:00:41. > :00:47.Good evening and welcome to the The Women's Football Show. It may be a
:00:48. > :00:52.summer league but stormy Easter weather had an impact on the WSL
:00:53. > :00:59.schedule this weekend. Rest assured that we still have plenty of action
:01:00. > :01:03.to get through tonight. With Chelsea's match postponed could
:01:04. > :01:09.Manchester City or Arsenal lay down and early market in the WSL one
:01:10. > :01:13.title race? We are with Reading as they face a Sunderland team who set
:01:14. > :01:20.the bar for newly promoted side last season. And we will also cast an eye
:01:21. > :01:29.on those battling it out for glory in WSL two. And I am joined by a
:01:30. > :01:32.couple of former England international is, Sue Smith and
:01:33. > :01:38.Rachel Brown-Finnis, good to see you both. We'll begin with double sides
:01:39. > :01:43.intent on challenging for the WSL one title again this year, just
:01:44. > :01:46.three points separated second placed Manchester City and third placed
:01:47. > :01:56.Arsenal last season. Just as inseparable in the commentary box,
:01:57. > :02:00.Lucy Ward and Adams at. Budget Adam Somerton.
:02:01. > :02:17.COMMENTATOR: It's another one for the collection!
:02:18. > :02:32.Beyond the goalkeeper and she has her debut goal! An early-season
:02:33. > :02:36.meeting between two of the WSL's big guns, no shortage of ambition and
:02:37. > :02:43.determination. Those Manchester City and Arsenal. The Manchester City
:02:44. > :02:46.squad stretched by injuries to Campbell, Walsh, and Isobel
:02:47. > :02:52.Christiansen. Not many rotation options available, they have picked
:02:53. > :02:57.an unchanged side including international is including six
:02:58. > :03:01.England players, the killer Sardar and Jane Ross both of season
:03:02. > :03:05.signings. Arsenal won in their opening game but have made three
:03:06. > :03:11.changes since, the experienced pair of Casey Stoney and Fara Williams
:03:12. > :03:13.are in along with the highly rated Dutch international Daniel of
:03:14. > :03:19.underdog. She's making her first start in the league.
:03:20. > :03:31.Mitchell. Lucy Bronze. Clearance hereby Mitchell. Steph Houghton
:03:32. > :03:42.sliding in and she goes down! On the edge of the area. McManus found
:03:43. > :03:47.herself and move the ball, such a strong runner, brought down a little
:03:48. > :03:52.late. And confirmation of the yellow card. Orton, the first time
:03:53. > :03:56.Manchester City have looked stretched at the back. Fara
:03:57. > :04:00.Williams, England's most capped player, got her 150th cap this
:04:01. > :04:05.month, what can she do from this free kick. Against Karen Bardsley.
:04:06. > :04:09.It's off the crossbar, fantastic effort. The closest we have come to
:04:10. > :04:19.the opening goal, so close for Arsenal. Really close to making that
:04:20. > :04:27.1-0 to Arsenal. Did they deserve it? Probably not. It is an excellent
:04:28. > :04:32.strike. They have played four times in the WSL, Manchester City and
:04:33. > :04:37.Arsenal. Referee has a big decision to make. It was right on the edge of
:04:38. > :04:41.the area, that challenge on Ross. It's a huge moment in the game with
:04:42. > :04:47.12 minutes gone, Gemma Rose came across to make the challenge. A
:04:48. > :04:52.challenge that she had to make. She wasn't offside, she just got in the
:04:53. > :04:55.right surgeon, Jane Ross was just out of position and the only thing
:04:56. > :05:00.she could do was bring her down. It's a letter of the law. She just
:05:01. > :05:08.got her body in the way, Jane Ross, brilliant, and that's a red card.
:05:09. > :05:12.It's Steph Houghton. Off the wall. She could not repeat the feat,
:05:13. > :05:16.having scored the winner from a set piece against Notts County on
:05:17. > :05:27.Wednesday. Goods defending by Emma Mitchell. -- good defending. Chain
:05:28. > :05:32.Ross again, she's found Bronze. A good ball into the area. Scott could
:05:33. > :05:41.not bring it under her spell but got a good touch to it. The left-back,
:05:42. > :05:53.Stokes. Tried to take sorry van dividend by surprise. It is a good
:05:54. > :05:56.save. -- Sari van Veenendaal. Carter has effectively been sacrificed, you
:05:57. > :05:59.can understand that shake of the head. She will be frustrated.
