball but her lack of pace is an issue at this level unfortunately. IMO anyway. Not sure we'd struggle next season, depends how many of this season's squad we'd keep I suppose, also there may be talent in the Academy we're not aware of. Signing Thestrup was a stroke of genius but no doubt she'll be off if, or rather when, we go down.

0-2 final, game over once Napier was sent off. Glimpses of quality, battled their hearts out as usual but Utd strolled it really.

Started this half really well, can hear the away fans.

Hayles hits the post

Not too bad after the goal, defensively anyway. Some hefty challenges from Rodgers, Hayles & Napier.

Hayles' first start this season I think? Glad Napier's back.

Great, losing Layzell & Jones! Will be interesting to see if Shae or Fran replace Clark. We played OK against Utd at home, they're a bit fragile maybe we can get a sneaky point, or 3.

Swansea have a pretty good away record, 8th most goals scored in the division so you could argue we 'did a job' on them. Watching the Swansea goalkeeper stood there with his foot on the ball for what felt like most of the game was not an edifying sight though. And yes, thankyou to Ronald who played like a Ronald and brought the house down with his short corner routine.

Yep, we'll probably win 4-0.

This was a Girls on the Ball tweet, confirmed according to them, bar Sweden away. Now on BBC so official!

So, Sweden (H) Wembley, Ireland (A) Dublin, France (H) Newcastle, France (A) St Etienne, Ireland (H) Norwich, Sweden (A) tbc - prob Gothenberg.

Sounded a tad windy on the TV, maybe the conditions weren't ideal?

I'll probably regret this but think it's a given that Arsenal will win tonight!

Yep great header from TC. Slightly bizarre 'celebration'

Doing a job defensively, apart from when he switched off just before HT!

Looks like I got my dates slightly wrong! It was a long time ago to be fair and I appear to have lost the programme.

This must be '95'ish? Carly Bryant, Heidi Bevan and Michelle Munro ( Ithink) were still playing when I first saw them v Doncaster Belles @ Almondsbury in '97.

Conceding seven to a side that was averaging less than one a game is embarrassing. All season the players have played to their limits, and I admire them hugely for that, but they always seem to be stretching and in the past couple of games I think the effort has caught up with them. Agree about the players missing, today Layzell being out was a big blow as Ella for all her effort doesn't possess a left foot and some of her riight footed crossing was wayward. Lisa Evans had a great chance first half but badly fluffed it. We really had the momentum at 3-4 and the crowd were as animated as I've heard at AG for the women but sadly it petered out.

Can we get 3500 at the HPC?

I hope so but, sounds obvious, we need goals and no sign in the past two home games.

Cheers, hope so. Hope Connolly is back in defence for Brighton. Just listening to Lauren's press conference, she said the defence performed poorly v Leicester, possibly due to Megan not there to organise?

Naomi was pulled out of the U23 game v Netherlands due to tight hamstring in the warm up. Slightly worrying.

Excellent choice, a very good song by one of the best groups of all time.

Also a good piece on the BBC website headed 'Naomi Layzell: The England teenager on Sarina Wiegman's radar' Naomi Layzell was playing in the Women's Championship and for England's youth teams two years ago - but on Wednesday she was training with the European champions. The opportunity took Layzell by surprise as the 19-year-old became the latest youngster to reap benefits from Sarina Wiegman's interest in England's next generation. Emma Coates' under-23 squad are on a warm-weather training camp in Spain alongside England's senior players for the first time and it has given the youngsters a taste of what could come their way in the future. They will hope to follow in the footsteps of recent senior call-ups Grace Clinton, Khiara Keating and Jess Park. Bristol City centre-back Layzell was told by Coates she would be training with Wiegman's senior team on the evening they arrived in Marbella - and the former under-18 international jumped at the chance. "It was really exciting. Nerve-racking obviously, but I was really happy with the opportunity," said Layzell. "It doesn't come around every day and to play and train with some of the best players in the world, you're going to snatch at that chance if you can get it." Layzell was straight on the phone to her parents to tell them the news. "I was told after dinner and just thought 'OK, make sure you get a good night's sleep, you've got training tomorrow, try not to be too nervous'. I was trying not to shake. "Sarina had a quick chat with me and then spoke to me after training as well. I called my parents [but] because I hadn't spoken to them since arriving, they were just trying to get all the details of the flight and everything. "I was like: 'I've got something to tell you.' They said they knew some people would get the opportunity and they're so proud of me and all the work I've done." The future Lionesses - why England's under-23s are thriving 'You never know where we could be' Layzell started as the England Under-23s fell to a 3-1 defeat by Spain at the Marbella Football Centre on Thursday but has already used the camp to demonstrate her skills to Wiegman. A major review of England's youth teams took place in 2018 and the FA, with Wiegman's support, have worked to make the under-23s more closely aligned to the first team. It means Coates regularly communicates with Wiegman as the under-23s' style, tactics and philosophy look to mirror those of the senior squad. "They work a lot together and they definitely talk about styles of play and trying to get us to play in similar ways," said Layzell. "The under-23s' players are so talented and we definitely know a lot of the people could train up and just fit in that [senior] environment. "I came away thinking I gave a good account of myself. I probably wasn't the best player on the pitch, naturally, but I came away thinking 'they're not going to think I'm rubbish'. That was the main thing. "There were times when I was tackled, there were probably times when I got beaten, but it's just about being up against these players. It's the only way you're going to learn and get better - by challenging yourself. "All of those players have probably been in a similar position to me. It's testament to them how far they've gone. "It just shows that, people like me in the under-23s, if we keep working at it, we're persistent and keep taking these opportunities, then you never know where we could be in a few years' time." German lessons and volunteering at a school Layzell was playing for England at under-18 and under-19 level when the Lionesses won the Euros in 2022. She was a regular for Bristol City in the Women's Championship, helping them earn promotion to the Women's Super League for the 2023-24 season, which has helped propel her on to Wiegman's radar. "If you asked me [in 2022], if I could see where I was now, I would never say that I could have had this opportunity," said Layzell. "Being in the WSL with Bristol City and getting promoted has really given me a chance to show myself and challenge myself. The under-23s is a stepping stone and you just have to rise to the challenge. "You always aspire to get to the top and to be involved with the senior team, but it's hard to put a timeline on it because everyone grows at different rates." Mature beyond her years, Layzell spoke impressively to media on Wednesday, showed leadership on the pitch on Thursday and spends her free time in Bristol regularly volunteering at a local school. She gave an insight into her personality by explaining how she chooses to spend her time. "I'm learning a new language - German. I did it at GCSE so it keeps me interested," said Layzell. "I go on walks a lot. I try and do volunteering here and there as well. I help with reading with children at a local school near where I live in Bristol. The chaplain at Bristol City pointed me towards it because she knew I wanted to do something. "None of the kids know that I play football, and I quite like that, because it means you can get to know them on a level. It's nice to know you're helping out and making an impact."