The two leading sides in Group F of this season’s FA Women’s Continental League Cup come together at Hayes Lane this evening as Crystal Palace face Bristol City.
The hosts won 2-1 at Lewes in their opening group fixture last month while Bristol City were 4-0 winners against London Bees at Twerton Park.
Crystal Palace come into the match on the back of three consecutive defeats in the FA Women’s Championship, although it should be noted that those losses have come against sides further on in their development in the form of Durham, Leicester City and Sheffield United. Goals certainly haven’t been a problem for Dean Davenport’s side with 12 scored in just eight games in all competitions, however, the club will be keen to improve their goals conceded average of more than two per game.
Bristol City’s 4-0 victory over London Bees in their last FA Women’s Continental League Cup match provided some comfort following a poor start to the Barclays FA Women’s Super League campaign. The Robins have lost all four of their league matches, scoring just one goal and conceding 20. Only Arsenal have netted less than four goals against Tanya Oxtoby’s side in the league so far this season while Chelsea’s 9-0 victory at Kingsmeadow is Bristol City’s heaviest defeat of the season so far.
Palace forward Bianca Baptiste is the player to watch in tonight’s fixture in Bromley. The attacker, who has pace to burn, is the top scorer for The Eagles with five goals in all competitions. Two of those strikes came in Palace’s first group game against Lewes.
Crystal Palace’s FA Women’s Continental League Cup fixture against Bristol City kicks-off at 7.45pm with highlights likely to be made available on the FA Player.