shahanshahan

Lisa Evans makes her first start. Naomi Layzell returns to the squad. Emily Syme & Ffion Morgan start as well. Abi Harrison, Mari Ward, Sille Struck drop to the bench. Satara Murray out after getting injured last week KO 12.30pm, live on FA Player for those that couldn't make it to the (ahem) Poundland Bescot Stadium

And/or maybe the opposition is a lot more competitive. But there are some definite things to note compared to last season: The GK situation: last season Fran Bentley pretty much played every game. This season, there's been an injury and/or knock to pretty much every goalkeeper, hence the different ones who have appeared. Benedicte Haaland didn't get much game time in her short-team deal, and Shae Yanez seems to be an apparent replacement for Kaylan Marckese. If Liv Clark is fit this weekend, I hope she starts. Bentley is back in training but no idea when she's due to return. Also, new goalkeeping coach in the team who joined in the summer (although I should assume his appointment & subsequent events are coincidence...) Midfield: Aimee Palmer leaving at the end of last season was a huge blow, and Rachel Furness' absence from injury has impacted the midfield Goal scorers: Before her goal at Brighton, Abi Harrison hadn't scored at all this season. Shania Hayles doesn't seem to start nowadays, but has only scored one goal this season - in the Conti Cup. Both were prolific goal scorers in the last two seasons respectively (not sure if there is a "Golden Boot" curse). I wonder if Hayles would start on Saturday, especially against her old team

Great work @phantom. Thanks for sharing & updating

Only City related in the sense that the next home game is against them in early March. Brighton have become the first team in the WSL this season to have their manager leave/lose their job. For additional info, this time last year she had just left London City Lionesses in the Championship, before moving Stateside to take up an assistant coach role at Angel City in the NWSL, before returning to England to join Brighton...

Full press conference released Includes confirmation of no new business expected in the window, Satara Murray injuring her calf (awaiting scan results), Naomi Layzell's groin issue last week (Saturday may be too soon for her to return), Lisa Evans, and why the away form is so different compared to at home https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/smiths-aston-villa-press-conference-2/

Looks like this is from a press conference today, but it appears that on WSL transfer deadline day, the club will have no more deals...

This is what was posted online the other week just as Brighton scored in the last minute

Back at the time when there was already another City women's team, which then disbanded in the late 2000s, as the renamed Bristol Academy began to take form, before being taken over by Bristol Sport and renamed City Women in 2015

I'm the same! At half time a friend bought me a birthday drink & we were finishing our drinks as we heard the goal celebrations

Are you in Bern or Bean?

Murray returns in a back two partnership with Struck. Ward replaces Syme in starting XI. New signings Stratigakis & Evans on the bench. Aspin returns but on the bench. Layzell noticeably absent from the squad KO 2pm, live on FA Player

There was due to be a similar event in the SC&T bar ahead of the West Ham game, but after discussions with the football club, this has been cancelled. The football club are doing their own event in the South Stand concourse from 12:30pm https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/panini-x-bristol-city-wfc/

Season ticket holders were given two free tickets for this Sunday's game. I forgot to claim mine, so if anyone wants them, let me know, and I can book them for you if I email them over to you. Seats will probably be in the Dolman as there aren't two seats together available in the Lansdown

No questions asked about Lisa Evans, so am guessing this press conference took place yesterday before her signing was announced. Great takeaway from the conference is that Lauren has confirmed that Sarah Stratigakis is available for contention this Sunday https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/smiths-west-ham-press-conference-2/

Yep, she was in the West Ham squad that played City in November. Looked alright in that game. She hasn't played much for the Hammers recently & apparently fell out of favour there

Some announcement! Lisa Evans joins Bristol City after leaving West Ham...by popping a bubble! Great signing, and the subsequent article on the club website confirms she's available for this Sunday

Not sure how much of an impact it'll have, but West Ham lost 2-1 away to Championship side Birmingham in the Conti Cup group stages last night. City weren't in action as they've now played all their games already

Anyone else saw this briefly thinking she signed a new five-year contract when in fact she's just been at the club for five years?

All WSL games on the final day of the season will kick off at the same time. 3pm on Saturday 18 May (Premier Leagues games are on the following Sunday, and the regular season in the Sky Bet Championship would have finished by then) City are at home to Everton that day https://womensleagues.thefa.com/final-day-kick-off-times-confirmed/

Tickets & coach travel for Leicester City away on Sunday 18th February go on sale tomorrow. Tickets & coach travel for Aston Villa away on Saturday 3rd February are still on sale, with the coach being upgraded due to popular demand https://www.bcfc.co.uk/city-women-news/leicester-city-women-away-on-sale/

Sunday was my first time at Crawley since the final day of the 2013/14 season where City men draw 1-1 with Crawley Town but all the away fans were celebrating the Gas being relegated out of the Football League. Nearly ten years later; and pretty much sat in the same block as I was back then; a great away day was ruined by Brighton getting their first home win since May 2023, and former City academy product Katie Robinson getting her first goal of the season. A lot of the fans were following the West Ham v Tottenham match on the journey back. Doing a @Never to the dark side style post & sharing photos from my travels on Sunday..

They were playing music before the game; didn't expect them to turn up during the game. But they were in the corner opposite us... I am guessing the commentator didn't realise that there was a supporters coach on from Bristol & back, and that public transport links between Bristol & Crawley are virtually non-existent @miser you forgot to follow up that the coach was up & running again about 10 minutes later I thought Yanez had a good game (as did former City goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley, who of course is at Brighton now). Clark wasn't dropped, she had a collision at the last time & got replaced by Benedicte Haaland (who has since joined Southampton, as announced today). Clark is back in the squad but probably not fully fit to start yet. She could be back before Bentley is