By Aston Villa FC

Game Details

Game: Aston Villa Women vs Brighton & Hove Albion Women
Date: Wednesday 17th March 2021
Competition: Barclays FA Women's Super League
Venue: Banks's Stadium
Time: 19:30 (GMT)
Watch: The game will be streamed live on the FA Player.

Stine Larsen

Simply put, Wednesday evening's match against the Seagulls is huge.

Having lost back-to-back games to Arsenal and Manchester United in recent weeks, the onus is now on Marcus Bignot and co. not to become dragged too deep into the relegation dog fight.

Following the 4-0 defeat at home to the Gunners, Villa travelled to Manchester a couple of weekends ago and lost in similar fashion to Casey Stoney's side.

While there is still some breathing space between ourselves and the drop, the upcoming fixture against Brighton represents a big opportunity to claim three points and climb further away from the mire.

Villa will take enormous comfort from the previous meeting between these two, when goals from Anita Asante and Ramona Petzelberger sealed our first win back in the English top-flight in November.

 

Brighton & Hove Albion

Wednesday's opponents are a difficult team to assess.

Looking at the Barclays FA Women’s Super League table going into the fixture, it would appear the Seagulls have cleared themselves of any relegation worry. However, that hasn’t come without a few bumps on the road.

As mentioned, we Hope Powell’s side in the reverse fixture back in November, emerging victorious thanks to second-half goals from Asante and Petzelberger.

Albion then recorded just one win from their next eight fixtures, plunging them into the depths of the league table.

And against all odds, they went to league-leaders Chelsea and won 2-1, sparking a three-game win streak which they now carry into Wednesday's clash.

Form Guide

Here's how the two sides have fared going into Wednesday's match-up...

Form Guide
Marcus Bignot

Marcus Bignot

Interim manager, Marcus Bignot, spoke to VillaTV following our defeat to Manchester United...

“We wanted to come up here and not lose" admitted Bignot.

"The manner in which we came in at half-time was disappointing.

"The second half was encouraging, in terms of finishers coming on and making an impact.

"Changes in personnel and in certain units has given us a lot of encouragement going into the Brighton game.”

Despite confessing the wealth of attacking ability within the opponent's ranks, Bignot lamented the manner in which the opening two goals were conceded.

“(The first half performance) didn’t help. It’s 2-0 and you’re out of the game" he said.

"The first goal was a deflected shot from giving away possession, which we’d identified as one of Manchester United’s strengths.

"To fall into that trap is disappointing. The second goal was right on the stroke of half-time, and it’s not going to happen anymore.

"There has to be accountability. You can’t allow players to have free headers in your box at any level.

"We really have to hone in on that and take pride in our defending. I really enjoyed the response the players gave in the second half.”

Part of that response was the introduction of Nadine Hanssen and Emma Follis at the interval.

The improved display will have done those two no harm at all.

“After the six weeks and four games that I’ve been here, I’m very clear on where we’re at as a group" stressed Bignot.

"I’m looking forward to building towards Brighton, and I don’t think anyone can predict or pick the team for that game because players have come in and impressed.”

As was seen in the way the squad bounced back from defeat against Chelsea in Bignot's very first game in charge, the manager is of the belief that lessons will be learnt and adaptations will be made accoridngly.

“In losses, you certainly learn more about your group.

"We saw that in the Tottenham game, where we took the lessons from the Chelsea game and applied them.

I saw their mindset change (at half-time on Sunday), and I was happy and pleased with that. That will stand us in good stead going into the Brighton game.”

Sophie Haywood

Sophie Haywood

Sophie Haywood is has undergone season-ending surgery to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

The 25-year-old forward, who last featured in February's 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, sustained the knee injury in training and has now started her rehabilitation process.

Everyone at the Club is wishing you a full and speedy recovery, Soph!

Nadine Hanssen

Chelsea fixture selected for live broadcast

Our upcoming Barclays FA Women's Super League fixture versus Chelsea has been selected for live broadcast.

The eagerly-antcipated clash, due to take place at 14:00 (GMT) on Sunday 28th March, will now kick-off at 14:30 (GMT) on the same day, and will be screened live on BT Sport.

Marcus Bignot, incidentally, saw Villa face Chelsea at the Banks's Stadium, in his first game as interim manager in January.

This will mark Villa's second live game on BT Sport this season, following September's curtain-raiser against Manchester City at Villa Park.

Prize Where It Lies

Popular half-time competition 'Prize Where It Lies' returns for this week’s clash with the Seagulls.

Our official Club partners have put on an array of fantastic prizes to win for Villans who take part.

The competition will be posted on our Twitter channel (AVWFCOfficial) at half-time so make sure you’re watching for the chance to win!

Score Predictor

Score Predictor

Ahead of Wednesday’s big game at Banks's Stadium, Club partner Purity are giving supporters the chance to win a prize.

If you can correctly predict the score between Aston Villa Women and Brighton & Hove Albion Women, you can win a Purity mini-keg!

The competition will go live in the build-up to kick-off. Stay tuned to our Twitter & Facebook pages to ensure you don’t miss out!

Terms and conditions are here.

Predict the Score!

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Matchday Programme

The official matchday programme for our clash against the Seagulls is free and available to download here!

Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion