11/02/2018 The Women's Football Show

Good evening. This weekend marks the

halfway stage of the WSL one season

and it looks like a two horse race

for the title. Coming up, Manchester

City aim to maintain their momentum

with victory over Liverpool. Any

slip-up from Manchester City could

see Chelsea edged into pole position

with a win at Birmingham. We are

keeping up with the curtains as

daughter, Lucy, aims to follow in

the footsteps of her father, Chris.

Safe hands in the studio this

evening, welcome to my guests. We

begin with Manchester City who are

back at the Academy Stadium this

afternoon for the first time in

eight games.

What a finish. Scores Axel super

goal.

So, could Manchester City preserve

their 100% home record in all

competitions this season when they

hosted Liverpool?

Our commentary

comes from Vicki Sparkes.

Manchester City do have injuries to

do it, no Steph Houghton or Karen

Bardsley. There are four changes

from their draw with Chelsea.

Liverpool are also missing players

and Siobhan Chamberlain and Casey

Stoney so 19-year-old goalkeeper,

Becky Flaherty, continues in goal.

Satara Murray comes in.

Jennifer Beattie, looking for the

run of Demi Stokes. Nadia Nadim is

in there. Abbie McManus, was looking

for Nadia Nadim again. Nadia Nadim,

looking danger is in these early

stages.

stages. Sophie Ingle's clearance

ricocheted right into the path of

Nikkita Parris. Manchester take the

lead and I don't think Nikita Parris

knew very much about that at all.

What an unlucky goal for Liverpool

to concede. Nikita Parris does

create it by closing down and Becky

Flaherty, scrambling. Can't reach

the ball before it rolls in.

Skipping past the

Skipping past the challenge of

Satara Murray.

Satara Murray. Nervously saved in

the end by Becky Flaherty, the

19-year-old. Perhaps mindful of the

early goal that crept in. Taking no

chances.

Breaks kindly for Nikita Parris,

against her England team-mate. Goes

down under the challenge of Caroline

Weir. It is a penalty to Manchester

City. Nikita Parris, the trickery

was too much in the end for

Liverpool. They make the challenge

and she wins the penalty. Izzy

Christiansen has scored five

penalties this season. Can she make

it six? Yes she can. Hi, into the

roof of the net.

roof of the net. She saved a penalty

in the last match against Arsenal.

Becky Flaherty, couldn't keep that

one out from Isobel Christiansen and

Manchester City have their second

goal. The penalty itself, not too

much apparent contact from Caroline

Weir, but not too many appeals from

her either, whether she felt by

going in she had given the referee

that decision to make.

that decision to make. England's top

scorer coming close to reducing the

deficit. Manchester City always

happy to go back and Bill from the

back. As they do with Keira Walsh.

Deflection, goes behind for a

corner.

corner. Claire Emslie with the

corner towards Nikita Parris. She

gets her second of the game.

Manchester City's third. She knew

about that one.

about that one. Her 11th of the

season in all competitions. Her

fifth in the league in nine

appearances, Nikita Parris is on

fire for Manchester City.

Nikita Parris, are on a hat-trick.

Putting Alex Greenwood under

pressure. Liverpool tidy up, but it

is back again by Manchester City.

Good block by Kate Longhurst, but

the ricochet takes the ball into the

Liverpool match. Becky Flaherty,

can't believe it. It is another goal

for Manchester City, another fortune

one, this time for Abbie McManus.

She doesn't know much about it. Kate

Longhurst's clearance, bounces into

her. 4-0 against Liverpool.

This shot wasn't too far away. It

will be a corner of Satara Murray.

Can Manchester City rubs salt in the

wounds of Liverpool?

Jans almost got on the end of that

header.

Proud of the players because

we have spoke a lot about areas we

need to improve and areas we think

we can make sure we are more

dominant. I think today we were,

from start to finish but we

controlled the opponent for 90

minutes. We played some good stuff,

builder was exceptionally good.

We

came here with a game plan and it

went out of the window after

seconds. It is disappointing but it

is something we will as a group. It

set us a mountain to climb after 30

seconds. You are down to a team that

hasn't lost here for a long time and

that wasn't part of the plan.

Didn't

even realise it gone in, I was

rubbing my face after it hit me.

Happy to get the win. She should be

happy, it was a comprehensive

victory for Manchester City. To say

it was a gift of an opener is an

understatement?

It is one back gets

worse every time you watch it. It is

really unfortunate. Becky Flaherty

in goal, she makes the decision to

play out.

play out. Sophie Ingle gets the

ball, she sees pressure and she

should have given it back to the

goalkeeper, but she doesn't she

tries to chip it over.

To be fair to

Liverpool, they have some injury

setbacks at their own. Up until

half-time it was still only 1-0?

Three international players missing

for Liverpool makes a massive

difference. The depth of the

Liverpool squad is a huge. Those

three I think made a massive

difference, absolutely. But they

were resolute in the second half.

Scott Rogers mentioned there was no

game plan, there was, just after

been fortunate first goal.

been fortunate first goal. They

didn't offer too much up front. They

forced Manchester City into

uncomfortable possession. They can

pass the ball sideways, inside and

backwards and force them down the

lines as well. It did give the likes

of Nikita Parris joy down the wide,

but they were happy to defend those

crosses from Nikita Parris and to

limit Manchester City to 50-50

aerial battles in the box. They did

a great job in that first half,

discount the unlucky first goal.

Technically and tactically, they

were set up very well in the first

half.

To be fair to them again it

was going pretty well up until the

disputable penalty decision. Was it

the right decision?

When Caroline

Weir goes to ground, you are making

it easy for the referee to make a

decision. Maybe she doesn't have the

defensive mentality, stay on your

feet and forced Nikita Parris to the

line and off the pitch. You don't

necessarily have to dive in. Nikkita

Parris skips past Alex Greenwood and

Alex Weir to ground.

As a

goalkeeper, you are looking at your

forward player which Caroline Weir

is, and saying, don't go to ground,

don't dive in. She made easy for the

referee. But Isobel Christiansen

dispatch the penalty very well and

why she is one of Manchester City's

top scorers this season.

Liverpool

have had two big defeats, including

the defeat to you and Arsenal. They

have their strengths, but they have

some frailties defensively as well?

You look at their defeat in midweek,

four goals and four goals a game.

Your gifting goals to Manchester

City and Arsenal midweek. This is a

set piece you can work on in

training. Alex Greenwood doesn't

even get up the ground to challenge

Nikkita Parris.

Six yards out,

standing job as a defender, you give

yourself no chance. Poor defending.

This one, I think is unfortunate.

The overrunning lap from Abbie

McManus is excellent. She gets into

an attacking position but again, it

is a calamitous way the ball ends up

in the back of the net.

It was, but

somebody shone from Manchester City,

we heard from her before, Nikita

Parris. She was involved in all four

goals, what kind of a season is she

having?

having?

She is having a fantastic

season. She has this potential, but

we are seeing a maturity. When do I

take my player and down the line,

but when do I have to come back out

and link up. We are seeing her grow.

Wright, a win for Manchester City,

but what of their title rivals

Chelsea? They travelled to

Birmingham on Saturday wanting to

maintain their unbeaten run in the

league.

COMMENTATOR: England international

Evan White.

Evan White. Onto Emma Foy less and

straight into the grateful arms of

Lindahl. Kirby winning possession

deep in Birmingham territory. Looks

pick

pick out Dunn. She does not miss

from there. A poacher's finish for

Fran Kirby. The England

international with her 14th of the

season. A move she started, Dunn

blocked and Kirby fired the ball

under the legs of Ann-Katrin Berger.

Birmingham with the high defensive

line and they have been caught out.

Fran Kirby. Took too long and the

chance is gone. Ji So-Yun winning

the ball in midfield and finds a

colleague in the form of Drew

Spence. Driving at the Birmingham

defence. Onto Kirby, saved by

Berger.

Williams into Chelsea territory down

the left flank,

the left flank, picking out Follis.

Shoot straight at Lindahl.

Shoot straight at Lindahl. Katie

Chapman, the captain, finds Crystal

Dunn. Looking for Cuthbert and slips

and Ji So-Yun, left footed. What a

strike! The South Korean with her

fifth of the season in all

competitions. What a sumptuous

strike it was, with the inside of

her left foot, over the top of the

Birmingham keeper. Ji So-Yun the

goal-scorer for Chelsea finds

Crystal Dunn. And finds Cuthbert.

Saved by the legs of Berger who

keeps it to two for Chelsea.

I'm

quite disappointed. Forget the

result, I am disappointed with the

performance that could have got a

better result. I think Chelsea with

their for the taking.

I am

disappointed overall. We were

terrific, I think we played well.

Got a couple and could have got a

couple more but the first half we

were dominant, play gets football. I

think their keeper

think their keeper kept them in it

in the first half.

STUDIO: Another impressive

performance from Chelsea but what

about that finish from Ji?

Her

technical ability is amazing. What

we are seeing from Ji, back at her

best. This topped off her

performance. She was outstanding. To

pick it out, top corner.

She is a

player who can do that. Asante

rejoining Chelsea and three clean

sheets. Were you surprised by her

appointment?

I would not say

surprise, she has worked at Arsenal

and Chelsea. I do not see her in her

prime. But she brings a calmness. We

have played with her in the national

team. She has a calm presence. When

I look at MSAs, she has been there

since 2012 and they last won the

double in 2015 -- Emma Hayes. I

wonder when the pressure will come

back on her, she needs to win

silverware with all the signings and

talented players.

