It wasn’t just the fans who had to weather a few storms on Sunday afternoon as Brighton faced off against Chelsea at Kingsmeadow. Despite the scoreline, the Albion were competitive throughout and were unfortunate that two inexcusable defensive errors ended up costing them a point away from home.

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First things first, you can read the full match report on the BHAFC website HERE, and if you’d like to watch the highlights you can head over to the official WSL YouTube channel HERE.

The SheGulls Summary

Brighton & Hove Albion

• We’ve often spoken on the Podcast about how we are looking for a performance as much as a result when we play the top teams in the WSL – particularly away from home. Despite the scoreline, Brighton matched Chelsea blow for blow and but for two defensive miscues and some profligate finishing, could have taken points away from South West London. I’d argue they deserved to.
• Let’s get the two errors out of the way then and move on to more positive matters. The first reminded me of a goal we conceded against West Ham when the ball was passed out from the back to a player under immediate pressure facing their own goal. In this case it was Cankovic, not Losada, but a poor first touch handed Chelsea possession in our penalty box. With no chance to recover, Sjoeke Nusken found a finish despite a desperate block by Guro Bergsvand.
• The second was probably worse and that’s saying something. A relatively harmless pass back under pressure found Sophie Baggaley in her own six-yard box. Rather than clear the ball, in a decision I’m sure she’d love to have back now, Baggers decided to try and negate the tension by taking it round the onrushing Aggie Beever-Jones. Unfortunately for the Albion keeper, Beever-Jones got the ball, which then ricocheted back to her off the post, where she could just walk it over the line for Chelsea’s second.
• In theory, I’m for playing out from the back, but I need to see it creating goals, not costing goals. That’s three we’ve conceded in the last two games that were entirely avoidable with more risk-averse defensive play. I watched Chelsea and how they developed play from the back. Their strategy seemed to be to play it out if possible, but under pressure, clear the ball forward where the battle for possession could take place away from danger. Ironically our second goal came from one of the very few times they did try to retain possession at the back, with Hannah Hampton’s poor clearance striking a Brighton player and bouncing into the path of Kiko Seike who found a cool finish.
• For those keeping count, that’s zero goals out of six (total) scored from developing or attempting to develop play from the defence, and three conceded. Hardly a ringing endorsement for rigid adherence to the tactic.
• Now that’s out of the way we can talk about the good. Brighton matched Chelsea’s intensity for the most part and against a team who’d conceded just three goals in the WSL in eight games, scored two, and should have had more. But for the errors this game might’ve finished 2-2 or 2-1 which would have indicated how close a battle it actually was.
• The defence did well against a dangerous opponent and I’d argue played as well as they have done this season, regardless of the final score. The midfield wasn’t overrun and though perhaps they were slightly out physicaled, Chelsea are the five-time consecutive champions for a reason. In attack it was always going to be tough. Nikita Parris ran herself ragged as usual for one excellent chance which she fired over. Kiko Seike played well, though her influence drifted in and out – I’d just like to see her being a little braver in driving forward. Pauline Bremer had no joy out on the left, much like the Palace game, and was subbed off for Michelle Agyemang at half time. I really rate Pauline as a player, but as I’ve said multiple times this season and last, she is nowhere near as effective out wide.
• Though her miscontrol led to their first goal, Jelena Cankovic was excellent. Her response to the error was to curl the best goal of the afternoon past Hampton from range. I’d find it hard to leave her out at the moment even with every player back fit.
• Rackie Mackie (Rachel McLauchlan to the uninitiated) has been a revelation since she’s come in to the first team. Her and Poppy Pattinson on the other side have been fantastic this season, and in general the use of our wing-backs has been one of the most positive aspects of our game.

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Chelsea

• I thought Chelsea played well without excelling in any one particular area, just having a bit more composure on the ball and making fewer momentum-shifting errors.
• They were nibbling at our heels a lot and unfortunately the referee wasn’t inclined to punish them for it, particularly with a card, meaning they continued to do so with impunity. To me that was where they had an advantage in the midfield, just in the sense they were more dogged and willing to do the dirty work to win back possession.
• Though I wasn’t blown away with how they performed, there is a sense that they can up their level in order to win games – to do what needs to be done to get 3 points. From that perspective I think they’re nailed on favourites for the WSL title this year.

Other Business

• There was really good away attendance for the game, assisted by the coach travel that the club put on. It’s difficult to estimate numbers but I’d put it in the 125-150 range best guess. Not only would I argue that we were louder than Chelsea’s fans, who I assume were in the thousands, but we were louder than we often are at the Broadfield. A consequence of a vocal minority of fans being given the chance to sit together one would posit.
• I wasn’t on the coach on this occasion, though I almost certainly will be for Spurs and West Ham, but everything I heard was positive and apparently ran smoothly.

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For more in depth discussion please do check out the SheGulls Podcast, recording Monday for release Tues/Wed, where Duncan, Ben and Claire will discuss this game, look ahead to Bristol City in the League Cup on Wednesday and Spurs in the WSL on Saturday!

I believe all three of us are at both games and of course everyone is in different seats for the cup fixture, so do come and say hello if you spot us in the wild!