2017: Manchester City v Birmingham City

:00:28. > :00:34.Welcome to Wembley. It's the third time the Women's FA Cup Final has

:00:35. > :00:40.been played at the National Stadium. On this occasion, it's a tale of two

:00:41. > :00:46.blue cities. Manchester City Women are the dominant force in the

:00:47. > :00:51.domestic game. WSL title winners 2016 and Champions League

:00:52. > :00:55.semifinalists this year. They are packed with international stars.

:00:56. > :00:59.Eight of them in the England squad, plus the World Player of the Year,

:01:00. > :01:04.Carli Lloyd, of the USA. But they've never been to the FA Cup final

:01:05. > :01:09.before. Birmingham City Ladies lifted this trophy in 2012 and beat

:01:10. > :01:13.the last two Wembley winners to get here. They drew at Man City in the

:01:14. > :01:18.lead ten days ago, and in Ellen White they have a striker playing in

:01:19. > :01:24.her fourth FA Cup final with a third different club. It's a new

:01:25. > :01:30.experience for the fans of both clubs, strolling up Wembley Way on

:01:31. > :01:34.Women's FA Cup Final day. The FA are expecting a record crowd, surpassing

:01:35. > :01:38.the 32,000 here last year. It promises to be quite the occasion

:01:39. > :01:48.and with me here at Wembley to enjoy it, two players who have lifted the

:01:49. > :01:52.FA Cup, Rachel as Everton goalkeeper in 2010, and Rachel Scott. Mark

:01:53. > :01:56.Sampson reached the FA Cup final twice, I'll give you credit, as the

:01:57. > :02:02.boss of Bristol Academy. Alex, you captained Arsenal to success here 12

:02:03. > :02:06.months ago. Why is it different playing here at Wembley, compared to

:02:07. > :02:09.other FA Cup finals? I suppose because when you start out as a kid,

:02:10. > :02:14.the dream is you want to play at Wembley, so to be able to go on and

:02:15. > :02:18.walk up those Wembley stares and lift the trophy is a dream come

:02:19. > :02:22.true. You've been in that many finals, we were trying to work out,

:02:23. > :02:28.what have we decided on? It's between ten and 11. You are showing

:02:29. > :02:32.off! Mark, seven of your players in the England squad are starting the

:02:33. > :02:36.Manchester City today, let's mention Ellen White playing for Birmingham.

:02:37. > :02:40.How important is it for your players to have experience of playing in

:02:41. > :02:44.these big occasions? It is important. Alex has plenty of

:02:45. > :02:47.experience by the sounds of it, but it's a big difference in as much as

:02:48. > :02:50.the goal is the same size and the pitches the same size, it's

:02:51. > :02:55.different with the crowd and the occasion. It will be interesting to

:02:56. > :02:58.see how Manchester City handle it, but in particular Birmingham. Ellen

:02:59. > :03:06.is the only experienced player on the bench. She will rise to the

:03:07. > :03:08.occasion. Are we underestimating Birmingham? We know Manchester City

:03:09. > :03:12.are the favourites, no one is disagreeing with that. There was a

:03:13. > :03:19.dress rehearsal ten days ago in the WSL Spring series and it finished in

:03:20. > :03:20.a draw. It's dangerous to underestimate Birmingham.

:03:21. > :03:26.Absolutely. I think Manchester City will have learned their lesson from

:03:27. > :03:30.last week, when they drew 1-1. Manchester City were breached, and

:03:31. > :03:35.they found it very difficult to penetrate Birmingham. Today will be

:03:36. > :03:38.a really tight affair. We will be watching the best female football in

:03:39. > :03:43.the world today, that's official. American Carli Lloyd is the current

:03:44. > :03:46.fever Player of the Year. Manchester City's Olympic and World Cup winner

:03:47. > :03:53.told Sue Smith it all started with hours of practice on a new Jersey

:03:54. > :03:57.field. For me, the foundation that was laid there was just playing with

:03:58. > :04:01.freedom, going to the park, playing with my friends, playing with boys,

:04:02. > :04:07.just living and breathing the game. That's ultimately what set me up to

:04:08. > :04:10.become the level that I am now. We've had stars before it being this

:04:11. > :04:17.game of course, but no one quite like Carli Lloyd. -- in the English

:04:18. > :04:24.game. For club and country, she made a sensational impact whenever she's

:04:25. > :04:30.called on, in New Jersey. In 2012, this was the start of belief. My

:04:31. > :04:38.story at that Olympics was very unknown before I left to come over

:04:39. > :04:43.to England, and the injury happened in the first game. I slid over, 16

:04:44. > :04:50.minutes in. After scoring two goals in that final, I have more belief in

:04:51. > :04:55.myself that I could get to become one of the best players in the

:04:56. > :05:00.world. The World Cup final, does it bring back any emotions, overriding

:05:01. > :05:04.emotions? Yes, it brings chills to my arm, still thinking about it. We

:05:05. > :05:09.did it on one of the biggest dangers. Everybody was watching. I

:05:10. > :05:12.remember after I hit the third goal, I just was standing there and I was

:05:13. > :05:16.waiting and waiting and waiting and when it went in, I was like, oh my

:05:17. > :05:19.god. COMMENTATOR:

:05:20. > :05:26.The long-range effort from Lloyd. Oh my goodness! I ran up to Hope and

:05:27. > :05:31.she had her arms around me, she was like, are you even human? We just

:05:32. > :05:36.started laughing. I am human but hard work pays off, for sure. There

:05:37. > :05:40.are some amazing, amazing players out there and I think that what I've

:05:41. > :05:46.tried to do as a player is become the most complete player. It's

:05:47. > :05:49.funny, because as I'm standing here in Manchester and part of this, you

:05:50. > :05:52.would never would have thought I'd have the opportunity to do this in

:05:53. > :05:56.women's football. Wembley is a special stadium for me. Now to be

:05:57. > :06:01.headed back there for the FA Cup final is truly an unbelievable

:06:02. > :06:06.moment. Hopefully after I leave there, we will be on the pitch.

:06:07. > :06:10.She's so impressive and a lot of the fans will be looking forward to

:06:11. > :06:14.seeing her. What will she bring to Manchester City today? Gosh, when

:06:15. > :06:19.she describes herself as the complete player, I'd agree with her.

:06:20. > :06:23.She can finish from distance, she is so strong on the ball, she can

:06:24. > :06:28.tackle, she is fantastic in the air. She really is phenomenal. Also

:06:29. > :06:32.bringing experience that Manchester City, I wouldn't say they are

:06:33. > :06:35.lacking, but that world-class experience and winning and winning

:06:36. > :06:39.Olympics, winning World Cups, that is something that is very hard to

:06:40. > :06:44.find, so to have her at Man City will be a huge plus to those goals

:06:45. > :06:48.in the dressing room. Alex, your ex-Arsenal team-mate, Ellen White,

:06:49. > :06:55.is starting today. How much of a difference will her firepower bring?

:06:56. > :06:57.A huge difference. She is a defender's worst nightmare, she

:06:58. > :07:01.never gives up no matter what. They will be looking for her today,

:07:02. > :07:10.Birmingham. I'm sure you remember her scoring at the 90th minute.

:07:11. > :07:14.Looking back at that, it was game over as Alex will remember. Ellen is

:07:15. > :07:18.an excellent player, one who always delivers. She will always bring that

:07:19. > :07:22.energy and intensity. I'm sure she'll bring that today, whatever

:07:23. > :07:27.position she ends up playing. The teams are in the tunnel. We are

:07:28. > :07:38.ready for the two Blues to go head-to-head. Birmingham Blues.

:07:39. > :07:49.Manchester Blues. Giant killers. Champions. Our first Wembley final.

:07:50. > :07:54.Let's talk about Meaghan Campbell next and those incredible long

:07:55. > :07:59.throws, very difficult to defend against. Yes, they are no longer a

:08:00. > :08:05.secret weapon. They used to be. You see the havoc they cause. Pretty

:08:06. > :08:09.much level with the penalty spot, it ends up almost, teams have to almost

:08:10. > :08:15.defend like a white free kick or even like a corner maybe, but they

:08:16. > :08:18.will know what to expect and expect they are solid defensive outfit that

:08:19. > :08:22.they will defend better than Reading did last week. Key players that you

:08:23. > :08:26.are looking up for today? I think on that note the Birmingham goalkeeper,

:08:27. > :08:29.she is excellent dealing with crosses and she has a big game

:08:30. > :08:33.today. Meaghan is clearly going to chuck the ball in the box and you

:08:34. > :08:40.can't look beyond Karli, playing off the front today will have a big

:08:41. > :08:43.impact today. Here we go, the 2017 FSC Women's FA Cup Final. To talk

:08:44. > :08:46.this through it, Sue Smith, twice a cup finalist with Leeds, and

:08:47. > :08:48.Jonathan Pearce. COMMENTATOR:

:08:49. > :08:55.Good afternoon, always a pleasure under privileged to be at Wembley,

:08:56. > :08:58.but any showpiece occasion and ASBOs players awaiting the tunnel I can

:08:59. > :09:02.tell you this is the biggest FA women's Cup Final of them all so

:09:03. > :09:05.far, and a lovely sunny day. Breezy, a sprinkling of rain earlier.

