Erithacus

Just like the free scarves at the West Ham cup game a few seasons ago, they bear a rare mark: 'Made in the UK'. I like to think Mr Lansdown will have insisted on it, and we ought to be grateful.

No surprise, part 2. If anything Man City put more into the game after learning from the recent League cup game. Their talent and guile are clearly among the best of any club side in the world. From City's perspective there were some changes but the game was pretty one-sided for long periods. Harrison only playing the second half was a setback. Palmer was trying but picked up a knock and didn't reappear for the second half. Hopefully she will be available for the crucial game at Lewes midweek - as that's the real focus now. The experienced Furness took up the mantle and encouraged her teammates from the middle of the park. (Incidentally, does she wear a gumshield during matches?) One area the coaches will have been emphasising will be the attitude and application. It would be easy to let the heads and work-rate drop in a spanking but the girls have been professional throughout. Although the scoreline is a sore one, we must take the positives from the game(s) and realise just what the level will be in the WSL. Maybe this will be deposited in the bank for later. So, on to Lewes on Wednesday... Is there a budget for this? Will the powers open the wallets and improve the whole set-up if/when promotion is won? I would like to know just who makes the real decisions in the women's club. If the men's side is anything to go by (and, yes, the men's salaries are way beyond the girls'), I fear there might not be much left in the bank account.

Remember him road running on many occasions near my home in the 80s and 90s - he was always an athlete and never seemed to stop!

BBC reports that he was in his local having a pint and watching the footy as per usual the night before he passed away. Seemed to be a popular regular and didn't suspect he was about to hear the final whistle.

Here's my effort: 'Evening sky over Perrett's Park'

Already looking at the knock-out permutations. Going to be a good tournament.

Great to have a top international competition held at Ashton Gate! For all the detractors and disinterested, it cannot be denied that the club has had a feather in their cap for hosting such an event. I don't know how well this will be received in the corridors of power but I am hopeful we will be looked on favourably in the future. I watched the first game: South Korea didn't really get going until the second half and were lucky to be just the one goal adrift. However, with Italy making a few substitutions they started to control the midfield and grabbed a neatly-placed equaliser. I thought the match would end even but the Italians made a last effort and found space at the back post. Replays on the big screens seemed to show an offside and the Koreans complained loudly afterwards - but the ref blew for time and went off. Unlucky for the Koreans. England showed the sort of form that carried them to the Euro22 title and were on the pace right from the start. Weigmann selected a strong starting line-up and it showed. Belgium were hardly able to get the ball into our half and at times it looked like an Attack v. Defence training game. Not our fault. We were a yard faster and a second quicker thinking - a product of some top competition and top coaching I believe. Anything England did that was positive came through Keira Walsh - and it's not hard to see how she has become one of the best (and priciest) midfielders in the world. She was always available and it is a great sign to see England players who have team-mates right beside them - making for a fluid and powerful base to move up the field. Chloe Kelly was a constant threat, either in the box (scoring two 'sniffer' goals) or sending in nasty crosses from the right - which tormented the Belgian defenders until one poked it in her own net. Williamson was moved up late on as Wubben-Moy came on for some valuable gametime, but seemed to lack a bit of bite I thought. Still didn't stop her rifling in a shot from the edge of the box, though. A comfortable win and time for the spaghetti streamers. @shahanshahan I saw you in the Lower Lansdown just a few rows down from me. I thought you were recreating a scene from 'A Fistful of Dollars'.

As always, dependant on the weather. And increasingly the obliteration caused by what dear old Patrick called 'The Aurora Bognor Regis'. Probably not visible from the Lansdown Stand tonight.

ITV4 is in HD, no?

Us Virgin victims/customers had the same thing until the latter part of last year. Used to be Ch108 for HD then the Points West stuff had to be on 101 and was in SD.

