Bristol City 0-1 Liverpool: Vixens on cusp of relegation

Marie Hobinger celebrates after scoring against Bristol City — Bristol City have not won a game at home in the Women's Super League this season

Bristol City are on the cusp of relegation from the Women's Super League after suffering a narrow defeat by Liverpool.

The Vixens are seven points adrift of safety with three matches left.

They have played a game more than second-bottom West Ham, who will send them down if they beat Manchester City on Sunday.

Marie Hobinger scored the game's only goal on 13 minutes when she sent a low drive into the bottom corner.

The goal came after the Austria international picked up a mistimed clearance on the edge of the box.

On her side's WSL fate hanging on tomorrow's game, boss Lauren Smith told BBC Radio Bristol: "I'll keep me eye on it but you can't do a lot about it. It's completely in someone else's hands and that's where we've left it.

"There's nothing we can do, we've just got to react to what comes of that and go into training on Monday ready for Manchester City next week."

Liverpool move a point ahead of Manchester United and up to fourth with victory, although they will drop back down to fifth on Sunday if United avoid defeat against Tottenham.

The visitors had earlier come close to scoring when Bristol City managed to clear the ball off the line, after a Shae Yanez clearance rebounded off Sophie Roman Haug.

Relive Liverpool's win against Bristol City as it happened

Liverpool nearly doubled their advantage when Haug tapped home after Yanez dropped a catch, but the referee deemed the Liverpool striker to have fouled Yanez.

Bristol City soon had a similar chance when Teagan Micah spilled the ball after being pushed by Rachel Furness, but City did not convert the chance anyway before the free-kick was awarded.

City were determined in attack as they tried to find a way back into a realistically must-win game, but they struggled to fashion any chances of real quality.

They were given freedom to run at the Liverpool defence but were unable to break them down, and did not test Micah until she parried away an Amalie Thestrup effort in the second half - when the striker intercepted a loose pass.

Hobinger nearly doubled Liverpool's lead but saw her long-range strike tipped on to the post by City keeper Yanez.

Bristol City's energy fizzled out and Liverpool took control of the game, with Mia Enderby and Missy Bo Kearns both forcing Yanez to make late saves.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Bristol City Women

Formation 5-4-1

30Yañez
15BullSubstituted forHarrisonat 90+3'minutes
5AspinBooked at 25mins
6Connolly
4LayzellSubstituted forJonesat 45'minutes
11Napier
24MorganSubstituted forEvansat 67'minutes
8Rodgers
16SymeSubstituted forWardat 86'minutes
10FurnessSubstituted forStratigakisat 45'minutes
17Thestrup

Substitutes

2Powell
3Struck
7Harrison
13Clark
18Stratigakis
22Evans
23Jones
29Ward
36Slocombe

Liverpool Women

Formation 4-5-1

16Micah
32ParrySubstituted forDanielsat 71'minutes
17Clark
4Fisk
12HindsSubstituted forKoivistoat 58'minutes
7KearnsBooked at 35mins
9KiernanSubstituted forBonnerat 45'minutes
14HöbingerSubstituted forHollandat 58'minutes
8Nagano
13EnderbySubstituted forLawleyat 71'minutes
10HaugBooked at 85mins

Substitutes

1Laws
2Koivisto
11Lawley
18Holland
20Daniels
23Bonner
57Leath

Referee:: Phoebe Cross
Attendance:: 4,780

Match Stats

Home TeamBristol City WomenAway TeamLiverpool Women

Possession: Home45%; Away55%

Shots: Home8; Away10

Shots on Target: Home2; Away3

Corners: Home5; Away2

Fouls: Home10; Away9

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Bristol City Women 0, Liverpool Women 1.
90'+8'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol City Women 0, Liverpool Women 1.

90'+8'
Post update
Attempt missed. Abi Harrison (Bristol City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
90'+7'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
90'+6'
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Sophie Haug (Liverpool Women).
90'+4'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
90'+3'
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City Women. Abi Harrison replaces Jasmine Bull.
90'+3'
Post update
Delay in match (Liverpool Women).
90'+1'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Amy Rodgers (Bristol City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
90'
Post update
Attempt saved. Carrie Jones (Bristol City Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jamie-Lee Napier.
89'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
88'
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Fuka Nagano (Liverpool Women).
87'
Post update
Missy Kearns (Liverpool Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'
Post update
Foul by Jamie-Lee Napier (Bristol City Women).
87'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
86'
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City Women. Mari Ward replaces Emily Syme.
85'
Post update
Delay in match (Liverpool Women).
85'
Booking
Sophie Haug (Liverpool Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
85'
Post update
Foul by Sophie Haug (Liverpool Women).
85'
Post update
Amy Rodgers (Bristol City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

As It Stood

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea Women	18	15	1	2	53	14	39	46
2	Man City Women	18	15	1	2	49	12	37	46
3	Arsenal Women	18	13	1	4	42	18	24	40

4	Liverpool Women	19	9	5	5	27	25	2	32
5	Man Utd Women	18	9	4	5	39	23	16	31
6	Tottenham Women	17	7	4	6	23	29	-6	25
7	Aston Villa Women	19	6	2	11	24	40	-16	20
8	Brighton Women	19	5	3	11	25	41	-16	18
9	Everton Women	19	5	3	11	17	34	-17	18
10	Leicester City Women	18	4	5	9	25	36	-11	17
11	West Ham Women	18	3	4	11	17	35	-18	13

12	Bristol City Women	19	1	3	15	20	54	-34	6

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39 comments

Comment posted by NC, at 14:35 20 Apr
Well done girls
Comment posted by David McManus, at 16:17 20 Apr
Another defeat poor Bristol ladies
Comment posted by Robert Reid, at 06:06 21 Apr
The Bristol ladies tried hard but Liverpool were a class above. They will be relegated back to the Championship where they will no doubt do well and be promotion contenders again but without a huge investment to improve the squad it will all be in vain. The gap between the top of the Championship and even the lower regions of the WSL is huge.
Comment posted by dennis, at 15:54 20 Apr
another shout out for the atmosphere at womens football matches. No need for Police nor for outside security firms to be brought in . only a bare presence of the home grown security stewards. just a lovely family atmosphere without the offensive chanting and on a sunny day like today it is a really enjoyable way to pass a few hours
Reply posted by Eranu70, at 16:15 20 Apr
Eranu70 replied:
Haha look at the picture they've put up of the empty stand background. not sure if you are being ironic.
Comment posted by Learner Driver, at 16:30 20 Apr
Well done are Red Women! YNWA
Comment posted by Mr B, at 17:19 20 Apr
Even as a hammers fan I cannot see us winning against City
I still think we be safe I can't see Bristol getting the points needed
But we need to improve alot next season
Comment posted by Trinity, at 17:58 20 Apr
Good win for Liverpool woman
Hope they achieve their targets
Comment posted by Judge Dredd, at 22:15 20 Apr
6 points from NINETEEN games for Bristol City lol 😆
Comment posted by badwolf stroud, at 15:12 20 Apr
Bristol as a major UK City has totally underachieved in the mens game, this is an ideal time for the club and the City to get in at the start of something big at the start of the boom in popularity at this sport, the team gets good media coverage locally, and great turnout for big games, hopefully more investment will be spent attracting top players and coaches
Reply posted by ff60, at 17:08 20 Apr
ff60 replied:
BCFC haven’t got the money to invest in either the men’s or women’s side, sadly the WSL is heading the same way as the PL. Newcastle with plenty of swilling around will probably win the Championship next season
Comment posted by User0582795847, at 15:33 20 Apr
It was an entertaining - game to watch.
Comment posted by Unknownfan24, at 14:51 20 Apr
It’s probably best that Bristol City women shouldn’t compete in the Women’s Super League because they have been struggling all season and yes they know that they are to be relegated back to the Women’s Championship.
Reply posted by Simon Holmes, at 17:23 20 Apr
Simon Holmes replied:
Burnley, Sheff Utd & Luton shouldn't be allowed in the Prem then?
Comment posted by House of Cake, at 14:44 20 Apr
Bristol were odds on for relegation after their first few matches.
Hard to comprehend there is a division below this where such a poor side was the best club last season and earned promotion to this one.
Comment posted by Champ20ns, at 14:37 20 Apr
Last I checked Bristol City were in the Championship.

Did Liverpool drop down there too?
Reply posted by Rayfor peace, at 15:11 20 Apr
Rayfor peace replied:
That was last season.