:06:00. > :06:12.Williamson comes on as the replacement.
:06:13. > :06:24.This is Oshoala. Van der Donk and support, what a wonderful move.
:06:25. > :06:31.Right at the end she showed too much of it to McManus, who really
:06:32. > :06:35.redeemed herself there. Scott is looking to turn and the goalkeeper
:06:36. > :06:43.has come a long way. That proved a wise decision. Really brave by Sari
:06:44. > :06:46.van Veenendaal. Exactly what is needed. Scott really causes
:06:47. > :07:00.problems, she goes up from beyond the strikers. Toni Duggan. Looks
:07:01. > :07:06.against the Asllani. It's a really good one. Nikita Parris! A fabulous
:07:07. > :07:11.save, great reflexes from Sari van Veenendaal. Thinks she should have
:07:12. > :07:24.scored but that is great goalkeeping. They have to use the
:07:25. > :07:31.pace of Toni Duggan. Williamson has pace as well. Toni Duggan. With Jane
:07:32. > :07:37.Ross arriving! Whatever Nisha! A brilliant way to open the scoring in
:07:38. > :07:42.this game! And it is her first, the first, just as city. The first real
:07:43. > :07:46.mistake that Arsenal have made with the back four. Duggan are just
:07:47. > :07:51.causing problems down the right. Williamson really needs to clear
:07:52. > :07:58.that. And Jane Ross, she deserves that. That's where she is the most
:07:59. > :08:17.dangerous, right in front of goal. It's Ross. Cut out by Williamson.
:08:18. > :08:22.Asllani! What save! At full stretch, Sari van Veenendaal has kept Arsenal
:08:23. > :08:28.in it. We were right behind that and it looked like it was going in all
:08:29. > :08:32.the way. Sari van Veenendaal is a really, really good goalkeeper and
:08:33. > :08:33.she has proved that time and again today, out of nowhere, that hand.
:08:34. > :08:56.Great goalkeeping. Nikita Parris going down, and it's
:08:57. > :09:01.going to be a penalty. Only just inside the area but a foul it was.
:09:02. > :09:10.And it will be an opportunity for Manchester City to double their lead
:09:11. > :09:14.from the spot. Dominique Janssen. She causes problems, as she has done
:09:15. > :09:19.all day, Toni Duggan. My first thought was that was outside the
:09:20. > :09:23.box, she landed inside the box, Nikita Parris but surely the first
:09:24. > :09:30.challenge by Dominique Janssen, she's outside the box? Toni Duggan.
:09:31. > :09:38.It's the responsibility the spot. So often, so reliable, will she be? She
:09:39. > :09:43.is! Hammered home by Toni Duggan. And Manchester City 00 the
:09:44. > :09:50.advantage. -- the double their advantage. Asllani made this really
:09:51. > :09:54.difficult for Manchester City. They were confident they could keep this
:09:55. > :09:59.goal as yet the sheer pressure from Manchester City made sure they got
:10:00. > :10:05.two goals. The red card was a key moment, what did you think? A great
:10:06. > :10:09.ball down the line, but Jane Ross in, it was a foul and the referee
:10:10. > :10:15.has the decision to make, he is the referee not me. I was just
:10:16. > :10:19.evaluating the action, and I just had the feeling that it was a very
:10:20. > :10:24.similar action. I don't know how the referee saw a yellow card and a red
:10:25. > :10:28.card different, that changed the game obviously. I haven't seen it,
:10:29. > :10:32.you'll have to watch it and make your own opinion, we will probably
:10:33. > :10:36.both be in the same situation, it is a long season and we are going to
:10:37. > :10:42.October now, I am sure I will be complaining in one of the games! How
:10:43. > :10:46.pleased are you for Jane Ross? Really pleased because attitude is
:10:47. > :10:53.exceptional, she wants to score and create the team, really pleased.