Well what a game! A classic Superbowl to erase the blow-outs of old. Two teams with lots of weapons gave a salutory lesson to the rest of the NFL. Eagles' O-line were in unstoppable mood and Jalen Hurts was surfing a wave of humanity as he rushed for three TDs and a 2-pt conversion. They also were unfazed by two fourth-and-mid downs, achieving both at crucial times in the first half. With no real pass rush pressure he astonishingly fumbled when not contacted, giving the Chiefs a simple recovery TD - a tunrnover that may have been the only survival chance the Chiefs had in the first half. The Eagles' best defense was their offense - Mahomes hardly had any snaps. But in the second half things swung around, and not in a predictable way. With his ankle sprain re-aggravated, it looked like it was curtains for KC. However, the warrior in him caused the gameplan to be altered and was some useful inspiration to his team-mates too. Suddenly the Chiefs' attack started to open up and find gaps in the Eagles' D. But it was the two blown coverages in the secondary (thanks to Andy Reid's cunning) that gave the win to the Chiefs. With no real reply and a big punt return, the momentum became irresistible. Even when they were in the redzone, the Chiefs' managed to avoid The Accidental Touchdown and stopped near the goalline. A field goal with eight seconds left was where the story ended. It certainly looks like a new era of the NFL with old QBs starting to fade and the new breed taking centre stage. Hail to the Chiefs and counting down now to Draft Day...

Another good, hearty and (increasingly) gritty performance by the girls; you can't argue with another three points. We have played Lewes several times and both sides will know each other well, so no prizes for guessing it would be another tight game. It took a lot of effort and application, which City had even after Wednesday night's crunch, so once again I have to praise the fitness levels. I like Lewes - they are a 'little' club (not backed by a mega-dollar men's club) and really gave a good account of themselves: solid, organised, determined and a well-oiled outfit. They don't have any world-class signings but are a tough nut to crack. Their keeper Whitehouse especially had a great game, perhaps showing what we might have missed. But what really got them annoyed was the first goal - they claimed loudly Ffion Morgan's cross had curled out before coming back in and being headed home. It must be said that I have not heard so much scorn descend from the stands on the officials. Not a great day. But it was the reward for City's constant committment, trying to open up the width and also bursting from the middle. We don't seem to get many one-on-ones from a flighted ball over a high back line like we used to - a sign how the game is moving on and becoming more competitive. Chances have to be earned with more quality these days. Defensively, Bentley was assured in the moments when called upon, Layzell and Pearce were a formidable pair at the back, with Hutton and Morgan rather kept in midfield roles for much of the game. I am looking forward to the new midfield triumvirate of Palmer, Syme and Furness - the latter was a capable presence and showed some top class touches. She can battle and create forward movements with equal measure and I hope it will be a good partnership in the making. Elsewhere, Harrison was always demanding the ball and taking charge of attacks, despite an arm injury picked up when an opponent tumbled over her. Notwithstanding the cup match against Man City and providing it does not cause significant damage, I think we can look ahead with confidence. This is a side that has all the ingredients for success.

I'm struggling to look past the Eagles' O line: they have 3 Pro Bowlers to K.C.'s 2. It's going to be tought to call, with both Conference number 1 seeds at the big show, So I fully expect the Chiefs' D.C. to dial up some blitzes in the first quarter to unsettle them but if the running game cannot be halted then I too feel the Eagles will win, perhaps by four. There doesn't seem to be much concern over Mahomes' ankle so they will feel more than capable of lifting the trophy. This game won't be over early with him in charge. Other than that, my predicition is a large Vegetarian with extra olives, garlic bread and something wet to accompany. Superbowl here I come!

Indeed, Phantom. It did cross my mind that the opposition were still in their dugout whilst we were whooping it up. Not a problem to celebrate but needs to be with respect or else it could rebound next month. I expect that the Lewes game next Sunday will not be a case of after the Lord Mayor's show - we can't drop our guard now.

