There appear to be three distinct categories of team in the WSL this season. Those who will challenge for the title, Europe and a top four finish, those who will battle it out to avoid the relegation playoff, and those who aren’t good enough for the former but are too good for the latter – exactly where these two sides sit. A win at Villa Park would have seen Albion rise to sixth, ahead of their opponents and an inconsistent London City Lionesses, but alas it wasn’t to be.

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• For a full recap of the match action courtesy of Neil Moxley head over to the Albion website: HERE
• Match highlights are available via the WSL YouTube channel: HERE
• The SheGulls Podcast review of the game is live on the SheGulls YouTube channel: HERE

Brighton & Hove Albion

• The game started positively for the Albion as their high press seemed to catch Villa on their heels. It didn’t take long for this tactic to pay dividends either, as an errant pass from goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo was intercepted by Fuka Tsunoda on the edge of the box, who kept her composure to tuck the ball into the back of the net. Just over ten minutes played, Brighton 1-0 up and their opponents looking vulnerable. Good times.
• The remainder of the half had a familiar feel – the Seagulls producing some positive moments as arguably the superior side, but without adding to their lead – whilst their opponent had the better chances, but mostly against the run of play. To go into the break a goal up away from home is a solid (if unspectacular) opening gambit against any team, but the next goal was always going to be crucial – unfortunately it went to Villa.
• Rosa Kafaji made an unnecessary challenge on the edge of the box which handed the home side a free kick in a dangerous position on 57 minutes. Lucia Kendall curled a ball across the line of the defence where Rachel Daly was able to flick a header beyond the reach of Sophie Baggaley. Quite how or why one of the strongest aerial threats in the game was allowed time and space to connect with the ball is a somewhat rhetorical question – but it is one that needs answering all the same.
• Not content with conceding one goal to a predictable Villa classic, just a minute later Kirsty Hanson was left with far too much time and space, just outside the D, to rifle a shot into the top corner. Hanson is Villa’s top scorer this season with six goals, none of which have come from inside ten yards. How or why did this happen? Again, rhetorical. Villa played to their strengths, Brighton allowed them to – and in the blink of an eye three points became zero.
• What felt frustrating is that Villa had hit the post no less than four times before they finally scored against the Albion this season (including the 0-0 draw at home) so it’s not like they hadn’t been warned, yet they continued to allow Villa’s best players opportunities to score goals that were so far inside their comfort zone that they’d brought a pillow.
• The remainder of the game played out as the score might suggest, the visitors putting on the pressure, but not coming close to a clear-cut chance never mind an equaliser. In desperation Caitlin Hayes was even employed as a striker late on, just to try and create something, anything to change the game – but to no avail. From sixth with a win, Brighton drop to eighth with a loss, and have much to address before the WSL returns in two weeks’ time with a match against Everton at Goodison Park.
• The likes of Jess Park, Lisa Naalsund, Sandy Baltimore, and Kirsty Hanson have all been left with far too much time and space to score from range this season. Crosses into the box have led to seven of the fifteen total goals conceded, including crucial, game-altering tallies against the likes of Spurs, Manchester City, Liverpool, (though it might sound harsh) Arsenal, and now Aston Villa. Brighton have to stop conceding the same goals in the same situations if they want to have a truly elite defensive unit, and until the attack starts firing, they need one.
• Speaking of the attack it wasn’t like the Albion didn’t create chances, in fact the total xG was 1.4 to 0.5 in Brighton’s favour, but that simply demonstrates the efficiency of Villa and the profligacy of the visitors. It hardly needs stating at this point, but the Seagulls need at least one striker, and a good one too, not a prospect, not a youngster, a guaranteed focal point to put the ball in the back of the net. Until one is added, they can expect to lose more games like this.
• The midfield, beyond the dogged performance of Tsunoda in her first WSL start, was disjointed, made too many unforced errors and appeared sluggish. Too often the slow movement of the ball from player to player to player to inevitably losing possession, made no sense and had no real purpose. Truthfully they weren’t helped by a team-wide lack of movement and creativity which often stalled promising moves dead in their tracks.
• What should give the club a shot in the arm, is some new blood, particularly up top. Olaug Tvedten, a late arrival last week (so only on the bench for this game) is a very talented wide forward with goalscoring ability which should open up more avenues for Albion to get on the scoresheet. What she isn’t though, is that out and out striker, the poacher, the finisher, the tip of the spear – so to speak. How, who and when the club is able to sign someone of that mold, will depend when the outlook begins to look a little brighter.

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Aston Villa

• Did Villa deserve to win the game, probably not, but that’s football. Two of their top players put themselves in the right position to make a difference and they did just that.
• For a team that Brighton need to be beating regularly to make that next step, Villa are a good yardstick to measure against. They have quality players, are always looking to improve, and under the stewardship of manager Natalia Arroyo and Maggie Murphy installed behind the scenes – the only way is up. If they didn’t beat us so often of late and the fact they stand in the way of Brighton’s own ambitions, they might almost be a team you could root for especially against the so-called ‘Big Four’.
• Speaking of Maggie Murphy one thing she is known for is engaging with the fans and strategically building club/supporter relations. We attended this week’s pre-game event, a live recording of the Big Kick Energy podcast, and though there were a few small teething issues – the building blocks are clearly being placed for the future. From small acorns, mighty trees grow.

Other Business

• As always there was a good amount of Albion fans in attendance – I would say between 50-60 if I had to guess. Spirits were a bit low after the final whistle went, but we made sure to stay behind and clap the team off.
• Referee Megan Wilson and her colleagues did a good job officiating the game. She also took charge of our home fixture against Leicester and in both instances nobody had any complaints – which is as good as a gold star when it comes to fan reviews of a refereeing performance!

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Part 1 of the SheGulls Podcast – where we dissect the Villa game – is available now on Youtube via the link at the top of the page.
Part 2 – where we discuss our new signing, a farewell to a favourite, and preview our upcoming fixture – will be released alongside Part 1 in audio format later in the week (as ever it was).

Hope to see many of you this weekend at the Broadfield for our FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest!