Tomorrow afternoon Birmingham City will be on the road again in the FA Women’s Super League, as they travel up to Lincoln. Birmingham head to Lincolnshire holding a psychological advantage over the hosts after beating them 1-0 at the end of April in Stratford, but David Parker’s side won’t be underestimating their opponents. The Blues won their first two WSL fixtures 4-0 but a well organised Lincoln side came to Stratford and made them work hard for all three points in the third game of the season.
Since that encounter, the Lady Imps have gone on to have an inconsistent campaign. Rod Wilson’s team have won just two of their eight league matches, together with losing four of their other six fixtures. However, they returned to winning ways when the WSL resumed after its mid-season break. Scoring in just two of their previous seven outings, Lincoln appear to have found their scoring boots after a 3-2 win over Bristol Academy last Friday evening. This suggests the Lady Imps will be willing to have a go tomorrow afternoon as they have nothing to lose and the Blues may well encounter some difficulties breaking them down.
The Ashby Avenue outfit were defensively sound in Stratford and their defence has gone from strength to strength, conceding just eight goals all season.
This doesn’t come as a surprise when they have England defenders Casey Stoney and Sophie Bradley in their ranks. Stoney started every game for England in the World Cup, while Bradley regularly featured as a substitute and started against eventual winners Japan.
Lincoln can also call upon another England international Jess Clarke, who scored the winner against New Zealand in the World Cup. And let’s not forgot the most capped female England player in the country, who was Lincoln’s marquee signing at the start of the season.
Despite the Blues coming up against an in form side boasting plenty of international talent, nothing will faze Parker’s side.
They sit top of the league unbeaten – having won seven of their nine games – and scoring 20 goals in the process, conceding just four. A victory over the lady Imps could see the Blues move seven points clear of Arsenal, if the Gunners were too lost at Everton.
Marie Hourihan, Jade Moore, Izzy Christiansen and Karen Carney are all injury doubts for the trip to Lincoln but Parker’s squad certainly has strength in depth, as proved against Bristol on Wednesday night when Hourihan, Moore and Christiansen were not fit enough to play and Carney having to be replaced at half time.
Kick-off tomorrow is 2pm and for anyone travelling to the game, tickets are priced at £6 for adults and £3 for concessions.
Paddy Day
Matchday Press Officer
Leave a Reply