We did see

silverware with all the signings and

talented players.

We did see the

return of Ann-Katrin Berger. What a

story from a human level. Surgery

for thyroid cancer and back at this

level.

And putting in a stunning

performance. From the football

community, to see what she has been

through and being vocal and open

about that. Her coach knows how she

has been determined to get back and

how hard she has worked to earn this

first start.

Three more games to

catch up on. Starting with Arsenal

who were looking to build on a

midweek

who were looking to build on a

midweek win at Liverpool with

victory over Yeovil Town.

COMMENTATOR: With Arsenal not beaten

in their last five matches it would

always be difficult for Yeovil and

with 37 minutes on the clock, Beth

Mead proved too much for the back

line and Danielle Carter finished

with her goal. Arsenal

with her goal. Arsenal came in with

consecutive wins. This time Beth

Mead picked the spot and made it

2-0.

2-0. O'Reilly caused havoc in the

final third. Arsenal's pace

continued to create openings. A

great opportunity to make it three

for Carter and she made no mistake.

Into the last ten minutes. Jordan

Nobbs testing with this fierce free

kick. Beth Mead was in the right

place at the right time to give

Arsenal a deserved 4-0 win.

It has

been a big week. It was a

professional job.

We got the job

done.

A wintry afternoon with the select

security stadium and Reading caught

cold after six minutes. A decisive

finish for her fifth goal of the

campaign. Reading won on penalties

when they met last month but Everton

looked bright from the outset. Chloe

Kelly refusing to let the attack

breakdown. Great tenacity and a

better strike for 2-0. It has been

three defeats and a draw for Reading

in 2018. Hope with this corner.

Rachel Furness halving the deficit.

After the break, another corner

caused problems and this time it was

Kelly's who forced a great save. The

second half saw good chances for

both sides. Brooke Chaplen's effort

beating the keeper but not the

inside of the post.

We have had too

many hard luck stories. We have

competed with the top teams but have

come away with a draw or losing by a

short margin but today we have won

and I think deservedly so. A

resolute second-half and outstanding

attacking play first half.

A nice

day.

COMMENTATOR: Bristol are struggling

at the wrong end of the table. A win

against Sunderland would put them

both level on points but on ten

minutes Bridget Galloway had enough

space to turn an early cross into

the game's opened up. Sunderland's

last game was a 13-0 drubbing but

they would not have it easy today.

Headed in by Lauren Hemp for the

equaliser. Sunderland's set pieces

cause problems. A couple of efforts

before a long-range effort forced a

fine save.

fine save. And before the hour,

another dead ball creating

difficulty in the Bristol area.

Nobody dealt with the free kick and

Bristol born Rachel Pitman made it

2-1. Another opportunity. Carla

Humphrey unlucky to see her effort

hit the bar. A memorable moment for

Sunderland's match-winner.

Delighted

for Rachel Pitman who has been on

the sideline with a nasty injury. It

is her hometown and her family was

here.

She got the winner.

STUDIO: That win moves Sunderland to

fifth. Arsenal remaining in touch.

You can set alerts on the BBC Sport

app. Doncaster winning at Durham.

Cementing their position at the top

of WSL 2 table.

Cementing their position at the top

of WSL 2 table. Interesting,

back-to-back wins for you this week.

Clean sheets. Let's get that in.

Ever the defender! What is life like

under the new coach Joe?

He is a

passionate coach and knows what a

job he has brought in to Arsenal. I

am pleased. Sometimes it is going

back to basics but we have young

players with a lot of talent but

they be back coaching and

organisation, patterns of play, and

Joe is giving them that. And we are

seeing Leah Williamson becoming more

aware of her positional awareness.

Beth Mead who can score, she has

more confidence in her play.

Danielle Carter is another.

I am

enjoying him at the moment. An

impressive win for your side Everton

over Reading. No relegation this

season. You confident they can

compete with the league becomes

professional?

Relegation may been

something people associate with

Everton but they have gained

momentum. They are a young squad who

have turned professional. It has

taken them some months to get up to

speed. They are a force to be

reckoned with.

As Rachel will

testify, goalkeepers are a unique

breed and hoping to follow in

Rachel's footsteps is a youngster, a

12-year-old wear football runs in

the family. We went to meet the

Kirklands.

When did you first playing? I don't

know, I was watching my dad on the

telly and I started. You were about

eight. I was not good when I was

eight. You were not interested. I

was more interested... Mum was a

dancer and I had her dancing

abilities. I did not know who to

choose.

Who to choose! It was not

one or the other!

I think I

preferred dance and then went more

to football.

Your dad put a bet on

you to play for England before you

were 30.

Have you done anything

similar?

I tried to get a bet on her

to play for England or Scotland. But

they did not get back and now she

has signed, there is probably not

much point. I will try to do it but

the odds will go down. My dad put it

on when I was 13 and he got 100-1.