:10:54. > :10:59.Lets get your opinions. Gemma Rose, a blatant red card? Definitely.
:11:00. > :11:05.Great ball from Lucy Bronze, Gemma Rose number 14 pace but she finds
:11:06. > :11:10.herself given no option. She's got to either hold her line with the
:11:11. > :11:14.rest of the back unit of Arsenal, and play Jane Ross of side or else
:11:15. > :11:19.she must give herself a chance and drop five yards. She does mother.
:11:20. > :11:24.She gets caught in a race with Ross, clips her heels, and then we see the
:11:25. > :11:31.defenders away behind her, and from this next angle, her arms all over
:11:32. > :11:38.chain Ross and it is a clear foul -- she did neither. So it's a red card,
:11:39. > :11:44.the referee has no option. And Steph Houghton? Pedro said she should have
:11:45. > :11:49.gone for her challenge on Oshoala. Think it's quite different. It's a
:11:50. > :11:54.lovely ball in. McManus just gets caught on Oshoala. Steph Houghton
:11:55. > :11:58.makes that tackle. This cover, Stokes and McManus making that
:11:59. > :12:02.recovery run, a good ball initially, Oshoala taking that first touch,
:12:03. > :12:07.Steph Houghton makes the tackle and then you've got the two, so it's not
:12:08. > :12:12.a red card for me when you have to play has covered. There's been a lot
:12:13. > :12:16.of talk about Asllani, the Swedish international signed by Man City,
:12:17. > :12:23.she is impressive, yet how impressive when you with Ross? She's
:12:24. > :12:28.been the star signing for Man City. She shows good strength, palming
:12:29. > :12:33.away any players, and his speed, quick turn, absolutely burns cases
:12:34. > :12:38.Dhoni four pace. She is the player that the City players are looking
:12:39. > :12:42.for in a box. She put the ball and is back unit of area, what a dream
:12:43. > :12:49.debut this would have been for Asllani, had it not been for the
:12:50. > :12:54.save of the season, possibly, from Sari van Veenendaal. Absolutely full
:12:55. > :12:57.tilled save. But we see the goal, Jane Ross in the thick of the
:12:58. > :13:04.action, starts with Toni Duggan 's, pressing Williamson, should she have
:13:05. > :13:09.booted it into Row Z, she should. It shows a lack of experience, in an
:13:10. > :13:13.unfamiliar position. Toni Duggan's persistence pays off, chipped the
:13:14. > :13:20.ball in and what a finish from Ross. She doesn't even have to break
:13:21. > :13:25.stride on this. Jane Ross has lost her tracking midfielder runner, Fara
:13:26. > :13:29.Williams, and she gets three ward for an outstanding performance. And
:13:30. > :13:32.that controversial penalty decision, the foul on Nikita Parris, inside or
:13:33. > :13:55.outside the box, zero? -- zero? Length if I had to make a call I
:13:56. > :14:01.would say it is outside. I would say it is not a penalty. On that replay
:14:02. > :14:03.you can see Nikita Parris, good positive running, identical was a
:14:04. > :14:09.penalty but so difficult for officials to call that. We have seen
:14:10. > :14:14.the big three play now, Manchester City, Arsenal as well, and Chelsea.
:14:15. > :14:19.Anyone you can mark out this early on as favourites potentially?