:09:06. > :09:09.Manchester City looking to complete that clean sweep of domestic

:09:10. > :09:14.trophies inside a calendar year, they've targeted at first FA Cup tie

:09:15. > :09:18.for the last six months. Star names down there, star billing, against

:09:19. > :09:23.Birmingham City, as you've heard, in their second final, having beaten

:09:24. > :09:28.Chelsea on penalties at Ashton Gate in 2012. They've lost just three of

:09:29. > :09:34.their last 24 matches in all. This is a rapidly developing Cup, so

:09:35. > :09:43.ignore them at your peril. As they walk out here to what is hoped to be

:09:44. > :09:46.a 40,000 crowd, the Dean is absolutely deafening, I can tell

:09:47. > :09:53.you, as we have the pyrotechnics, healthy support for Manchester City,

:09:54. > :09:58.of course Champions League semifinalists very much the top team

:09:59. > :10:01.in England right now. They really are and I think looking at this

:10:02. > :10:06.game, you think Birmingham are going in as underdogs, but I think their

:10:07. > :10:08.route to the final has been really difficult for them. Obviously

:10:09. > :10:11.beating Chelsea and Arsenal on the way. I think they'll be confident

:10:12. > :10:17.going into this game and I expect a really tight final. Well, they've

:10:18. > :10:22.got so many of the England internationals there, Mark Sampson

:10:23. > :10:26.as you heard is in the studio. He will be casting an eye over his Euro

:10:27. > :10:32.squad members for you, as the presentation party come out from the

:10:33. > :10:38.FA, Greg Clark and Sue Hough, Elaine are missed down there aren't the

:10:39. > :10:45.director from the sponsors, SSE, is down there as well. Steph Houghton

:10:46. > :10:51.is along the line of players. Her fourth final in the FA Cup. Won a

:10:52. > :11:01.couple with Arsenal. But actually another final, Leeds and Arsenal,

:11:02. > :11:05.you were there. Yes, we got beaten in that game and I think sometimes

:11:06. > :11:08.you do learn from those experiences. I spoke to Steph about that, she

:11:09. > :11:13.said she learned from losing more than winning. What's it like to be

:11:14. > :11:19.on the winning FA Cup final side, Sue? How many did you playing? I

:11:20. > :11:24.played a few cup finals and lost the ball, so thank you for bringing that

:11:25. > :11:27.up. More than I played but! We mustn't surrender mistake -- we

:11:28. > :11:32.mustn't underestimate Birmingham City, that's for sure. You think

:11:33. > :11:37.they are tough and durable, can they spring a surprise today? I don't see

:11:38. > :11:44.why not. Like you said, they are very strong, very resilient,

:11:45. > :11:49.difficult to break down at the back. I look at the Manchester City team

:11:50. > :11:51.and they are full of world-class players that can play in the bigger

:11:52. > :11:54.games and make something happen from defence to attack, so if they are on

:11:55. > :12:00.their game it's very difficult for Birmingham. They've got the quality,

:12:01. > :12:04.they signed good players, Ellen White, who can be key for them going

:12:05. > :12:12.forward. Great for the supporters to come down here and see their team in

:12:13. > :12:16.an FA Cup final. A record crowd, we believe. Manchester City, unbeaten

:12:17. > :12:21.in the last seven meetings between the two sides, in the competition

:12:22. > :12:31.that's been dominated by Arsenal over the years. They've been here 14

:12:32. > :12:37.times, in the last 13 finals. The Scottish side, Stuart and Thistle,

:12:38. > :12:48.in the first final, in 1971. The days have changed. # God save save

:12:49. > :12:57.our gracious Queen Tonge Long live our noble Queen

:12:58. > :13:08.# God save our Queen # Send her victorious

:13:09. > :13:22.# Happy and glorious # Long to reign over us

:13:23. > :13:26.# God Save The Queen #. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

:13:27. > :13:36.What a moment for Marc Skinner down there, for the Spring series the

:13:37. > :13:57.Birmingham coach, a licence holder. It's a reminder of the teams for

:13:58. > :14:02.you, Birmingham City have one change to the side that beat Chelsea.

:14:03. > :14:14.I think she will play just behind that front two. Rebecca Welch took

:14:15. > :14:22.the 2016 Continental Cup final between the two, she's the referee.

:14:23. > :14:25.Manchester City, that side contains the double world Footballer of the

:14:26. > :14:31.Year, Carli Lloyd, we've been talking about her, scored twice for

:14:32. > :14:36.the USA in the Olympic final. She went for a jog around the stadium

:14:37. > :14:39.this morning. Seven members of the European Championship squad, two

:14:40. > :14:43.surprises, Meaghan Campbell, the long throw expert is third --

:14:44. > :14:49.preferred at the back to Abbie McManus, who hasn't missed a minute

:14:50. > :14:53.so far. Toni Duggan will be heartbroken Lloyd will play higher

:14:54. > :15:01.up than she has been playing. Lawley signed from Birmingham in December.

:15:02. > :15:07.A big day for her, against her former side, so... It's always a big

:15:08. > :15:09.day, playing an FA Cup final live on TV at Wembley, but when you are

:15:10. > :15:13.playing against your old club it makes it that bit more special. She

:15:14. > :15:18.will be really up for this game and wanting to show just how much she's

:15:19. > :15:31.maybe improved, going on to Manchester City.

:15:32. > :15:41.Manchester City, their route to the final Reading at home. Bristol City

:15:42. > :15:47.away. And Liverpool at home in the semifinal.

:15:48. > :15:52.With a goal by Lawley. Here is Steph Houghton, chosen by

:15:53. > :15:58.the national coach to be manager because of her ambition, because of

:15:59. > :16:01.her drive, because of her sheer determination to lead players

:16:02. > :16:08.through difficult tasks. She leads by example. She's developed in that

:16:09. > :16:11.role so much and she's been a really good captain for both club and

:16:12. > :16:26.country and all the players that play alongside her speak highly of

:16:27. > :16:29.her. A quick word for Kerys Harrop. Another leader, probably doesn't get

:16:30. > :16:35.as much credit as she deserves. We will see what a good defender she is

:16:36. > :16:39.today. We did the World Cup final in Vancouver. To be honest, I think

:16:40. > :16:42.they would have put up a better showing of Japan. In the first 16

:16:43. > :16:47.minutes they were blown away. That was the player out there who did the

:16:48. > :16:52.damage. She really did, Carli Lloyd was outstanding that day. It's a

:16:53. > :16:55.game for her, a big player, and that's exactly what she can do. We

:16:56. > :17:02.have seen how good she was in that final. Here we go, the SSE Women's

:17:03. > :17:06.FA Cup final. Manchester City against Birmingham City in the dark

:17:07. > :17:10.blue. Manchester City kicking from right-to-left frshgs the East End of

:17:11. > :17:14.the stadium, to the west. The Birmingham City fans behind the goal

:17:15. > :17:23.away to the left-hand side of your screen.

:17:24. > :17:29.Safely back to the goalkeeper. One of the many reasons why we can point

:17:30. > :17:35.to the fact that Birmingham City are very much an up Wardley mobile side,

:17:36. > :17:43.because of the quality of the players they're bringing in. You can

:17:44. > :17:54.see it's a little deeper there. Mayling loses possession.

:17:55. > :18:06.A slight change to that back three in the way we thought they might run

:18:07. > :18:09.it. Sargeant is further to the right. Mannion is in the middle and

:18:10. > :18:47.Harrop is to the left of the three. No quality on the final ball. That's

:18:48. > :18:50.exactly what Manchester City are going to try to do. With Birmingham

:18:51. > :18:56.playing three at the back they're going to look to get out wide in

:18:57. > :19:01.those spaces. Lucy Bronze loves to get forward. Sometimes she's the

:19:02. > :19:04.best attacking player. Didn't really have the quality there on the final

:19:05. > :19:08.ball in. Lucy Bronze PFA Player of the Year

:19:09. > :19:13.Father a second time. You spoke to her recently about that award. I

:19:14. > :19:15.did. Really well deserved. What's so good about Lucy Bronze, I don't

:19:16. > :19:35.think she realises how good she is. Carli Lloyd. Surrounded by forward

:19:36. > :19:43.blue shirts. Back towards Demi Stokes.

:19:44. > :19:49.Mannion. Local girl to Birmingham City, playing in Solihull.

:19:50. > :19:55.Very familiar looking Manchester City defence, if you are an England

:19:56. > :20:00.follower. Bardsley in goal. Bronze and Stokes in there. Bronze,

:20:01. > :20:06.Houghton and Stokes all from the north-east.