If I had gone into the bookies, they

would have given us 1 million to

one!

Seeing me at 13!

What made you want to be a

goalkeeper?

From an early age we

found out I was accident prone. It

is because I was throwing myself

about everywhere. I forget how big I

was. I was really tall. I would walk

into walls. I would run downstairs

and fall down stairs. I went in goal

in school. We have a concrete

playground. At one point, I dived on

the floor, forgetting it was

concrete and from that point I

thought I think I want to be

goalkeeper. I was fearless, I threw

myself on the floor and quite

enjoyed it.

I do not know why! Do

your friends say anything, like your

dad is Chris Kirkland?

When I went

into the juniors I realised why

people came up to me, saying your

dad is Chris Kirkland. I said, yes,

I live with him.

I live with him.

COMMENTATOR: A good

save by Kirkland.

Does she have the

attributes to be a top keeper?

I

think so, she has worked hard. Shot

is probably -- shot stopping is

probably her best attribute. She has

a lot to do. Since she has gone to

Liverpool, they tried to get them

playing out from the back and it is

new and she knows she has to work

hard at that. What about the setup?

Always have been a Liverpool fan so

it was special when she signed.

But

the hard work begins now.

What is it

like a training? Exciting. I am in

the car and I am going to train with

Liverpool. At

Liverpool. At first I was amazed. I

am getting better at being good with

my feet because my dad said you have

to be good with your feet to be a

goalkeeper these days. What was the

best goalkeeper you have faced?

Probably the German goalkeeper who

has now retired. Nadine. She is

imposing. When you go up against

her, you do not know which way. She

is big? A bit scary. Schmeichel.

What type of goalkeeper are you? I

like shot stopping. What do you

think about female goalkeepers?

It

is the toughest position on the

pitch. Very unforgiving. One mistake

and it will be in the back of the

net and the good ones make fewer

mistakes. It is the desire to

improve. The will to train hard. You

will make mistakes and it is how you

respond.

You must be proud?

You must be proud?

Beyond proud.

What is so hard, she has done it

herself. She is following in her

dad's footsteps, but she has got the

talent. She has got to have it and

she has worked hard. I just hope it

can continue for her.

What is your

dream, do you want to play in an FA

Cup final at Wembley for Liverpool?

Is that your dream? Yes, I want to

play in the World Cup one day and I

want to play at Wembley and

everything as well.

Fantastic, shall

we go and have a little kick around.

This is the FA Cup final.

Get ready.

This is the winning penalty.

Quality. Absolute quality. This is

the big question, do you want to

represent England or Scotland? Oh

no, the pressure is on.

No offence

mum, but I will probably pick

England.

Lucy has new fans here at the show.

If you want to start playing

football like her, head over to the

get inspired website and find the

details about your nearest club. She

is lovely, it isn't she, in terms of

her attributes, Rachel, what are

your first impressions will she make

it into the goalkeeping union?

Maybe, absolutely. I wanted to be a

stuntwoman at school, diving around

the stairs, exactly what I love. She

is fearless. Talking doesn't seem to

be a problem, I don't know what her

dad is on about. We saw her penalty

save. My goodness. This is a great

start. Saving a penalty from an

international, England player. Sue

Smith, you can read her like a book,

her body is open is always going to

go to the left side. She has done

her homework. That is not the

goalkeeper does, they have a little

book when they look at top strikers.

Sue Smith isn't a prolific penalty

taker.

Left feet and penalties I

don't know what the stats are on

bad.

Chris Kirkland mentioned about

coaching the goalkeepers, has it

improved in terms of specialised

coaching in terms of the shot

stoppers?

I think it has improved. I

don't think it is consistently good

across all goods and centres of

excellence. You have got to look at

personality characteristics,

fearlessness, the capacity not to

worry about getting injured. The

capability to organise the back

line, you are a natural leader as a

goalkeeper. It is wonderful to have

the part way we do have now to the

centres of excellence, regular

coaching. From the ages of 12,

getting goalkeeping coaching a few

times a week, that is exactly what

we have always needed and hopefully

it will continue.

OK, speaking of

shot stoppers and England's

goalkeepers will be facing the best

forward lines, the lioness is, what

do expect from them in that and

do expect from them in that and --

the tournament?

As a player and a

goalkeeper, you want to test

yourself.

We take a bit of a break

now, in the meantime England travel

to America. You will have to see how

they get on against against France,

Germany and the USA live on the BBC.

Before that there is commentary on

Chelsea's Premier League clash with

West Brom on Monday night and on

Tuesday, Tottenham travel to Italy

for the Champions League. My thanks

of course took Alex and Rachel.

After 4-0 win over Liverpool, it is

a Manchester City slickers who lead

the way in WSL one. Goodbye for now.