This Week's Opposition: Blackburn Rovers Women

Jake Smith researches Portsmouth's next opponent in the Barclays Women's Championship.

Last weekend saw Jay Sadler’s side collect their first point of the campaign and this Sunday they’ll be looking to take the next step and secure their maiden victory.

Last season’s mid-table finishers Blackburn Rovers are up next for Pompey, who start this weekend bottom of the Barclays Women’s Championship.

MANAGER

38-year-old Simon Parker has been in charge of Rovers since last summer, succeeding Matt Bee, who had stepped up to lead the team to its highest-ever Championship points tally at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Bee remains in the setup as a first-team coach under Barker, who holds a UEFA A Licence.

Parker began his journey in the dugout with Southampton Women’s FC, not to be confused with Southampton FC Women, who are affiliated officially under the same umbrella as the men’s team.

With Southampton Women’s FC, Parker delivered an incredible 89%-win rate across his 2-and-a-half-year tenure and led the side to success in the Southern Region Women’s Football League and Cup in his 1st season.

Since then, Parker has taken charge of at-the-time Championship outfit Lewes as well as Portuguese side SC União Torreense in the Campeonato Nacional de Futebol Feminino South Serie in October 2021 - They would go on to lose just 1 regular league game that season to finish in the Championship group for the 2nd half of the season before going on to secure a place in the top division for the following campaign.

ONE TO WATCH

With 2 goals scored from 4 starts this season, forward Maria Edwards is our one to watch this time around.

The 21-year-old, who represents Rovers with the number 9 shirt, scored in back-to-back games against Bristol City and Sheffield United in October, however has had to settle for minutes off the bench in Rovers’ previous 2 fixtures.

When starting, Edwards can make a real impact for her side.

TOP SCORER

With 3 league goals to her name so far this campaign, 22-year-old Farah Compton is the club’s leading scorer.

The striker has netted in games against London City Lionesses, Southampton and Durham so far and has been with Blackburn for the entirety of her pro career to date.

Compton wears the number 7 shirt.

CURRENT FORM

With just 1 win from their opening 8 league fixtures this season, Simon Parker’s side occupy 10th position with 3 points on the board.

Their sole victory came on matchday 2, 1-0 away at Southampton. Since then, Blackburn have lost 6-in-a-row in the league - 7 if you include a 2-1 defeat at home to Durham in the League Cup Group Stage.

Rovers’ last game saw them beaten by 2 goals to 1 away at Sunderland on November the 10th.

These 2 sides have met just once previously and that was in the Women’s FA Cup 3rd Round in January 2018 - The hosts won that game by 7 goals to nil. Jay Sadler will be hoping to avoid a repeat scoreline this time around.

Can the Blues build on last weekend’s draw with Sheffield United and claim their first win of the season?

Tune in for the next episode of The Football Hour this Monday (November 18th) evening from 6pm to hear full reaction to the game on Express FM.

Kick-off: 2pm!