Buzzing! First up: it'a a win, and that's the important thing. Puts us level with the Lionesses but a game in hand, and now means we have control over the rest of the season. A long way to go, yes, but it's ours to win, providing we keep it up. Great result, based on a great team performance. The visitors were all over us for the first 10-15 minutes with their high tempo and high press - just what we would have been expecting. Having weathered the opening storm well, we didn't really have much impact on the game for most of the first half. As mentioned above, we had difficulty in getting the ball forwards with any consistency and were rather on the back foot. However, goals change games and Shania Hayles proved what a talent she is with a beautifully taken goal just before the break - in truth perhaps against the run of play. I was impressed by London City. They had a solid gameplan and were well prepared; their players were certainly talented but were a cohesive team first and foremost. If they do end up topping the Championship come the end then I fully expect them to survive for the season. Second half saw a better formation and application of the gameplan; that, combined with City girls putting in a harder shift than London City brought a more positive emphasis. I feel our fitness shows more as the game goes on and gives us an edge when the clock runs down. But tonight we showed a toughness and determination that proves how the club has progressed in recent years. This is a good side and has plenty of talent and reslience. Things that will be needed at the top level. There wasn't a City player who didn't have a good game, from top to bottom. Loads of really solid defending, especially from Layzell (who I think has improved immensely this season); Fran Bentley had few shots to worry about once the back line had blocked most attempts, but was in top form to prevent any comeback. Midfield was a little congested and there was precious little time to stroll about; Aimee Palmer showed she has all-round talent with her powerful runs forward as well as some crunching tackles (I bet she really enjoyed the game). Syme was a bit outnumbered initially but came on strong in the second half, once the distribution changed. Front play was difficult in the first half and chances few. The visitors had clearly done their homework and closed Hayles and Harrison down, but moreover suffocating the midfield quickly. They had to create some width themselves at times. But Harrison's crosses in the second half proved key, with City taking control of the game. Rachel Furness came on as a late sub but showed some nice touches and vision - a real feather in our cap. She bolstered the middle and stopped much opposition creativity. All in all I think it was the best game I've seen at the HPC. There was loads of effort, passion and a strength of character that I hope will define the rest of the season. Two top teams giving everything, it had just about everything and was what I call a credential game - to be the best, etc... But it's all to play for. Tonight we've got the upper hand. Let's keep it, because I believe we have shown what it takes to return to the WSL.

Crucial game tonight. Let's see what the girls can do when the pressure is on. COYR

No, the stewards are still prohibiting fans from wandering behind the dug-outs or on the upper training pitch. I hope the club might be re-thinking the way they handle this game if the crowds are as big as we might achieve.

Interesting to be at the HPC - but might it still switch to the Gate at a later stage? Will there be a limit to tickets if it is at the HPC, for both sets of supporters, as it will surely reach capacity?

The black ones I suspect are Chicago and Pittsburgh. That leaves Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals?

Second and forever?

Good man, Red-Robbo! Will you be taking up a contrary (Chiefs) position in the name of balance?

Both Conference games highlighted just how raw an edge football can have. Watching the Niners was like watching your pet dog die - just about everything that could go bad did. It was not their night. And the late hit on Mahomes right at the end that put the Chiefs in field goal range was a classic Bengal bungle. Linebacker Joseph Ossai sat on the bench and his world caved in - he'd just thrown a year's worth of the team's sweat and tears in the bin. But that's football... Superbowl LVII looks like being a genuine classic and I'm ordering the party-size pizza now!

The women will be playing first I believe (Feb 26th?) with the men the following midweek (TV coverage notwithstanding). Could be a chance for both to make a real name for themselves.

Niners are being ground into oblivion by the Eagles' O line. Penalties and running out of QBs is a big problem too. The game is all about pain and tonight is a prime example.

Thank you, Miser. Did try to think back but missed that one. Had a look at the money page on the FA site (https://www.thefa.com/competitions/the-womens-fa-cup/prize-fund) - seems we have picked up £25,000 in two rounds now! In terms of percentage of turnover that must be a tidy bonus for the team. Also spotted the site declared the attendance of 449 today, but listed the ground as Bristol Academy!