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NederlandBrighton & Hove Albion Women are looking to make it two wins from two in the Women's Super League when they travel to face Birmingham City Women on Sunday.
The hosts will be aiming to bounce back from their opening day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, with the added boost of playing all of their home fixtures at St Andrew's stadium for the first time in history this season.
Match preview
Birmingham began their campaign with a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but the Blues fell to a 40th-minute strike from Kit Graham and Spurs' controlled possession of the ball.
Scott Booth has added 13 new players to his squad this summer, and after that defeat in North London, he said that the team is still learning about each other, but expressed that they cannot afford to wait for the squad to completely gel before points are recorded on the table.
Despite the 1-0 defeat, Booth was confident that the Blues can take positives from their performance into this clash with Brighton, including the fact that they created chances in the second half.
Birmingham only managed to score 15 goals in 22 outings during the 2020-21 season, and after drawing a blank on the opening day of this season last weekend, they will be hoping to open their account on Sunday.
Hope Powell's side kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 win over West Ham United at the Amex stadium last Sunday, with the goals coming from Inessa Kaagman and Geum-Min Lee.
The Seagulls were given a helping hand when Hammers defender Hawa Cissoko was sent off after 32 minutes, and the home side took advantage of their extra player, going on to dominate the game.
Powell was pleased with the victory but admitted that her team were not at their best, passing the ball too slowly at times and that they need to improve as the WSL gets tougher season upon season.
Brighton will need to have a good season to better their finish from last year, when they achieved sixth spot, their highest ever league position, and they are now seen as favourites on Sunday as they play against a side that is expected to finish below them in the table.
The visitors are likely to dominate possession at St Andrew's, and having picked up on some improvements from their opening game, Powell is likely to demand that her side raise the intensity this weekend.
These two sides last met in January when the points were shared as they played out a goalless encounter, but their first meeting last season also came early on in the campaign and Brighton ran out 2-0 winners on the opening day last year.
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Team News
Seven summer signings were included in Booth's Birmingham lineup last weekend, but Harriet Scott is expected to return to the side at right-back after she was suspended for the trip to Spurs, in place of Libby Smith.
Scottish midfielder Lisa Robertson and Republic of Ireland's Louise Quinn, Scott, Jamie Finn and Emily Whelan have all been selected to represent their country next week during the international break, so they will want to perform well on Sunday to prepare for their call-up.
Booth could name a similar starting 11 to the side which played last weekend, which would see Sarah Ewans leading the line for the home side, who will play in a 4-3-3 formation.
New Brighton arrival Danielle Carter made her first WSL start for the club against West Ham, and she will take confidence from her performance, winning the penalty and assisting Lee's goal in the first half.
Powell said after that opening day win that there is still more to come from Lee, after she started this season where she left off last campaign, scoring her fourth WSL goal in as many games including the final two matches of last year.
There was no place in the starting 11 for new signing Rinsola Babajide, and if Powell is to name the same team then the former Liverpool striker will be hoping for an appearance from the bench.
Birmingham City Women possible starting lineup:
Ramsey; Holloway, Lawley, Louise Quinn, Scott; Whipp, Robertson, Pennock; Sarri, Ewans, Lucy Quinn
Brighton & Hove Albion Women possible starting lineup:
Walsh; Koivisto, Williams, Kerkdijk, Le Tissier; Connolly, Kaagman; Brazil, Carter, Whelan; Lee
We say: Birmingham City Women 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion Women
Birmingham will want to get on the scoresheet this weekend after drawing a blank against Tottenham, and Brighton did concede a few chances to West Ham which will give the home side confidence of scoring at St Andrew's.
However, Brighton are expected to show their quality on Sunday, and with the firepower they possess in attack, that should be enough to secure victory against the Blues.
