BIRMINGHAM City Ladies FC have thanked fans for their superb support during Sunday’s 1-0 WSL1 defeat at home to Arsenal and have urged supporters to produce more of the same when the team entertain reigning champions Liverpool at Solihull Moors on Sunday (2pm).
The Blues remain winless after eight league games following Sunday’s loss to the Gunners, who returned to second place in the table thanks to Chioma Ubogagu’s 53rd minute goal in a match watch by a bumper crowd of 1,278 – many of whom had come to welcome home Blues’ Lionesses Jade Moore, Karen Carney and Jo Potter following their bronze-medal winning heroics at the Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Despite an improved display, David Parker’s side troubles in front of goal continued as their task was made more difficult by the dismissal of forward Freda Ayisi in first half stoppage time – for the second time this season – for two over-zealous challenges within the space of a couple of minutes.
After falling behind, the home side battled hard and twice came within a whisker of an equaliser.
Firstly, Mel Lawley’s deflected strike appeared to have been gathered over the line by back-pedalling Arsenal keeper Emma Byrne, before midway through the second half Carney’s fine run and cross ended with Remi Allen nodding the ball against the woodwork before Kirsty Linnett fired the rebound narrowly over.
Blues, who remain a point above bottom side Bristol Academy with six league matches left, began their Continental Tyres Cup campaign at Notts County last night (Wednesday) and travel to Sutton Coldfield Town next Thursday to face Aston Villa in the same competition.
