If there is such a thing as a six-pointer after just half a season, Brighton’s game against Bristol City had all the hallmarks of one. If the Albion won it would lift them above Leicester and Everton into 8th. Lose and the Robins would go level with them on points with only West Ham to look down upon.

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The first half began exactly how you’d expect then, with both teams feeling each other out, probing for weaknesses and where they may be able to exploit the opposition. A long ball over the top nearly put Elisabeth Terland through on goal, but the keeper was able to just about get there first, whilst at the other end an uncharacteristic mistake from Sophie Baggaley left the defense exposed only for City to lack the composure to capitalise. At this point, 30 minutes in, I thought this game had 0-0 written all over it, but boy oh boy was I wrong.

In the 32nd minute Bristol City were playing the ball out from the back in an attempt to retain possession when some intensive pressing from Vicky Losada forced Carrie Jones to lose control of the ball. Terland stepped in, used her strength to hold Jones off and drove towards the edge of the box. With the City defenders closing fast, she set herself and fired low into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. A cracking goal, not one born of beautiful football, but hard work and a poised finish.

Shortly afterwards a ball across the face of goal was unfortunate not to find a touch to make it two, but the remainder of the half continued to be back-and-forth, with a lack of cutting edge an issue for both sides.

The Robins started the second half with more urgency, and Brighton rather than looking to dominate and score again, appeared happy to sit in and take their chances on the counter – a dangerous tactic with our defensive record.

On 53 minutes a ball forward into box was latched on to by Abi Harrison and her excellent turn and shot left Baggaley grasping at air as it cannoned back off the post and was cleared away. Unfortunately the ball in from the resulting corner was not dealt with by the Albion and Harrison was there again to place a powerful driven shot into the roof of the net.

Brighton fans didn’t have long to bemoan our inability to hold a lead though. Within two minutes, a smart ball from Terland through Bristol City’s defensive line found Katie Robinson who rolled it just outside the keeper’s outstretched leg and just inside the bottom left corner of the net. It was a remarkably composed finish from Robbo, who really seems to be finding some form in the last few games.

Again though the Albion seemed to want to sit in, defend in numbers and hold onto the lead, perhaps fearful of a City side that had looked dangerous, if a little profligate, on the attack. We know how that usually goes.

On 83 minutes another set piece had the Brighton defense all at sea again. The ball was whipped in from a free kick on the right-hand side. Despite it coming from range, with (I would argue) the time for a defender to go and attack the ball, it fell to Shania Hayles who put her free header on target. Although Baggers got down well and clawed the ball away, she couldn’t get any power behind it and the rebound was tucked home from short range by Jones to make up for her error in the first half.

In the lead twice, pegged back twice, this was an all too familiar feeling for Albion fans unfortunately. There was belief though, we would fight on until the final whistle – we had to – we needed to – such was the swing in the table between a win or loss, and a draw that would merely preserve the status quo. Time ticked on, and on.

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Veatriki Sarri and Lee Guem-min had been brought on just prior to City’s second equaliser and the fresh legs were more than welcome as the end of the game approached. In the 96th minute, Sarri used her skill to create a pocket of space and force a cross into the box which was flicked on by Lee. The ball came rather quickly to Robins midfielder Jamie-Lee Napier who could only stab the ball clear to Terland on the penalty spot. With both instinct and poise in equal measure she hit the ball left-footed on the half volley, driving the ball off the underside of the bar and down over the line to put Albion 3-2 up with seconds to go. Cue absolute scenes.

By the end of the day the result looked even better. West Ham lost to Spurs in another barnburner of a game and the Albion now find themselves 6 points clear of the bottom two. Not safe, far from it, but with some momentum going into the second half of the season. The performance, well, to be honest it was more of the same. Loose passing, lack of aggression, inability to defend set pieces, inability to hold a lead – the usual suspects. Really I think what carried us to the win was that we had a touch more class, a touch more experience – rather than we outplayed a side who have just one win all season. In fact many commentators and pundits seem to think Bristol City were the better team. I actually had it fairly even, but that in itself doesn’t auger all that well for the Albion. I suppose it is glass half full vs glass half empty. We secured the points and moved away from the foot of the table, but we were also 60 seconds away from drawing at home to arguably the worst team in the league. For Brighton’s survival – a boost, for Brighton’s progression – well…

Notes

• Elisabeth Terland is an absolute star. She became Brighton’s all-time leading WSL goalscorer with her second against Bristol City – in just two seasons, 28 games. Let that sink in. I just hope we can hang on to her. If she’s going to start to get assists too the starting price is £1 Million.
• I could definitely see the seeds of what Melissa Phillips discussed in her press conference about dialling back on some of the ‘evolution’. Despite the overall performance, the players did seem more comfortable sticking to their prescribed roles and there was less uncertainty about who was where or covering which player etc.
• One benefactor of this is Katie Robinson who has looked much better out wide on the right, driving forward with the ball and finding space – without so much of the defensive responsibility. Her composed finish yesterday was reminiscent of last season when she was a vital part of keeping us in the WSL.
• Passing was up to 75% accuracy and we did out-pass the opposition by volume so that is a welcome sign. There was still the odd head-scratcher though and obviously it remains to be seen if we can carry this improvement on against tougher opponents.
• We seem to be very risk averse in our passing and build-up play. Multiple times every game a midfielder or defender will move the ball forward and there will be no runs being made, or there are runs, but the player then turns and goes backwards again. I get that retaining possession, say in the style of the men’s team, is desirable – but the women’s team doesn’t have close to the volume of runners, of skill-players, of playmakers, that the men’s team relies on to do something with that possession.
• Our set piece defending is absolutely woeful and there really is no excuse for it. We’re not an undersized team by any stretch of the imagination and to allow the ball to be won by the opposition so often, it makes you wonder what the issue really is and how to go about rectifying it.
• There is definitely a lack of aggression within the team. Offensively that is epitomised by often only having one player in the box for a cross, or only one runner on a drive forward, or nobody working to create space. Defensively it means the opposition are allowed to carry the ball too far too often without a challenge being put in or pressure applied. I wonder if an incoming signing could improve this aspect of our play because we sorely need someone who can get in and around the midfield to break up attacks and feed the ball back to our creative players.
• Credit to Bristol City they came to win. I give their players and fans a ton of respect for how they conducted themselves. It would be a shame if they were relegated, but it is really tough in this ever improving WSL environment.
• I had a meeting with Jo from the Brighton Fan Advisory Board and Alice from Her Game Too prior to the match. I think we all felt at first that it would be good to meet each other face to face to make sure we were all singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to the women’s team. I’m pleased to say that we’re essentially aligned in our thinking, particularly as it pertains to our ultimate goals, but equally we all have our own areas to work on which I think is important. More to come for sure!