Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Women’s Super League clash between Bristol City Women and Everton Ladies, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Relegated Bristol City Women will wrap up a disappointing campaign when they welcome Everton Ladies to Ashton Gate on Saturday.
The hosts are languishing at the foot of the Women’s Super League table, while the Toffees begin the final matchday in eighth position.
Match preview
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After winning promotion from the Championship last term, Bristol City have found it tough to compete in the WSL this season.
The Robins have seen their 21 league matches produce just one win, three draws and 17 defeats, leaving them nine points adrift of 11th-placed West Ham United.
The relegated side experienced a forgettable outing in their recent clash with title challenges Chelsea, conceding eight goals without reply to fall to an eighth consecutive defeat.
As a result of that heavy defeat, Bristol City have now shipped a total of 66 league goals this season – 23 more than Brighton & Hove Albion, who have the league’s second-worst defensive record.
Having lost all 10 of their home league games, the Robins will be keen to sign off the campaign with their first WSL home win.
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After picking up 20 points from 21 matches, Everton are set to fall well short of the 30-point tally that saw them finish in sixth place last season.
Everton’s 2023-24 campaign has been hampered by a number of injuries and an inability to produce their best form on home turf.
In their most recent outing at Walton Hall Park, the Toffees gave up a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur, ensuring they will finish the season with just one win from 11 home league games (D4, L6).
They have at least managed to put together a three-game unbeaten run (W1, D2) since suffering a 4-1 defeat in last month’s away clash with Manchester United.
After beating Brighton in their previous road trip, Brian Sorensen‘s side have the chance to wrap up the season with consecutive away victories.
Bristol City Women Women’s Super League form:
Everton Ladies Women’s Super League form:
Team News
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Bristol City boss Lauren Smith expected to be without the defensive duo of Chloe Mustaki and Satara Murray due to injury.
Chelsea loanee Brooke Aspin will return to the side to make her final appearance before she returns to her parent club.
Having scored nine league goals this season, Amalie Thestrup will try to reach double digits when she leads the line against Everton.
Meanwhile, the Toffees may be unable to call upon Emily Ramsey, Heather Payne, Hanna Bennison, Rikke Madsen and Karoline Olesen.
Defender Elise Stenevik is set to serve a one-match suspension after picking up her fifth yellow card of the WSL season.
Stenevik could be replaced in the backline by Katrine Veje, while there could also be a starting place for Emma Bissell.
Bristol City Women possible starting lineup:
Bentley; Bull, Aspin, Connolly, Layzell; Morgan, Syme, Rodgers, Jones, Napier; Thestrup
Everton Ladies possible starting lineup:
Brosnan; Hope, Vanhaevermaet, Finnigan, Veje, S Holmgaard; Kuhl, K Holmgaard, Wheeler, Snoeijs; Piemonte
We say: Bristol City Women 0-2 Everton Ladies
Bristol City may have salvaged a 2-2 draw in November’s reverse fixture, but they will be low on confidence after losing each of their previous eight league matches, and we think they will fall to another defeat in Saturday’s clash with Everton.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
