
🏟 Gate Guide: City Women vs Blackburn Rovers
Posted: Friday, November 12th 2021
Saturday, November 13th 2021
Get an in-depth look at City’s opponents as Lauren Smith’s team welcome Blackburn Rovers to Ashton Gate on Sunday, November 14th (3pm).
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Abi Harrison's late equaliser earned City Women a hard-fought point in the West Midlands.
The Robins travelled to the Midlands looking for back-to-back league victories for the first time this season as they visited Coventry United.
Head Coach Lauren Smith made four changes to the team that put five past Sheffield United on Halloween, with Sophie Whitehouse, Ella Powell, Simran Jhamat and Aggie Beever-Jones all coming into the side.
In the absence of skipper Aimee Palmer, the in-form Abi Harrison wore the armband.
Smith was dealt a blow before a ball had even been kicked, as Ffion Morgan failed a late fitness test. Lia Cataldo replaced her in the starting XI, with Flo Allen making the bench.
Coventry took the lead moments before half-time, as Rio Hardy found the bottom corner with an accomplished finish.
United then had the ball in the back of the net just after the interval, but Hardy was deemed to be in an offside position as she steered her shot past Whitehouse.
The visitors began to pile the pressure on just after the hour mark. That pressure almost paid off moments later when City had their best chance of the game. Cataldo drove forward and did well to find Johnson, who looked certain to score, but could only divert her effort wide of Clark’s goal.
City finally got their equaliser with 10 minutes left on the clock. Chloe Bull’s cross almost inadvertently looped into the back of the net, but instead cannoned off the bar and into the path of Harrison who smashed home for her fourth goal of the season.
Blackburn Rovers Ladies were formed in 1991 as part of Rovers' community programme, and reached the Northern Combination Women's Football League in 1998. After a few years in mid-table, the club began to take off in 2002.
In 2006 they won the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division and were promoted to the FA Women's Premier League National Division, where they played until relegation in the 2010-11 season.
In 2018–19 they won promotion back to the second tier.
They currently sit ninth in the FA Championship with three wins, four defeats and a draw, securing a hard-fought point as they drew 0-0 on the road at Liverpool last weekend.
Captain Saffron Jordan has been nominated for October’s FA Women’s Championship Player of the Month.
The forward netted twice for the Blues during October as she put in stellar performances whilst leading the Rovers line.
Jordan got off the mark for the season with a thundering, wonder free-kick against London City Lionesses earlier on the month and then scored from the spot against Coventry United over a week ago as she helped her team to a 3-2 victory.
The 27-year-old was also named in the Her Football Hub October Team of the Month as she was recognised for her recent impressive performances in the blue-and-white.
Jordan is up for the award alongside, Liverpool forward Leanne Kiernan, City’s own midfielder Aimee Palmer and Durham goalkeeper Megan Borthwick.
Where: Ashton Gate Stadium
When: Sunday, November 14th (3pm)
Competition: FA Championship
Supporters are encouraged to advantage of online pricing to watch the Robins face Rovers in BS3.
Travel information for supporters coming to Ashton Gate on Sunday can be found here.
Sunday's fixture falls on Women's Football Weekend, which will see all fixtures from both the Barclays FA Women's Super League and FA Championship shown on either Sky Sports, BBC or the FA Player.
All six Championship fixtures will be streamed free of charge of the FA Player, with coverage from Ashton Gate getting underway from 3pm.
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