:14:20. > :14:27.For me, City have shown they have goals in them, the front three of
:14:28. > :14:31.Duggan, Jane Ross and Nikita Parris are proving fruitful. As Lani behind
:14:32. > :14:38.them are good as well. It is difficult to pick between the
:14:39. > :14:44.three teams. They all like to play football which is good to see. We
:14:45. > :14:51.were on the end of a difficult result. It will be quite
:14:52. > :15:00.competitive. To the north-east where someone got their WSL1 campaign
:15:01. > :15:07.underway. Before the game just Crichton spent some time with the
:15:08. > :15:14.Royals at their team hotel. -- Jessica Creighton. Reading word WSL
:15:15. > :15:22.two champions losses and so they have earned their place at the top
:15:23. > :15:30.table. But maintaining their status in WSL1 will be tricky. COMMENTATOR:
:15:31. > :15:35.Sunderland's dream start to life in the WSL continues! Sunderland
:15:36. > :15:38.finished a surprising fourth in their debut season last year so were
:15:39. > :15:46.they the template Reading should be following? Sunderland, if you like,
:15:47. > :15:49.embraced the challenge, and they braced it well. They did not have
:15:50. > :15:55.any fear going into the season and we have definitely not cop that
:15:56. > :15:58.either. Our first aim is to stay up, we want to be in this league for
:15:59. > :16:02.many years to come, but what is not to say that we can't go out and beat
:16:03. > :16:09.big teams? We are going to fight for it. Arsenal was always going to be a
:16:10. > :16:12.tough ask, our first game of the season, but the more momentum we
:16:13. > :16:18.gain through the season I can't see why we can't compete against those
:16:19. > :16:27.teams. Initiation time for any new members of staff and Mary. A bit of
:16:28. > :16:34.light-heartedness and it brings people out of their shells. Staying
:16:35. > :16:38.in WSL1, first and foremost, and long-term? The club are really good
:16:39. > :16:44.and supportive of us. When we started in the WSL, our first aim
:16:45. > :16:49.was to build a squad and the team, the second year we were lucky enough
:16:50. > :16:53.to win the league, so we are on track. It is the case of the next
:16:54. > :16:56.five to ten years we won't be playing Champions League football
:16:57. > :17:02.and really pushing it. The club are really ambitious to want to do that.
:17:03. > :17:08.LAUGHTER What was that? Will you be
:17:09. > :17:09.auditioning for the Voice? Not quite yet, maybe this time next year I
:17:10. > :17:20.will give it a go. We are all friends, we know each
:17:21. > :17:26.other on and off the pitch really well. Just looking forward to the
:17:27. > :17:30.season really. What was going on with the initiations? It happens
:17:31. > :17:34.every year, I do think they know that, but I haven't done one yet.
:17:35. > :17:40.Don't tell them because I can't sing or dance. That is all that is about,
:17:41. > :17:41.having fun and then the serious work starts from the get across to
:17:42. > :17:54.Sunderland in a bit. How difficult is it to stay in the
:17:55. > :17:59.league in your debut season? Very hard, it is a case of making sure
:18:00. > :18:02.your squad stick together. You will go through some bad times, some good
:18:03. > :18:07.times but you have to make sure that as a group you stick together, and
:18:08. > :18:11.if you can do that, it goes a long way sometimes to having great
:18:12. > :18:28.players all good players. COMMENTATOR: Chaplain, able to rise
:18:29. > :18:31.the challenge of McGee. A fine save from Grace Maloney. Very unlucky,
:18:32. > :18:39.brought out a brilliant save goalkeeper. Won well by Furness. As
:18:40. > :18:46.the conditions begin to worsen, still Furness, and they header by
:18:47. > :18:52.Meade! Unlucky by Sunderland's star striker. Lois Roach over the free
:18:53. > :19:00.kick by Reading, and it is deflected and in! Reading are ahead, just
:19:01. > :19:07.before half-time. Sunderland about to pick it up now. I am sure Carlton
:19:08. > :19:11.Fairweather had words to say at half-time. Sunderland relied so
:19:12. > :19:21.heavily on their home form glasses on. Here is Chaplain. That is a good
:19:22. > :19:29.ball. Meade keeps her feet and will score. The WSL's leading goal-scorer
:19:30. > :19:30.last season is off the mark in 2016. Just the start that Sunderland
:19:31. > :19:47.needed. Game on. A great pass forward, looking for
:19:48. > :19:56.Beth Mead! Maloney makes the save! Seems like it was cleared off the
:19:57. > :20:00.line by Reading. Both teams really going for the victory here,
:20:01. > :20:08.Reading's turn to press now with Roche. Looking to work the
:20:09. > :20:16.opportunity to cross, and arriving at the post! That was their chance
:20:17. > :20:21.to go to one up. Kelly, you have your first points as a WSL1 outfit,
:20:22. > :20:25.you disappointed it is not free? Before the game I would have been
:20:26. > :20:28.happy with a point away from home, but I am disappointed over 90
:20:29. > :20:33.minutes not come away with the three tonight. Kelly Chambers clearly
:20:34. > :20:39.disappointed, getting a point and with that goal. Yes, I think they
:20:40. > :20:42.showed some real bright sparks, Reading. Some good chances to win
:20:43. > :20:47.the game, to get all three points from it. The goal that they do get,
:20:48. > :20:51.the equaliser Sunderland get, it is pretty scrappy. It is really the
:20:52. > :20:57.kind of making of a number of Reading errors. A miscue, a loose
:20:58. > :21:03.touch, and then broke chaplain says Beth Mead get in between the two
:21:04. > :21:08.centre halves. A mistimed challenge. I think Reading will feel a bit
:21:09. > :21:13.disgruntled they did not get all three points but they will certainly
:21:14. > :21:17.learn a lot. Reading's objectives, Champions League football within
:21:18. > :21:23.five years, is that realistic? Firstly it is just about competing
:21:24. > :21:27.at that level. It is something you have to look at how Sunderland
:21:28. > :21:31.performed. The fact they moved up by ever so well. It is just competing
:21:32. > :21:38.in this level at this point. How does that compare to your Doncaster?
:21:39. > :21:44.Also newly promoted. It is a similar thing, you need to have a good team
:21:45. > :21:49.spirit, going full-time will help. Like I say, it is a big step up from
:21:50. > :21:53.that WSL2 into this league. Both ourselves and Reading have felt that
:21:54. > :21:58.and you have to learn lessons quickly. What do you think about
:21:59. > :22:03.Carlton Fairweather's comments about team spirit being more important
:22:04. > :22:05.than good or great players? We saw that from Sunderland last season,
:22:06. > :22:10.the togetherness was there for everyone to see. They have Beth Mead
:22:11. > :22:14.as welcome top goal-scorer. Reading have definitely got that team
:22:15. > :22:17.spirit. I think Sunderland will be looking to build the season on a
:22:18. > :22:22.great season last year when they really pushed for the title towards
:22:23. > :22:26.the end. They don't have that advantage of being the unknown team
:22:27. > :22:37.any more, but I don't think nowadays any team is unknown. With the BT
:22:38. > :22:40.that teams get -- with the videos teams get before games, that unknown
:22:41. > :22:44.quantity doesn't exist any more. Where do you think Reading will
:22:45. > :22:49.finish, I know it is early. That is tough to say, they are a top team,
:22:50. > :22:52.physically very good, organised, they will definitely be mid-table, I
:22:53. > :22:56.think they will challenge with a lot of teams this year. Definitely
:22:57. > :23:01.tricky conditions for both Sunderland and Reading on Saturday
:23:02. > :23:04.evening. The weather also affected Monday's match between Chelsea and
:23:05. > :23:12.Liverpool, which was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch after heavy
:23:13. > :23:15.rainfall during the night. And Chelsea's fixture postponement means
:23:16. > :23:22.that Manchester City move above them in the table with that 2-0 victory
:23:23. > :23:26.over Arsenal. Still very, very early days, of course, and of course no
:23:27. > :23:27.WSL action now for around a month because of the international
:23:28. > :23:38.matches. As a player, how frustrating is that? It is
:23:39. > :23:41.difficult, because you have prepared, Daniel pre-season, played
:23:42. > :23:45.two games in the space of three or four days, then you have a massive
:23:46. > :23:51.break so you have to do a mini pre-season. That match fitness is so
:23:52. > :23:55.much different. It can be quite frustrating. For the fans as well.
:23:56. > :24:00.The teams don't get any momentum, not just on the pitch but commercial
:24:01. > :24:05.momentum. We want teams to be playing week in, week out, even if
:24:06. > :24:08.it is three games a week back-to-back. Fans want that and it
:24:09. > :24:13.generates that fan base we are desperately tried to build. I think
:24:14. > :24:16.the league needs to either expand, more teams to be in it, or four
:24:17. > :24:21.teams to at least play each other three times a season with a double
:24:22. > :24:23.of games across the season to grow. So more fixtures and consistency of
:24:24. > :24:29.fixtures. Yes, and I know fixtures are being considered with
:24:30. > :24:33.international fixtures, really having to be slotted in the those
:24:34. > :24:38.qualifying fixtures. I know it is a difficult job, but more games. Pros
:24:39. > :24:47.and cons of a winter league perhaps? The columns have got to be the fact
:24:48. > :24:51.that games get cold. And this is a summer league! The fact the
:24:52. > :24:57.Champions League and the time, there are lots of cons and pros for a
:24:58. > :24:59.winter league, but their want of the summer league so wouldn't compete
:25:00. > :25:03.with the men's game so we had more fans to watch, and that has
:25:04. > :25:06.happened. You see the amount of fans coming to games now were in the
:25:07. > :25:11.thousands, which has improved from seasons ago. There are a lot of
:25:12. > :25:18.pluses and minuses to both. We will sue what happens. WS two -- WSL2
:25:19. > :25:21.also takes a break until late in the month. Everton will be looking to
:25:22. > :25:26.achieve promotion back to the top flight this season and will need to
:25:27. > :25:30.show similar spirit that showed at Millwall on Sunday. The Toffees fell
:25:31. > :25:38.behind to this had five minutes into the second half. -- this header. And
:25:39. > :25:46.just a minute later, things got even worse for the visitors when Felicity
:25:47. > :25:54.Jones earned Millwall a penalty. For the Chelsea striker Ashley thinks
:25:55. > :26:02.converted. A goal was pulled back for Everton just before full-time.
:26:03. > :26:05.And then Simone McGill insured and dispense's side would return to
:26:06. > :26:13.Merseyside with a point. 2-2 the final score. That point leaves
:26:14. > :26:18.Everton level with Millwall and Bristol City on four points towards
:26:19. > :26:24.the top of the WSL2 table. Durham perhaps the surprise leaders of the
:26:25. > :26:26.early weeks of the new season. And the draw for the season's
:26:27. > :26:48.Continental Cup was made yesterday. Zug you have Sunderland, are you
:26:49. > :26:55.happy with that? No the fact it is a home draw is a positive. We have
:26:56. > :26:59.another WSL1 team, it will be a difficult game, we know that, we
:27:00. > :27:03.have played that many times. It will be a tough test but the fact we are
:27:04. > :27:08.at home means we are happy. Mark Sampson announced his squad for the
:27:09. > :27:13.upcoming Euro qualifiers. Any surprises, anyone you think should
:27:14. > :27:17.have been included? The likes of Beth Mead, top goal-scorer from last
:27:18. > :27:21.year and started well this season. The key to Paris as well knocking on
:27:22. > :27:32.the door, plenty of early contenders for -- Nikita Parris knocking on the
:27:33. > :27:36.door. It is great to see the ladies back in action and hopefully
:27:37. > :27:40.maintain their 100% qualifying record so far. What do you think the
:27:41. > :27:45.expectations the games, bearing in mind the standard of the opposition?
:27:46. > :27:48.They have got to win, the fact they have moved up to fourth in the
:27:49. > :27:52.world, they have played some of the top and competed. So, for me,
:27:53. > :27:54.without a doubt, they will want to win, and they will want good
:27:55. > :27:58.performances because the strength and the depth of that squad now,
:27:59. > :28:02.they are competing for places all the time. You will be able to see
:28:03. > :28:05.how the Lionesses get on in their European Championship qualifier with
:28:06. > :28:14.Belgium live on BBC Two, Friday eight April. Kick-off at Rotherham's
:28:15. > :28:17.New York stadium is at 7:55pm. Because of the international break
:28:18. > :28:25.it is a few weeks before we return with more WSL action on Monday 25th
:28:26. > :28:28.April. Thank you to Rachel and Sue. With Chelsea not in action,
:28:29. > :28:32.Manchester City move to the summit of the WSL1 table. How much of a
:28:33. > :28:37.danger Will they pose to the reigning champions? Goodbye for now.