Kayleigh Green's penalty not enough as Hope Powell's Brighton exit Continental Cup

Brighton manager Hope Powell felt her team were the better side as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bristol City in the Continental League Cup at The People’s Pension Stadium.
By Derren Howard
Published 20th Oct 2019, 19:26 BST
Kayleigh Green scored Brighton's only goal of the match from the penalty spot Picture: Paul Hazelwood (BHAFC)Kayleigh Green scored Brighton's only goal of the match from the penalty spot Picture: Paul Hazelwood (BHAFC)
Kayleigh Green scored Brighton's only goal of the match from the penalty spot Picture: Paul Hazelwood (BHAFC)

Goals from Bristol's Abi Harrison and Ebony Salmon proved to be the difference against an Albion team that found the net during a spirited second-half display through Kayleigh Green’s penalty.

Powell said, “We should’ve won the game, as I thought we were the better team. I’m really happy with how we played, but we need to be able to score. Their second goal was a huge error on our part, but I’m very pleased with the performance, as we kept going and were on the front foot throughout the game.

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“There was end-to-end action at times, and even though we were probably the better team, it doesn’t mean anything unless you win the match.”

Powell made five changes to the side that was beaten 3-1 by West Ham United in the WSL last week, with Sophie Harris, Kirsty Barton, Maya Le Tissier, Kate Natkiel and Green all drafted in.

Powell added: “I thought Maya [Le Tissier] did very well, as did Kirsty Barton, who hasn’t had many minutes this season. Kate [Natkiel] did okay too, as well as Sophie Harris, who couldn’t do much about either of the goals. Overall, it was a very positive response from those players, and it gives me a bit of a selection headache for the next game.”

The goal arrived from the penalty spot, after Green was sent tumbling. The Wales international converted to halve the deficit with an hour on the clock.

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Powell said: “We got momentum from that goal and Kayleigh clinically executed the penalty. It would’ve been nice to score a goal from open play though. That’s the challenging bit, and it’s all about repetition on the training pitch in order to get it right.

“But what's encouraging is that we’re creating opportunities, and it would’ve been more concerning if that wasn’t the case. Now we just need to find the confidence to finish those chances.”

Albion are back to the Women’s Super League next Sunday away at Everton.

ALBION: Harris; Barton, Le Tissier, Kerkdijk, Gibbons; Simpkins, Bowman (A. Whelan 46), Le Garrec (Umotong 90); Natkiel, Green, Brazil.

SUBS NOT USED: Walsh (GK), Hack, Williams, Lundorf, Bance.

Related topics:BrightonBristol City