Kirsty Roxanne looks ahead to the Blues’ next match in the WSL 2.
Jay Sadler’s side were defeated at Westleigh Park by 2 goals to nil on the opening day of the WSL 2 season last Sunday but matchday number 2 awaits already as Portsmouth take a trip to the Robins High Performance Centre to take on Bristol City this weekend.
Kick-off in Bristol is 2pm.
There were 6 debuts in the starting XI on matchday 1: Jess Gray, Lucy Johnson, Greta Humphries, Angelina Nixon, Tia Primmer and Jemima Dahou.
Jazz Bull, who spent the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan from Bristol City, made her first start as a permanent Portsmouth player and as captain! The defender will face her old side on Sunday.
Just 11 minutes into the fixture, Sophie Barker was forced off through injury and replaced by Jessie Gale, who also made her debut.
First half strikes from Grace Ede and Mariana Speckmaier settled the affair in Havant as Durham ran out 2-0 winners.
The Wildcats are expected to be toward the top of the WSL 2 this season after competing for promotion but eventually finishing 4th last time out.
On now to Bristol City to see if the Blues can pick up their first win of the season.
Last term, this fixture was played at Ashton Gate, where the hosts secured a 1-0 victory through a first half Ffion Morgan effort.
THIS WEEK’S OPPOSITION:
MANAGER
The head coach for The Robins is Charlotte Healy, who started her coaching career with Derby County.
Healy has also worked with The Football Association as a Development Technical Coach for the North West of England, enhancing and influencing the development of young English female elite footballers.
Previously, Healy had been the Under-21s manager at Manchester City Women and also the assistant to the Women’s Under-23s at Liverpool.
Healy joined Bristol City after 6 years at Manchester United, where she progressed from academy head coach to the first team assistant coach at the WSL club.
This is Healy’s first campaign in charge of The Robins.
ONE TO WATCH
22-year-old Lexi Lloyd-Smith is our one to watch on this occasion.
Her career began in the Arsenal academy before making the switch to Chelsea - She also played for Charlton Athletic before heading to the USA.
Lloyd-Smith played at the highest level of collegiate football for the University of South Alabama, bagging a goal and an assist on her debut.
The England youth international previously spent 2 seasons at South Coast rivals Southampton.
She signed a new contract with Bristol City in June 2024 and went on to score 10 goals in 19 games last season.
TOP SCORER
Maria Farrugia is the leading goal scorer for The Robins, with a goal on the opening day against Birmingham City.
The attacker gained Championship experience at multiple clubs including Sheffield United, Sunderland and Durham, as well as spending time with Lewes prior to her efforts in the second tier.
The former Blade collected the Barclay’s Women’s Championship Goal of the Season award for her impressive strike against her current club last term.
Farrugia, who has more than 50 caps for Malta, signed a 2-year deal with The Robins and is contracted until the summer of 2027.
CURRENT FORM
Bristol City sit 10th in the WSL 2 after losing their opening game of the season 5-1 to the current league leaders Birmingham.
When the Blues visited Aston Gate last season, the score was 1-0 in favour of the hosts.
Can Pompey get back to winning ways and pick up all 3 points on the road to kickstart their WSL 2 campaign?
Jake Smith will have full reaction to that game on the next episode of The Football Hour this Monday (September 15th) evening from 6pm on Express FM!
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