Team News: Birmingham City: Hampton, Mayling, Brougham, Scott, Holloway, Whipp, Green, Littlejohn, Murphy, Napier, Walker. Brighton & Hove Albion: Fiskerstrand, Roe, Bowman, Kerkdijk, Le Tissier, Whelan, Connolly, Kaagman, Green, Brazil, Jarrett.
5 Key Points
- Birmingham haven't played a game in 6 weeks as Covid related problems hit the side and Brighton haven't played a game in 1 month.
- Brighton's current form is L, L, L, W, L whilst Birmingham's current form is L, W, L, W, W.
- Birmingham's last game was a 0-0 draw with Championship side Leicester City which Leicester won on penalties.
- Brighton's last game was a 3-1 defeat to Reading.
- Denise O'Sullivan has returned to North Carolina Courage after her loan spell is up and Kirsty Barton has now gone out on loan to Crystal Palace. Ruesha Littlejohn is Birmingham's new signing and debutant alongside Emily Murphy.
1': Birmingham kick us off at Damson Park.
2': Great ball to Jarrett who has an early chance that's held onto well by Hampton.
4': Brazil has a good strike but it's straight at Hampton.
8': Roe is fouled.
10': Good link up between Napier and Littlejohn.
13': Excellent pressure from Brighton and both teams are looking capable of shifting quickly on the break.
15': Excellent goalkeeping from Hampton after Brazil almost connected with a ball over the top.
16': Green cuts it back to Bowman, her volley goes wide.
18': Great attacking play from Brighton with Green's final ball slightly behind Jarrett so her header is collected by Hampton.
19': The ball went in early from Murphy. Fiskterstrand got a hold of the cross earlier than Walker.
21': Brazil managed to turn to get a shot away but it was over the bar.
22': Green fouls Littlejohn.
24': Le Tissier is fouled by Walker.
27': Roe fouls Murphy.
28': Littlejohn has a shot wide.
28': Green wins Brighton a corner.
29': Bowman takes the corner and its over everyone.
30': Kaagman has a shot that initially looked dangerous but Hampton jumped to catch the shot.
32': Napier wins Birmingham a corner.
33': Holloway puts the corner in and Murphy's shot was blocked.
33': Mayling's cross is collected by Fiskerstrand.
35': Murphy is fouled by Roe.
37': Whelan dispossessed Scott but Hampton comes to clear it.
41': Walker tries to play Littlejohn in but the pass is overhit and rolls out for Fiskerstrand's goal kick.
42': Bowman's shot is collected by Hampton.
43': Jarrett is fouled by Murphy.
44': Mayling puts the ball in the box and it's cleared by le Tissier's towering header but the pressure isn't over. There is a head injury for Scott that stops the play.
45': 1 minute added.
Half-Time: Both teams have been excellent in their organisation defensively. Brighton have put more pressure on Birmingham going forward. However, Birmingham held the upper hand in the last few minutes of the 45. There's been an excellent battle between Roe and Murphy. Jarrett has looked lively for Brighton and Littlejohn has been good so far for Birmingham.
45': Second half is underway.
46': Foul on Jarrett.
47': Bowman crossed the ball into the area from the set piece but Hampton rose high to catch it.
52': Jarrett puts the ball in the area but it goes out.
52': Holloway fouls Brazil in a good position.
53': A great move from the free kick. Kaagman puts the ball low near the keeper and Brazil gets a touch on it but its smothered by Hampton.
55': The cross went in for Brighton but it was behind everyone in the box.
56': Brazil has another strike at a tight angle but Hampton has been excellent for Birmingham and did well to catch the shot.
59': Jarrett heads the corner towards Brazil but Hampton takes the ball before Brazil can get her head on it.
61': Great move by Brighton again as Roe comes racing in but is blocked.
64': Walker is fouled and Kerkdijk received a yellow card.
66': Kerkdijk clears the corner.
67': BIRMINGHAM CITY SUSBTITUTION: Emma Kelly replaces Emily Murphy.
71': Jarrett has a good shot low and Hampton saves it.
73': BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION SUBSTITUTION: Nora Heroum replaces Rianna Jarrett.
74': Heroum couldn't get enough on the ball after a great ball to spilt the defence.
78': Bowman is fouled.
78': The free kick hits the wall.
81': Green is fouled.
85': Green is down after a challenge in the box.
88': BIRMINGHAM CITY SUSBTITUTION: McCarron replaces Green.
89': Free kick for Brighton.
90': Heroum's shot was collected by Hampton comfortably.
90+1': 2 minutes added.
Full-Time: Excellent game defensively for both teams. Brighton put most of the pressure on in attack but Birmingham had some good plays going forward on the counter. Both teams were really quick at shifting from defence to attack. Birmingham had a few standout players with Walker and Murphy battling with Roe and Green. Napier and Littlejohn had good signs of a potential working partnership. Bowman, Kaagman, Brazil were intelligent with their play to get out of a congested midfield today. Jarrett was also light on her toes. My player of the match was Hannah Hampton. Her awareness and reactions really helped her team today. Brighton put a lot of pressure on her defence but she always dealt with it with composure.
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