Football / Bristol City Women
City lose to Leicester as top flight football returns to Ashton Gate
In front of more than 4,000 fans at Ashton Gate, Bristol City made their return to top-flight football after two years away and six months since being promoted.
It was a dream start for Lauren Smith’s side as they went 1-0 up thanks to a sweetly struck shot from just outside the box by player of the match Carrie Jones on her debut.
But City’s return to the Women’s Super League ended in a 4-2 defeat, with the second Vixens goal a consolation penalty on 86 minutes from Danish striker and another debutant, Amalie Thestrup.
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Carrie Jones celebrates her first goal for Bristol City – photo: JMP
Speaking after the match, Smith said that it is “brilliant” to now have Ashton Gate as their home stadium.
“The fact that the club support us and this is where we’re at, I think it’s absolutely due. And the club are thinking about how we can grow and be even bigger.
“The best part was the fans that we can get in here, how loud they can be. They just supported us throughout. Without them, that would have been a really tough day and a tough defeat.”
Smith added: “I’m really pleased that when we play here, it’s full of Bristol City fans and it’s not fans coming to watch the opposition. Today that really proved true. It was loud and it was great.”
City have been handed a tricky start on their return to the WSL.
Their next match is away against Tottenham on October 8 followed by another away trip to Manchester City on October 15, with their next home game on October 22 versus Arsenal.
Main photo: JMP
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