Bethany England joined Tottenham from Chelsea in January 2023
Bethany England scored her first Women’s Super League goal of the season to earn Tottenham victory over bottom side Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
England fired the visitors in front after two minutes when she collected Grace Clinton’s searching pass, cut inside two players and rifled home left-footed into the near post.
Robert Vilahamn’s side should have won more comfortably but were guilty of missing a hatful of chances to put the result beyond doubt.
Celin Bizet twice went close in a matter of minutes, while Jessica Naz missed the target when well placed inside the area shortly before half-time.
In the second half, Drew Spence saw a stinging effort tipped over by Robins goalkeeper Fran Bentley, who was playing her first game since the opening weekend of the season after recovering from injury.
Substitute Wang Shuang also hit the bar with a header from Eveliina Summanen’s corner.
Tottenham remain sixth, but are now just three points behind Manchester United in fifth. Bristol City are six points adrift of safety after a 13th defeat from their 17 league games this season.
After flirting with relegation last season Tottenham look certain to improve on their ninth-place finish from 2022-23.
They also have an FA Cup semi-final against Leicester to look forward to next month.
Robins running out of time
Bristol City badly need to pick up points if they are to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
The Robins have endured a miserable season so far and set two more unhappy milestones after this latest defeat.
Lauren Smith’s side have now lost their last 11 WSL games, equalling the record set by Yeovil Town between 2017 and 2018.
They are also just the second team to lose their first eight home games of a campaign after Doncaster Rover Belles in 2016.
They did show spirit and resilience to recover from going a goal down so early, but the narrow scoreline was more down to poor Spurs finishing as they rarely troubled visiting goalkeeper Becky Spencer.
Despite their poor form City are not down yet, with 11th-placed West Ham still within reach.
But it will take a remarkable revival in form in their final five games if they are to survive, especially as they are still to play the top three of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Line-ups
Bristol City Women
Formation 5-4-1
1Bentley
2Powell5Aspin6Connolly3Struck24Morgan
9Hayles8Rodgers16Syme7Harrison
17Thestrup
- 1Bentley
- 2Powell
- 5Aspin
- 6Connolly
- 3StruckSubstituted forStratigakisat 43’minutes
- 24MorganSubstituted forBullat 67’minutes
- 9HaylesSubstituted forWardat 43’minutesBooked at 89mins
- 8Rodgers
- 16Syme
- 7HarrisonSubstituted forEvansat 67’minutes
- 17Thestrup
Substitutes
- 13Clark
- 15Bull
- 18Stratigakis
- 22Evans
- 29Ward
- 30Yañez
- 36Slocombe
- 37Durrant
- 39Kendall
Tottenham Women
Formation 4-3-3
22Spencer
29Neville4James-Turner21Bühler6Nildén
25Summanen24Spence8Clinton
7Naz9England14Bizet Ildhusøy
- 22Spencer
- 29Neville
- 4James-Turner
- 21Bühler
- 6 Nildén
- 25Summanen
- 24SpenceSubstituted forGrahamat 76’minutes
- 8ClintonSubstituted forAhtinenat 76’minutes
- 7NazSubstituted forVinbergat 62’minutes
- 9England
- 14Bizet IldhusøySubstituted forWangat 61’minutes
Substitutes
- 2Grant
- 10Brazil
- 11Petzelberger
- 13Vinberg
- 16 Graham
- 20 Gluttonous
- 23Ayane
- 27Heeps
- 77Wang
Referee:Phoebe Cross
Attendance:5,262
Live Text
Match ends, Bristol City Women 0, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1.
Second Half ends, Bristol City Women 0, Tottenham Hotspur Women 1.
Matilda Vinberg (Tottenham Hotspur Women) hits the left post with a left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left. Assisted by Wang Shuang.
Matilda Vinberg (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mari Ward (Bristol City Women).
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Matilda Vinberg is caught offside.
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Kit Graham is caught offside.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Megan Connolly.
Attempt saved. Matilda Vinberg (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kit Graham.
Foul by Kit Graham (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
Brooke Aspin (Bristol City Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Offside, Bristol City Women. Sarah Stratigakis is caught offside.
Mari Ward (Bristol City Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Eveliina Summanen (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mari Ward (Bristol City Women).
Attempt missed. Wang Shuang (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Amy Rodgers.
Attempt missed. Amalie Thestrup (Bristol City Women) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ella Powell.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Fran Bentley (Bristol City Women).
2024-03-24 16:28:09
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