:20:07. > :20:09.Mannion scored against Manchester City back in October in a league

:20:10. > :20:51.game. May well have come off Lucy Bronze.

:20:52. > :20:56.Indeed it did. Good pressure on Bronze there. Very quick Ayisi for

:20:57. > :20:59.Birmingham City. They look to run the channels. He willine White will

:21:00. > :21:02.obviously be the deeper player and will want to get on the ball but

:21:03. > :21:17.they'll use the pace of both Brazil. Good defending by Lucy Bronze who

:21:18. > :21:20.does a good job in the air in both penalty areas.

:21:21. > :21:34.She was fouled anyway. The referee has officiated here

:21:35. > :21:47.before, but not actually out in the middle.

:21:48. > :21:57.Here is Harrop. Looking for White. That's punched

:21:58. > :22:02.away. That's not a bad ball into the box. From a deep position it was a

:22:03. > :22:12.good run forward. From a decent player.

:22:13. > :22:24.Decent start to the game. Here is Sargeant. Mannion seeing a

:22:25. > :22:41.lot of the ball. Cut out there by Keira Walsh. She

:22:42. > :22:44.protects the back four, breaks up play very well. An important role in

:22:45. > :22:52.the run to the Champions League semifinals.

:22:53. > :22:54.That's a decent ball. Blocked by... Wonder if they choose the wrong

:22:55. > :22:59.option. Should have come to the left side. You are right, that's where

:23:00. > :23:03.the option was. Christiansen wanted to play it down to the right to

:23:04. > :23:11.Parris but the option was better down this left side. Manchester City

:23:12. > :23:19.beaten by Lyon in the Champions League semifinals. Despite Lloyd's

:23:20. > :23:22.goal in the return leg when they won 1-0, that first leg deficit of 3-1

:23:23. > :23:26.was too much. White couldn't keep that in. The

:23:27. > :23:30.family here watching today. We have had a chat with them. Bumped into

:23:31. > :23:36.them around the world watching England, they're great travellers.

:23:37. > :23:41.They go to every game of Ellen White's. They're probably more

:23:42. > :23:46.nervous than Ellen. Her mum was saying how scared she was and how

:23:47. > :23:51.she had a nervous stomach and Ellen takes everything in her stride. Here

:23:52. > :23:57.is Ayisi. An error. She got the shot away. It's a little bit of a nervy

:23:58. > :24:01.error at the back there for Manchester City. By Campbell.

:24:02. > :24:09.Straightaway you could see Ayisi is on to that and wants to take a shot

:24:10. > :24:13.and test Karen Bardsley. I am sure that's what Marc Skinner will have

:24:14. > :24:16.said. They have a bit of a history, they were sent off after a nasty

:24:17. > :24:22.tussle back in the early months of 2015.

:24:23. > :24:35.A few fists thrown. Both of them banned.

:24:36. > :24:54.Tucked away for Manchester City throw.

:24:55. > :24:58.Stokes, good run from her. Progressive ball back. Loves to get

:24:59. > :25:02.forward on the run. Here is Lucy Bronze.

:25:03. > :25:15.Back into the middle. Lloyd is at the far post. Headed back across

:25:16. > :25:20.goal. Claimed by Berger. Interested her thoughts on joining

:25:21. > :25:25.Birmingham City, the experienced goalkeeper. Their vision convinced

:25:26. > :25:31.me she says, it's very much a club building progressively, Birmingham

:25:32. > :25:34.City. They are. You can see that by the players they've brought in and

:25:35. > :25:38.how they're improving every game, every game I see they seem to be

:25:39. > :25:43.improving and she's a massive part of that. She's been outstanding in a

:25:44. > :25:48.games I have watched, without a doubt one of the best goalkeepers in

:25:49. > :26:07.the WSL. It builds confidence when you have a good keeper behind you.

:26:08. > :26:18.Notts County went out of business before the series. England keeper

:26:19. > :26:23.born in Santa Monica, California. I believe her family are from the

:26:24. > :26:29.Manchester area, Stockport I think. You are right, they are. It was an

:26:30. > :26:42.easy decision when she came to Manchester.

:26:43. > :26:52.Christiansen is like a mini Steph Houghton out there I think,

:26:53. > :26:58.lookalikes. Done well. That's a dangerous cross in. Looking for one

:26:59. > :27:05.of the most popular players in the game, Jill Scott. It was a good ball

:27:06. > :27:08.in. Fantastic defending from Harrop. When you know you have players like

:27:09. > :27:11.Jill Scott and Carli Lloyd who are good in the air you have to get the

:27:12. > :27:16.ball in the box. Good delivery, they'll get on the end of it. A

:27:17. > :27:26.winner in 2010, Everton against Arsenal, Jill Scott. That was played

:27:27. > :27:28.at the Nottingham Forest ground. Having the final at Wembley really

:27:29. > :27:33.has made a difference for the Cup final. Christiansen will take the

:27:34. > :27:41.corner kick. That's a good claim by Berger. Came

:27:42. > :27:47.a long way and got there. Very convincing.

:27:48. > :28:08.Quick release, as well. Back towards Sarah Mayling.

:28:09. > :28:17.The pain of losing a final, she was in the continental Cup when the

:28:18. > :28:25.Lincoln Notts team were beaten by Arsenal back in 2013.

:28:26. > :28:35.Two coaches today watching on. Nick Cushing.

:28:36. > :28:46.Appointed in... Another A licence holder. Level-headed.

:28:47. > :29:06.Campbell's throws are a serious weapon. First appearance in the Cup

:29:07. > :29:14.run this season, Meaghan Campbell. Towards Parris.

:29:15. > :29:50.Kept her eye on the ball. Got her body shape right. A good tackle.

:29:51. > :29:57.In the European squad for 2017, Stokes. Suffered the heartache of

:29:58. > :30:03.missing out on Canada and the World Cup finals.

:30:04. > :30:07.Good pressure. A World Cup winner and double

:30:08. > :30:16.Olympic champion. She knows how to work, Carli Lloyd. What was she like

:30:17. > :30:18.when you met her? Nice, professional, typical American,

:30:19. > :30:24.driven, works hard on and off the field. Wants to get better, despite

:30:25. > :30:27.winning all these trophies and individual awards, she still wants

:30:28. > :30:30.more. She wants that drive. That's really going to help Manchester City

:30:31. > :30:33.to have a player like that on their team. She spoke highly of you as

:30:34. > :30:46.well. She paid me for that! Ellen White, a deserving player,

:30:47. > :30:49.isn't she? She's had two or three bad knee injuries, certainly a

:30:50. > :30:56.couple in the last two or three years. She missed the whole of 2014.

:30:57. > :31:01.She has struggled with injuries, unfortunately. She's a top, top

:31:02. > :31:04.player, a true professional. She works so hard, somebody you want in

:31:05. > :31:14.your team, because you know she will make defenders' life a misery.

:31:15. > :31:24.Brazil has got the pace. To trouble Manchester City defence. Haven't won

:31:25. > :31:30.any of the last four games, unless you include a penalty shoot-out

:31:31. > :31:37.against Chelsea, as a victory. They won their opening three games of the

:31:38. > :31:44.Spring Series, Birmingham, this team are by far the more fluent

:31:45. > :31:56.goal-scorers. 15 goals this season, six in the last two. This is Parris.

:31:57. > :32:02.What a bubbly character she can be. Every time she gets the ball, her

:32:03. > :32:11.first touches forward. She wants to drive at defenders and their life a

:32:12. > :32:16.misery. In the sixth round away up distal city, future European

:32:17. > :32:18.champions, Bristol City. One can dream. The trouble is the dream has

:32:19. > :32:28.gone on too long without realisation. Maybe one day. I bob in

:32:29. > :32:35.one day. Goodness me, that hit the side netting and Megan Campbell got

:32:36. > :32:38.in there. Looks like a corner, something they'd worked on in

:32:39. > :32:43.training. Just a little flick round the corner, it was actually unlucky,

:32:44. > :32:47.to hit the side netting there. Known for her long throws, but she could

:32:48. > :33:00.score the opener at Wembley. I think she'd be known for something else.

:33:01. > :33:18.Carli Lloyd, is a USA international. 237 international appearances, if

:33:19. > :33:25.you include Olympic Games though, maybe gives a realistic air to that,

:33:26. > :33:37.but anyway. Paige Williams, a Liverpool girl. She was also at

:33:38. > :33:39.Everton for the 2010 final. She wasn't in the first team.

:33:40. > :33:57.INAUDIBLE This will be taken left footed.

:33:58. > :34:00.Steph Houghton in there and Lucy Bronze to attack the space, a little

:34:01. > :34:06.touch could send this in. Bronze starts that run in there, aimed

:34:07. > :34:10.towards Lucy Bronze. That's the next Mac Manchester City lead Birmingham

:34:11. > :34:15.by 1-0, in the 20 17th Cup Final. The minute free kick was set up, the

:34:16. > :34:18.way Birmingham set themselves up defensively on the way that Bronze

:34:19. > :34:24.and Houghton set themselves up to have the run, you thought it was

:34:25. > :34:28.going to go in. Lucy Bronze. It was a fantastic delivery. We spoken of

:34:29. > :34:32.their set pieces on throw-in is. What a ball that is, whipped in with

:34:33. > :34:38.so much pace, and Lucy Bronze does what she does. She gets in front of

:34:39. > :34:43.the defender. Defensively Kerys Houghton will be disappointed, she's

:34:44. > :34:47.put all her effort in there, but Lucy Bronze, a top, top header.

:34:48. > :34:51.She's another big player that can step up to the occasion. It's all

:34:52. > :34:56.about the delivery. Scored the goal that beat burning in the Continental

:34:57. > :35:00.Cup final and puts Manchester City ahead against the same opponents.

:35:01. > :35:09.She was a very young girl on the Sunderland team, beaten in the Cup

:35:10. > :35:12.Final by Arsenal in 2009. The PFA Footballer of the Year puts

:35:13. > :35:19.Manchester City one up. The next five minutes for Birmingham City are

:35:20. > :35:24.absolutely crucial. They need to manage, Sue, the next five. Yes,

:35:25. > :35:28.this is the most difficult part of the game. Obviously when you first

:35:29. > :35:33.start you want to get that good touching, but also when you can see

:35:34. > :35:36.the goal and it's a long way to go, they need to consolidate, get back

:35:37. > :35:45.into their shape and make sure that Manchester City don't score again

:35:46. > :35:49.quickly. Here's Bronze. Interesting talking to various managers and

:35:50. > :35:55.coaches over the years, how they do chunk again, they call it, some of

:35:56. > :36:01.them, they set out to manage various spells of the game. Some say digging

:36:02. > :36:09.when you have conceded a goal, some say, with Ruud Gullit, and Inter

:36:10. > :36:14.Milan, their mantra was, once you scored one, score three. For

:36:15. > :36:17.Manchester City, they need to concentrate, they say you are most

:36:18. > :36:28.vulnerable after you have just scored. A lot of 50-50s and so far

:36:29. > :36:33.Keira Walsh is playing very well for Manchester City, holding midfield

:36:34. > :36:37.role. They are just sitting there, it allows both full-backs to get

:36:38. > :36:44.forward. Demi Stokes and Lucy Bronze on the other side. Another attacking

:36:45. > :36:53.option. They've scored in 28 games in a row, Birmingham.

:36:54. > :37:10.The pace of the game... INAUDIBLE

:37:11. > :38:03.Mayling is from the Sutton Coldfield area of Birmingham.

:38:04. > :38:27.Optimistic from them. The youngster, only 19, Sarah Mayling.

:38:28. > :38:36.It's never a good thing if you are a Scrooge like character like me. The

:38:37. > :38:42.glorious occasion at Wembley. Great to work with Sue Smith the game. --

:38:43. > :39:03.again. Good pressure by Manchester City.

:39:04. > :39:08.They've got all the facilities, though, haven't they? In that

:39:09. > :39:12.wonderful Academy Stadium, one of the fittest looking WSL teams I've

:39:13. > :39:15.seen. The facilities are outstanding. They just treat them

:39:16. > :39:20.exactly the same as they do the men's team, so they eat in the same

:39:21. > :39:31.places, they obviously train at the Man City academy. Speak to the girls

:39:32. > :39:33.and they say, we probably couldn't go to any other club because they

:39:34. > :39:35.get treated so well. That's why they can attract world players of the

:39:36. > :39:50.year, like Carli Lloyd. Here's one for you, no pressure,

:39:51. > :39:54.because he's listening in, but was he right to name the squad so early

:39:55. > :39:58.for the European Championships? It gives them a chance, of course, to

:39:59. > :40:02.get prepared mentally, as a group, as the unit. Yes, I'm sure he'd

:40:03. > :40:09.answer the question better than I do. The reason for him naming it so

:40:10. > :40:12.early, I think quite a few were surprised because all of the squads

:40:13. > :40:15.I've been in it's never happened before but the fact he can get it

:40:16. > :40:18.squad together early and work on that sort of what he needs to work

:40:19. > :40:22.on really and create that good atmosphere that we've seen in

:40:23. > :40:30.Canada. A wonderful atmosphere it was, real bonding between

:40:31. > :40:33.management, players, supporters, media and one of the best I've

:40:34. > :40:40.experienced in my long time in the game. He is Birmingham with a free

:40:41. > :40:49.kick. It will be Paige Williams who will take it.

:40:50. > :41:10.Paige Williams, obviously went to Italy to try and develop a game and

:41:11. > :41:17.I certainly think she's come back a better player. A very good left

:41:18. > :41:22.foot. Birmingham's side has kept a clean sheet in the last four finals.

:41:23. > :41:28.Manchester City one up at the moment, a lapse of concentration

:41:29. > :41:34.there by Lucy Lawler. Manchester City I know they won the game 3-0,

:41:35. > :41:39.but they had to play in the WSL and won at Bristol in the week. They

:41:40. > :41:42.did, and I think to play away as well as Bristol, so they were

:41:43. > :41:48.travelling, they've got back to contend with. Here's Lucy Bronze for

:41:49. > :41:53.them. It's two! Izzy Christiansen arriving, but it's a lovely goals

:41:54. > :41:59.and Manchester City very much in the driving seat. 25 minutes gone in the

:42:00. > :42:06.2017 women's Cup Final, Manchester City goat 2-0 up against Birmingham

:42:07. > :42:10.City. The goal-scorer turned provider. Sometimes she's Manchester

:42:11. > :42:14.City's best attacking player. Good pressure, wins the ball back. Her

:42:15. > :42:19.first thought is to drive forward. She's looking up, where is my

:42:20. > :42:22.option, and her option is coming in. Izzy Christiansen comes running in,

:42:23. > :42:27.that late run into the box. She times her runs so, so well. Lovely

:42:28. > :42:39.delivery. What a finish from Izzy Christiansen. It's a long way back

:42:40. > :42:41.for Birmingham now. Former Birmingham City player, a player who

:42:42. > :42:43.watched from the bench in 2012 final, when they beat Chelsea.

:42:44. > :42:45.Scores against her old team. Manchester City are in a dominant

:42:46. > :42:49.position now. That's a difficult technique, as the ball is bouncing

:42:50. > :42:55.up its easy to lean back and hit that over the bar. Gets her head

:42:56. > :43:01.over it. Lovely break, lovely cross, super finish. Really good goal.

:43:02. > :43:13.They came with a game plan, Birmingham. Kept it very, very

:43:14. > :43:19.close, under wraps in the week. No leaks of the way they were going to

:43:20. > :43:26.play. But what is plan B? Jill Scott wins that one.

:43:27. > :43:32.Manchester City have it again, Keira Walsh just mopped up anything that

:43:33. > :43:37.has been losing there. Gets it back again from Stokes. Steph Houghton

:43:38. > :43:44.has crept into a bit of space. Very close to the edge of the

:43:45. > :44:05.penalty area, Ann-Katrin Berger. Good work again by Izzy

:44:06. > :44:10.Christiansen, covering that. It's just a little bit laboured thereby

:44:11. > :44:15.Ayisi. Need to take a touch out of her feet and even have a go, have a

:44:16. > :44:18.go at goal, but Izzy Christiansen very sharp, alert to any sort of

:44:19. > :44:21.situation. She's also got the engine to get forward and score the goal

:44:22. > :44:36.we've just seen. She's settled down a bit, Campbell.

:44:37. > :44:47.Bronze, very, very comfortable and confident.

:44:48. > :44:57.Parris, stayed out wide, but has to Jill Scott will work here, the

:44:58. > :45:30.Birmingham City coach. Birmingham at the moment can't cope

:45:31. > :45:36.with Manchester City's movement and the way they're interchanging in

:45:37. > :45:44.positions. It's difficult for them to mark the players. This

:45:45. > :45:49.competition' changed so much since its inception back in 1977.

:45:50. > :45:58.Southampton won five of the first six of them. The FA took direct

:45:59. > :46:03.control over women's football in 93. Here is Ayisi for Birmingham City.

:46:04. > :46:15.Out comes a confident Karen Bardsley.

:46:16. > :46:21.Ayisi did well. They needs to get into those channels and drive at

:46:22. > :46:29.players and try and get the ball into the box and hope somebody's

:46:30. > :46:34.going to be in there whether it's White or Brazil. Bardsley is always

:46:35. > :46:40.going to come out and collect easily. 5'11", Karen. That's tall

:46:41. > :46:49.for the women's game. Jill Scott of course the tallest out there.

:46:50. > :46:59.Crouchy is her nickname. It is. They say she is a joker on the team bus

:47:00. > :47:05.and the dressing room. She's all pulling out a few dance moves.

:47:06. > :47:15.You did it when you were in the England shirt on the pitch. Twinkle

:47:16. > :47:23.toes! Not got the moves of Jill Scott, though. Some of us never had

:47:24. > :47:29.them. Good timing on the pass. Now Lawley.

:47:30. > :47:34.Being chased. Gets a shot away and Berger makes sure it goes wide.

:47:35. > :47:37.It's another really fast break from Manchester City. They are looking to

:47:38. > :47:46.get the ball out wide at every opportunity. You can see the

:47:47. > :47:51.wingbacks trying to get back. Sargeants it difficult. Wonder if

:47:52. > :47:57.Carli Lloyd thinks she could have maybe crossed that. You have to have

:47:58. > :48:03.a go when you are running in there. Got a goal against Liverpool in the

:48:04. > :48:08.semifinal, Lawley. Christiansen's corner kick.

:48:09. > :48:16.Back sensibly to Campbell. That's a lovely delivery to the back stick.

:48:17. > :48:21.And it's three! It's Carli Lloyd! Olympic finals.

:48:22. > :48:27.World Cup final. And now the FA Cup final. The big game scorer. The

:48:28. > :48:31.world's best player. Carli Lloyd, surely puts the FA Cup final beyond

:48:32. > :48:35.Birmingham with 31 minutes played. Birmingham can't cope with the

:48:36. > :48:43.delivery into the box. It comes out. Christiansen plays the ball out.

:48:44. > :48:47.This is a lovely deep delivery. Carli Lloyd outjumps Berger in the

:48:48. > :48:51.goal. Good header. They've such quality in the box. Poor defending

:48:52. > :48:55.from Birmingham. White is there with two players. You have got to pick up

:48:56. > :49:00.those players when you know how good they are in the air. You know that

:49:01. > :49:05.Manchester City are going to get the ball into the box, you have to get

:49:06. > :49:09.players up. They've had a sort of a gathering, the Birmingham City

:49:10. > :49:14.players, to try to sort themselves out and they very much need to sort

:49:15. > :49:23.themselves out. Southampton hold the record for the biggest ever victory,

:49:24. > :49:26.8-2 over QPR in 1978. Pat Chapman scored six that day. One of the

:49:27. > :49:31.forerunners of the English women's game. At the moment you fear a

:49:32. > :49:34.drubbing for Birmingham City. Might not reach those proportions

:49:35. > :49:39.especially if Carter digs in like she did just there and wins the ball

:49:40. > :49:43.back. But it's been a horrible, horrible opening 32 minutes for

:49:44. > :49:49.Birmingham City. I think sometimes you have to play the occasion, as

:49:50. > :49:53.well. It just looks like Birmingham, the only real experience they've

:49:54. > :49:58.got, they've got the goalkeeper Berger. White really needs to pull

:49:59. > :50:02.those players together now. It's difficult, when you are 3-0 down

:50:03. > :50:14.after 30 minutes they need to dig in, exactly what you said. Has the

:50:15. > :50:19.occasion got to some players? Should the keeper have got the cross?

:50:20. > :50:23.You have to always say the goalkeeper has to beat the centre

:50:24. > :50:29.forward coming in. So, yes, definitely should have done better.

:50:30. > :50:32.I think also defensively Ellen White was left with Houghton and Carli

:50:33. > :50:40.Lloyd. Got to be able to pick up players. You can see it again.

:50:41. > :50:44.That's a brilliant delivery. Yes, goalkeeper has to at least get a

:50:45. > :50:47.punch on it. It was a late whip on the ball. As she came out it started

:50:48. > :50:52.drifting further away. It was a brilliant cross in. Yeah. You can't

:50:53. > :50:56.really take anything away from that delivery. It's too fantastic - it's

:50:57. > :51:04.two fantastic deliveries from her. Lawley again.

:51:05. > :51:09.Looking for Scott. Dispossessed in there by Hegerberg. The game largely

:51:10. > :51:12.has by-passed a player scribed as one of the best in Europe. A

:51:13. > :51:21.wonderful addition to the team according to the previous manager of

:51:22. > :51:27.Birmingham City. Quit after five years in December.

:51:28. > :51:38.Good pressure. Back to White. Couldn't get the shot away. Ran away

:51:39. > :51:41.from her. Mayling's cross. Manchester City have a problem...

:51:42. > :51:45.May be a wound to the face. She tried to call the referee's

:51:46. > :51:49.attention to it. The referee hasn't seen it.

:51:50. > :52:06.Is it her eye? She's seeing if she has clear vision.

:52:07. > :52:12.Gone down on to her knees. She has developed now into one of

:52:13. > :52:15.the best defenders I would say beyond Europe, one of the best

:52:16. > :52:21.defenders in the world. Completely agree with you. She's got better and

:52:22. > :52:27.better every season. Considering she had such a nightmare couple of

:52:28. > :52:31.seasons with a bad knee injury, she's just got - just improved.

:52:32. > :52:38.That's a contact lens, isn't it? It is. Carry on, sorry. I said earlier

:52:39. > :52:41.the fact that she still is wanting to improve and wanting to develop

:52:42. > :52:47.but she's such a good athlete and now very good on the ball. Can also

:52:48. > :52:54.add goals to her game. Yeah, without a doubt she is a world-class

:52:55. > :53:04.rightback. An important little discussion going on in there.

:53:05. > :53:12.With the coach. While he watches on, Nick Cushing.

:53:13. > :53:18.Part of the development, 12-16 development stage at Manchester City

:53:19. > :53:31.before taking up the women's yob in 2013, November. Alan Mahon is his

:53:32. > :53:36.assistant. He worked in Tranmere. That's your part of the world. Yes,

:53:37. > :53:48.final today. Yes, it's here. Is it here? It is here. That was my

:53:49. > :53:50.first club Tranmere Rovers, I always look out for their results. Busy

:53:51. > :53:58.week for Wembley Stadium. The pitch is looking great. That's a

:53:59. > :54:08.lovely looking ball attempted away from the back.

:54:09. > :54:16.Too long in the end by Mannion. Busy old spell for the great

:54:17. > :54:21.stadium. Trophy coming up next week. Then FA Cup final.

:54:22. > :54:34.Play-offs. A little push on the back of Lucy Bronze.

:54:35. > :54:40.Manchester City have kept 15 clean sheets in the last 21 games.

:54:41. > :54:44.Birmingham have struggled to score goals. Three in their last five in

:54:45. > :55:21.all competitions. It's that final ball from Birmingham

:55:22. > :55:24.and you wonder is it still nerves? They get into decent positions but

:55:25. > :55:33.either overhit the pass or pick the wrong option.

:55:34. > :55:37.Two teams, from 254 who entered the 47th FA women's Cup. One is the

:55:38. > :55:43.dominant team so far. That's a poor pass out. Straight to Lawley.

:55:44. > :55:47.Lloyd has space. Lawley is pointing where she wants

:55:48. > :55:54.the ball to go. Back to Christiansen. Here is Stokes. Lawley

:55:55. > :55:57.is into the wide position. Birmingham defence readjusts and

:55:58. > :56:01.comes out. Manchester City let them off the

:56:02. > :56:06.hook there. They did. You thought they could have probably carried on

:56:07. > :56:12.down that side. They had two options. It's interesting they

:56:13. > :56:23.switched play. Lawley to Stokes. Took it down well initially. Gone

:56:24. > :56:29.for the chip. She went for the goal. Involved in that Sunderland team

:56:30. > :56:34.beaten by Arsenal back in 2009, Demi Stokes. A young girl then. Went out

:56:35. > :56:38.to America and spent a fair amount of time, first at Vancouver

:56:39. > :56:40.Whitecaps in the American football scene and then on to the University

:56:41. > :56:54.of South Florida. Lost out to Ayisi, Stokes. Has been

:56:55. > :57:00.a couple of ifs, buts and maybes. There has. It's that final delivery.

:57:01. > :57:05.I am sure that's what Marc Skinner will say at half-time. You have got

:57:06. > :57:18.into decent positions, do something with it. Find the pass.

:57:19. > :57:27.Hegerberg is beginning to find room, can't find a teammate.

:57:28. > :57:33.Not the best of afternoons for a player of her ability.

:57:34. > :57:37.I think the midfield three for Manchester City is interesting.

:57:38. > :57:42.Scott and Walsh have been excellent. The first and second to every single

:57:43. > :57:47.ball. Good balance, as well. Lloyd dropping in there to add to

:57:48. > :57:51.numbers, has done superbly well and Lucy Bronze. Towards Jill Scott.

:57:52. > :57:58.Lloyd has made a run from deep. Takes up a dangerous position.

:57:59. > :58:08.If Parris can get in there. Lucy Bronze. Parris. Now a challenge by

:58:09. > :58:13.Hegerberg. She's having a look. A bit hesitant. On by Williams.

:58:14. > :58:18.They're covering the ground so fast, Manchester City.

:58:19. > :58:22.When they pressurise they do it in ones and twos, so it makes it

:58:23. > :58:25.difficult for Birmingham to get out. Tackle in pairs, one of the first

:58:26. > :58:39.drills you are instructed in Azpilicueta a kid. -- you are

:58:40. > :58:53.instructed in as a kid. Very aware, Carli Lloyd. . It comes

:58:54. > :58:59.to Christiansen. Here is Bronze. Carli Lloyd had them mesmerised.

:59:00. > :59:13.Wide by Blonz. Bronze. -- wide by Bronze. Every time Lloyd gets the

:59:14. > :59:19.ball, oozes real class. She always seems to make the right decision.

:59:20. > :59:28.Played well after a shaky start. I am told her grandad is the lead

:59:29. > :59:41.guitarist of the Dubliners, Eamon Campbell. You remember them? No!

:59:42. > :59:44.Well beyond my... A couple of minutes before half-time interval. A

:59:45. > :59:51.couple of minutes of stoppage time, I would think.

:59:52. > :59:53.A little bit of a stoppage for the Lucy Bronze eye thing, what do you

:59:54. > :00:08.call it? Contact lens. That's it. Hegerberg. She's a better player

:00:09. > :00:14.than she has shown here today, I think.

:00:15. > :00:17.Sf She covers a lot of ground. She's energetic. But I think the midfield

:00:18. > :00:21.three have not really allowed her to even get on to the ball. Manchester

:00:22. > :00:30.City have been excellent. One early dangerous attempt by

:00:31. > :00:45.Ayisi. Apart from that, it's been all Manchester City.

:00:46. > :01:12.This is Kerys Harrop's fifth final for the club.

:01:13. > :01:19.Steph Houghton shouting for it. She bustles on and on and on, so typical

:01:20. > :01:37.of her aggressive run. Hegerberg, caught by Carli Lloyd.

:01:38. > :01:44.She's had a couple of yellow cards at Manchester City. I've got to say,

:01:45. > :01:48.that was really good play by Keira Walsh. She was caught in possession

:01:49. > :01:52.by Ellen White but she didn't give up and kept battling back and won

:01:53. > :02:02.the ball. A lovely pass, cooling possession. -- cool in possession.

:02:03. > :02:09.Hooked in by Mayling. A couple of minutes of time added on at the end

:02:10. > :02:10.of the half. It's a Manchester City through, despite the protests of

:02:11. > :02:28.Paige Williams. Scott, no pressure on her there.

:02:29. > :02:30.Really on Walsh. Off the ball they've worked really hard finding a

:02:31. > :02:51.space. They've had to work so hard,

:02:52. > :02:58.Birmingham, the defenders. When you are working hard and not in

:02:59. > :03:03.possession, it is a killer for you. It drains you, you've got the ball,

:03:04. > :03:10.and you have so much more energy. It's a real energy supper when you

:03:11. > :03:13.are just chasing the game. Stokes group under pressure from Lloyd and

:03:14. > :03:24.good work by Christiansen. Parris couldn't bring it down. A high foot

:03:25. > :03:29.thereby Harrop, not given. Bronze, Scott, quickly round the corner.

:03:30. > :03:37.Good football by Manchester City. A little bit of a mix up there.

:03:38. > :03:43.Going to Holland, in the England squad in the summer. Izzy

:03:44. > :03:54.Christiansen, what a good final she's had.

:03:55. > :04:02.Campbell, again, no pressure on her. 3-0 to Manchester City at half-time,

:04:03. > :04:06.Lucy Bronze after 18 minutes, Christiansen lovely goal in seven

:04:07. > :04:09.minutes after that, Carli Lloyd. Your body Manchester City have

:04:10. > :04:13.completely dominated the game. I think Birmingham need to be more

:04:14. > :04:17.compact, more tight, they need to offer options going forward and be

:04:18. > :04:23.better with the ball. The world's best player goes in at half-time

:04:24. > :04:24.with her team, 3-0 up in the FA Cup final.

:04:25. > :04:27.STUDIO: A dream start for Manchester City,

:04:28. > :04:33.and nightmare for Birmingham City. What's your assessment of the first

:04:34. > :04:36.half, Rachel? Birmingham had a spell of about 15 minutes where it was

:04:37. > :04:42.pretty even, they had good possession and they looked fairly

:04:43. > :04:44.dangerous, but City have had chances and they've been really clinical.

:04:45. > :04:47.They just looked like they are on another level at the moment. Alex,

:04:48. > :04:50.Birmingham before the game said they wouldn't show any fear. What do you

:04:51. > :04:55.think went wrong? Whether you're overwhelmed by the opposition on the

:04:56. > :04:59.occasion? I don't think so, like Rachel said, the first 15 minutes of

:05:00. > :05:02.the game they looked organised and there were growing in confidence.

:05:03. > :05:08.Where they've been done is they've not been able to deal with crosses,

:05:09. > :05:13.Lucy Bronze's Rosol Carli Lloyd's goal as well. Mark, if you were Mark

:05:14. > :05:18.Simpson Webber Mark Sampson, what would you do? They haven't got a

:05:19. > :05:23.neat field position. They have to decide how we get out of the half,

:05:24. > :05:27.whether its direct balls, or some balls over the top, and Brazil and

:05:28. > :05:30.Ayisi, when they have the chance to run down the sides have done OK

:05:31. > :05:35.outputs and crosses in but while the game is in front of Man City they'll

:05:36. > :05:39.be quite comfortable. Let's look at the first goal. Lucy Bronze seems to

:05:40. > :05:44.have a habit of scoring quite a few goals for a defender. They made it

:05:45. > :05:49.easy from the goalkeeper perspective, we are seeing where the

:05:50. > :05:51.ball, when the ball is kicked, the Birmingham defenders are seven yards

:05:52. > :05:55.out and it gives no room for the keeper to get it. Take nothing away

:05:56. > :05:59.from Lucy Bronze's run, she runs all the way from outside the 18 to get

:06:00. > :06:02.across Kerys Harrop at the front rows and it's a fantastic set piece

:06:03. > :06:07.and well executed in the end. It goes down to Lucy Bronze's mentality

:06:08. > :06:10.because you can work on set pieces all week in training but you have to

:06:11. > :06:20.have the determination to want to get across your player and the

:06:21. > :06:23.determination she's shown to finish it. What's your view, Mark? And I

:06:24. > :06:25.agree, set pieces can make the difference. Sometimes you have to

:06:26. > :06:30.hold up your hands, great delivery, great header. Where executed, same

:06:31. > :06:34.as the third goal. They couldn't cope with those deliveries into the

:06:35. > :06:39.box. Let's look at the second goal, Izzy Christiansen, a beautiful

:06:40. > :06:43.finish. It was, it's the desire from Lucy Bronze in the first one to get

:06:44. > :06:46.on the ball and as Mark said, they don't do themselves any favours,

:06:47. > :06:51.Birmingham, playing the game in their own defensive third and it's a

:06:52. > :06:58.slip-up, an error from them. City regained possession, there's still

:06:59. > :07:01.plenty to do to end up in a goal but Izzy was unmarked. The composure she

:07:02. > :07:06.showed, the ball pops up in front of her. It's pretty special. We are

:07:07. > :07:10.mentioning Lucy Bronze a lot but she's had a fantastic path. The

:07:11. > :07:14.thing I'm impressed with Lucy Bronze here is in past games her picking

:07:15. > :07:17.out a person when she gets in crosses hasn't been good, but I'm so

:07:18. > :07:23.glad to see Lucy Bronze pick her head up and kick Izzy Christiansen

:07:24. > :07:28.out for that goal. So many players in your squad, a good match to be

:07:29. > :07:32.watching today? Yes, absolutely, it's great for Izzy, she watches the

:07:33. > :07:35.play, takes her eyes off the ball and arrives at the right time to

:07:36. > :07:39.give herself an excellent finishing opportunity. I agree, Bronze, the

:07:40. > :07:43.last thing you want to do with bronzes give her a chance to go on

:07:44. > :07:45.the front foot and win the ball. Kerys will potentially play the ball

:07:46. > :08:00.over the top of her run the game is

:08:01. > :08:03.different. The third goal, Carli Lloyd has scored in many finals, but

:08:04. > :08:05.was the goalkeeper at fault? You are bobbing Wembley is a good place for

:08:06. > :08:09.her. Who would have bet against getting her head on this? A

:08:10. > :08:15.beautiful ball. A lovely swinging ball. From that distance, to pick

:08:16. > :08:23.out that area, Berger will be disappointed but there's no

:08:24. > :08:25.pressure, no defenders but up and challenge Steph Houghton and the

:08:26. > :08:29.World Player of the Year, Carli Lloyd. She loves a stage like this,

:08:30. > :08:36.Carli, she'll be delighted to get a goal. Another goal! No doubt. We saw

:08:37. > :08:41.a Birmingham team chat up the touchline. What do you think would

:08:42. > :08:49.have been said? It's a real tough moment because the first big game

:08:50. > :08:53.for Marc is a senior manager. They've consolidated, they stayed in

:08:54. > :08:57.the game. When it went three, all others in the studio were thinking

:08:58. > :09:02.this could be four, five, six, so they've got to half-time, only make

:09:03. > :09:06.it three. Cause Man City some problems and in big games, when you

:09:07. > :09:10.score one, maybe it brings two once the game is very different. Two

:09:11. > :09:13.years ago Notts County Ladies appeared in the first women's FA Cup

:09:14. > :09:18.final to be played here but last month just two days before the start

:09:19. > :09:21.of the new league season, they folded, leaving their players,

:09:22. > :09:25.including England and Scotland internationals, looking for new

:09:26. > :09:27.clubs, just weeks before the European Championships. Eilidh

:09:28. > :09:33.Barbour has been talking to one of them.

:09:34. > :09:38.You never know what's around the corner and that couldn't be more

:09:39. > :09:43.true for 2015 FA Cup finalist Leanne Crichton. Looking forward to her WSL

:09:44. > :09:47.Spring Series in the lead up to her first-ever major tournament with

:09:48. > :09:53.Scotland, it all suddenly changed, with shock news from club side Notts

:09:54. > :09:57.County. I think it's been a roller-coaster of emotions,

:09:58. > :10:01.literally within hours we went through preparing for a game on the

:10:02. > :10:06.Sunday looking to training, and that seemed to be it. It was just the

:10:07. > :10:12.end. The reality of leaving a team-mate and your friends, it's

:10:13. > :10:15.been hard. It caught everybody off-guard and me personally, I think

:10:16. > :10:18.the PFA in particular were fantastic. If it hadn't been for

:10:19. > :10:24.them, a lot of players would have really struggled to know what to do.

:10:25. > :10:29.The FA, it's been a learning curve for them as well. Maybe they didn't

:10:30. > :10:32.expect it to happen, in WSL one and maybe it's something of a future I'd

:10:33. > :10:37.like to think it would never happen again. A lot of teams are probably

:10:38. > :10:51.week by week struggling. Apart from the bigger names and the ones that

:10:52. > :10:53.have a lot of financial support, that's always the problem. There

:10:54. > :10:55.weren't that many clubs in a position to take on players because

:10:56. > :10:59.budgets were so tight. You've come back up to Scotland. How did that

:11:00. > :11:03.come about? Do you feel lucky to have had this option? Guys will say

:11:04. > :11:08.to you they had contacts pretty much straightaway, they let me know I'd

:11:09. > :11:12.be more than welcome to come home. The hardest part for me is just

:11:13. > :11:16.waiting until my time to train our game. I feel like I'm sitting

:11:17. > :11:20.looking at the clock every hour, thinking I want to be on the pitch

:11:21. > :11:24.again. We are still up, training in the early morning and a lot of that

:11:25. > :11:27.is preparation towards the euros and the girls that have been lucky

:11:28. > :11:33.enough to receive the funding will be relieved from their day jobs just

:11:34. > :11:36.now. For your image team-mates at Notts County, it must be vitally

:11:37. > :11:41.important that you've got football between now and the summer. Yes,

:11:42. > :11:47.everybody wants to play. It's nice to see most of us have got teams now

:11:48. > :11:51.and look to build between now and July and hopefully put ourselves in

:11:52. > :11:56.good stead. The first game against England, it must be something you're

:11:57. > :11:59.looking forward to? It's super exciting. Scotland have waited a

:12:00. > :12:03.long time to get to those finals and will certainly enjoy it, knowing

:12:04. > :12:08.people in the side and having friends it will be a nice

:12:09. > :12:11.experience. Devastating situation for everybody at Notts County and

:12:12. > :12:16.for the players who were at Notts County, I should say, the England

:12:17. > :12:21.squad, three of them have clubs, Laura Bassett hasn't. How disruptive

:12:22. > :12:24.is that for you and the players? First and foremost it is

:12:25. > :12:27.disappointing situation. Somebody at the club should be disappointed

:12:28. > :12:30.themselves in terms of how they've handled it, allowing it to get to

:12:31. > :12:34.that point. The players have been incredible, not just the England

:12:35. > :12:37.players but every player at the football club. Their professionalism

:12:38. > :12:41.and determination to get back on the bandwagon and start playing again.

:12:42. > :12:46.We are quite relaxed about it. I've spoken to all the girls involved,

:12:47. > :12:48.whether England players or centrally contracted, or Rachel who's been

:12:49. > :12:52.involved for the last six months, all are relaxed between now and the

:12:53. > :12:55.start of June when we get together. We are relaxed about where they'll

:12:56. > :13:01.be and they'll make sure they turn up in June. The good thing is the FA

:13:02. > :13:04.gave them special dispensation to go to other clubs, but it's also a

:13:05. > :13:08.matter of settling in. Of course, and it's a short space of time. It's

:13:09. > :13:12.a very unique season this year. If it was a season where this situation

:13:13. > :13:29.happened in August and it's happened in June, it would be a real

:13:30. > :13:34.problem for but look at the climate in terms of the number of games, we

:13:35. > :13:36.are relaxed about where the players need to be and they'll get there. It

:13:37. > :13:38.was announced today before the Spring Series started. Looking at

:13:39. > :13:41.the positives, how our preparations going for the euros? We are excited.

:13:42. > :13:44.We're going to be a tournament to win it. We will do our homework on

:13:45. > :13:47.our opponents. Lightly and said, it will be a tough game against

:13:48. > :13:50.Scotland, for them as well as others. -- like Leon said. If we can

:13:51. > :13:53.get through the group we are in a great position to go a long way.

:13:54. > :13:58.Alex, how much are you looking forward to that match? Straightaway

:13:59. > :14:03.the excitement and looking forward to that game, it was always meant to

:14:04. > :14:09.happen, as soon as Scotland qualified and the England Scotland

:14:10. > :14:13.game was on the cards. Major for Scotland two. Huge. Five live and

:14:14. > :14:18.five live sports extra will have live commentary on all the games in

:14:19. > :14:22.2017, starting with a crucial match between England and Scotland on July

:14:23. > :14:29.the 19th. A busy weekend of football here on the BBC, includes Match Of

:14:30. > :14:32.The Day 2 two extra on BBC Two at 12:15pm tomorrow, Match Of The Day 2

:14:33. > :14:36.tomorrow night includes highlights of three Sunday fixtures in the

:14:37. > :14:41.Premier League, including the big relegation battle between Crystal

:14:42. > :14:44.Palace and Hull City. There's a special Match Of The Day on Monday,

:14:45. > :14:49.with highlights of the Premier League champions Chelsea against

:14:50. > :14:54.Watford. The FA People's cup this year saw hundreds of entrants from

:14:55. > :15:02.girls and women's five-a-side teams including She Can she Play. A prime

:15:03. > :15:03.example of how anybody of any age and ability can start playing

:15:04. > :15:18.football. Well done. Inside and outside with

:15:19. > :15:22.your left foot. Well done, Nicky. We are just a group of mums that wanted

:15:23. > :15:25.to come along with their daughters and play football. We made friends

:15:26. > :15:29.and learned some skills and now we are playing in the tournament

:15:30. > :15:35.together. You are going to go over to the sports hall.

:15:36. > :15:39.It's showing young girls that there should be no barriers to sport, what

:15:40. > :15:51.greater role models than us? To see action from the People's Cup

:15:52. > :15:58.and maybe enter a team for next year go to the BBC Get Inspired website.

:15:59. > :16:02.Here at half-time in the 2017 women's FA Cup final Manchester City

:16:03. > :16:06.lead Birmingham City 3-0. When Birmingham City lifted the Cup in

:16:07. > :16:10.2012 by beating Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out the scorer of the winning

:16:11. > :16:15.spot kick and player of the match was Karen Carney. She's been

:16:16. > :16:17.watching the first half. Yeah, that was a great day for Birmingham. It's

:16:18. > :16:21.been more difficult this afternoon. Is there any way back? My heart

:16:22. > :16:24.wants to say yes but my head says it's going to be very hard for

:16:25. > :16:27.Birmingham to get back into the game. City have been dominant and

:16:28. > :16:32.Birmingham struggled with the crosses. It's going to be hard. City

:16:33. > :16:39.still have a strong bench to come on. It's going to be hard, my heart

:16:40. > :16:43.wants to say yes. The likes of Duggan warming up behind us. In

:16:44. > :16:47.terms of Birmingham's bench, is there changes before the second half

:16:48. > :16:51.to try to make a difference? Definitely he needs to change

:16:52. > :16:56.something perhaps up front, maybe push White higher up. Manchester

:16:57. > :17:05.City's back line hasn't been tested, it's been too easy for them at

:17:06. > :17:10.times. Maybe bring Wellings on. Need to get them further up and get a

:17:11. > :17:13.goal in the first 15 minutes to give them confidence. It's been hard,

:17:14. > :17:16.scoring hasn't been their strength the last couple of seasons,

:17:17. > :17:21.hopefully an early goal will help them. Ellen White has loads of

:17:22. > :17:24.experience, how much responsibility now lies on her to bring the younger

:17:25. > :17:30.players through this difficult second half? She's going to have to

:17:31. > :17:34.take it on her shoulders and carry them through. Her experience is key,

:17:35. > :17:38.the youngsters might not know how to deal with it being 3-0 down at

:17:39. > :17:42.half-time, she's going to have to step up as well as the other senior

:17:43. > :17:46.players, and the goalkeeper is experienced as well. It's going to

:17:47. > :17:50.be a big 15-minute push, they need to get a goal and make it quick and

:17:51. > :17:54.early. If you were in the dressing room, I am sure the Manchester City

:17:55. > :17:57.dressing room would be the best one to be in right now, it's a big

:17:58. > :18:00.second half for them, as well, if they concede a goal early on it

:18:01. > :18:05.could be very different. It could be. The first 15 minutes is key. So

:18:06. > :18:10.far Manchester City are dominant and in control. You don't really see

:18:11. > :18:15.them giving this trophy up at the moment. They're in... We will see

:18:16. > :18:23.how it goes. The teams are coming out now. Thank you, Karen.

:18:24. > :18:27.Mark, what do you do from here, if you are Birmingham City, do you shut

:18:28. > :18:31.up shop, try not to concede more goals or go for it? You do the

:18:32. > :18:35.latter. It's a cup final, it's a one-off, might be the only time you

:18:36. > :18:38.get there. Wouldn't surprise me if a change of shape to give Manchester

:18:39. > :18:50.City something different to think about. I agree with Karen, get the

:18:51. > :18:54.ball forward quicker. At least make sfef and Megan, defend high balls.

:18:55. > :18:57.We need to play, Birmingham City need to play their game higher up

:18:58. > :19:04.the pitch and that will give them a chance. 3-0 at half-time. Let's get

:19:05. > :19:09.back to our commentary team, Jonathan Pearce and Sue Smith.

:19:10. > :19:13.Thank you very much. Can't see any signs of any substitutions at

:19:14. > :19:20.half-time. A little huddle for Birmingham. What

:19:21. > :19:24.would you do? Mark said they may change the shape. Unless you get

:19:25. > :19:27.wingbacks forward in that formation in the opposition third it's a

:19:28. > :19:30.negative situation if they're pushed back all the time, they're

:19:31. > :19:34.redundant. You are right. They were pretty much playing a back five for

:19:35. > :19:39.the majority of the first half. You probably have to do that. The fact

:19:40. > :19:44.when they did get forward Manchester City really exploited that width, if

:19:45. > :19:49.you like, the channel balls. They got that pace to do so. I think the

:19:50. > :19:53.units were too spread out. The centre forwards were very disjointed

:19:54. > :19:57.from the midfield and vice versa and Manchester City can play in those

:19:58. > :20:03.pockets of space. Off we go in the second half. Birmingham kicking from

:20:04. > :20:11.right-to-left in the darker blue. When they won the 2012 final against

:20:12. > :20:15.Chelsea from a spot kick, it would be a miracle if we get to that

:20:16. > :20:21.today. It would be an astounding comeback. It's important they get

:20:22. > :20:25.players higher. As we heard Mark say at half-time, they spent the almost

:20:26. > :20:30.the tir 45 minutes encamped in their own half. They have to get bodies

:20:31. > :20:36.higher up the pitch. Another free kick now. There is the

:20:37. > :20:43.coach of Birmingham City with a real job to do now.

:20:44. > :20:52.Can he inspire a real comeback, Marc Skinner? He says he hasn't stopped

:20:53. > :20:55.smiling since he got the job. He was grimacing at times in the first

:20:56. > :21:12.half. Down the line looking for Ayisi.

:21:13. > :21:16.Notice plea she didn't follow her pass and get forward in support and

:21:17. > :21:19.they've got again bodies sluggishly forward. They're there now. Look at

:21:20. > :21:26.the number of blue shirts back for Manchester City. Still Ayisi who has

:21:27. > :21:33.worked very hard for Birmingham. A cross into the box from Williams.

:21:34. > :21:39.Campbell. White. Frustrations growing. Did you notice that as she

:21:40. > :21:45.passed the ball forward, Williams, down to Ayisi, she just watched. She

:21:46. > :21:47.should progress. You are right. She's wary of getting forward and

:21:48. > :21:52.overcommitting. That's what Birmingham need to do to get back

:21:53. > :21:54.into the game. White made the running and Carter was following up.

:21:55. > :21:55.When they have extra options they're going to cause Manchester City a

:21:56. > :22:12.problem. Another great touch. Pressure by

:22:13. > :22:41.Lucy Bronze. Carli Lloyd. Dispossessed by Carter. Back again.

:22:42. > :22:54.Overconfident with the pass. Here is Parris for Manchester stif.

:22:55. > :22:58.-- Manchester City. Now Paige Williams. Angled forward

:22:59. > :23:08.for Brazil. Seems Birmingham City in the second

:23:09. > :23:14.half have pushed White really advanced. She was slightly deeper

:23:15. > :23:22.than the two wider forwards, but she's right up top now. There she

:23:23. > :23:26.is. Back it comes to Mayling. No great

:23:27. > :23:31.conviction in there, was there? That's the problem. I think it's

:23:32. > :23:35.good that White is further forward. She will get hold of the ball and

:23:36. > :23:39.she needs players to play off, somebody to pass the ball to. When

:23:40. > :23:43.she got it she was very isolated but yeah, there needs to be conviction

:23:44. > :23:51.with the ball in and also the runners into the box. They still

:23:52. > :23:54.look a little scared. Incredible tweet this morning, she was out for

:23:55. > :23:57.a jog on the morning of the Cup final. Like yourself. Indeed myself,

:23:58. > :24:10.a fitness fanatic as you know, Sue! Now Williams.

:24:11. > :24:16.Not sure I would be jogging before an FA Cup final. No.

:24:17. > :24:19.Not done her any harm. A remarkable character.

:24:20. > :24:24.Another reason she's come to England is to get more games. They don't

:24:25. > :24:31.play that many club games in America. This sort of standard. Yes,

:24:32. > :24:37.the international teams together for long periods of the year. Ayisi.

:24:38. > :24:42.Dispossessed by Bronze. Looking for a free kick that didn't come.

:24:43. > :24:46.Christiansen has been tidy throughout the game.

:24:47. > :24:55.Jill Scott always provides an outball. Lucy Bronze to Parris. Good

:24:56. > :25:01.football by Manchester City. Parris delayed the pass in. A good

:25:02. > :25:11.run, though. Very good run. Forces a corner. Really good run by

:25:12. > :25:20.Parris. She wants to go forward and have a go at defenders. Gets the

:25:21. > :25:29.team a corner. Lawley will take it. At Birmingham until last December. A

:25:30. > :25:34.Kidderminster girl, actually. She's got Jill Scott in at the near post

:25:35. > :25:39.and Parris just behind and four runners coming in. Sfef Houghton.

:25:40. > :25:46.It was off target but it was a freeish header.

:25:47. > :25:52.That was another good quality header from Houghton. Had a run on White.

:25:53. > :26:11.White was standing. Couldn't get it on target.

:26:12. > :26:19.Parris has switched flanks. A problem for Lawley. Lawley is

:26:20. > :26:27.hobbling. May have a problem here. Christiansen couldn't get beyond

:26:28. > :26:34.Hegerberg. A decent turn.

:26:35. > :26:42.Had a falling out with a coach in Germany. Has a good pedigree.

:26:43. > :26:45.This is Williams. Cut out by Lucy Bronze.

:26:46. > :26:50.Look at the forward line of Birmingham. When they go forward

:26:51. > :26:56.they are all in straight line, they need to break that line up a little

:26:57. > :27:01.bit more. One comes short, one go long. The same sort of runs means

:27:02. > :27:16.there's no option for midfield. Manchester City well in command.

:27:17. > :27:21.If you have just joined us Lucy Bronze put them ahead. Then Izzy

:27:22. > :27:28.Christiansen with a splendid well worked goal. Then Carli Lloyd made

:27:29. > :27:35.it three on 32 minutes. They had brilliant crossing from the left

:27:36. > :27:42.wing. There is Lloyd. Harrop under pressure. Back to the

:27:43. > :27:47.goalkeeper. What a career Carli Lloyd has had.

:27:48. > :27:51.Five goals in the World Cup finals. Fastest hat-trick in the history of

:27:52. > :27:55.a World Cup final. Double Olympic gold winner. Scored

:27:56. > :28:08.in two Olympic finals. Again Mannion tries to play. A free

:28:09. > :28:27.kick here for Manchester City. Not the greatest of starts to the

:28:28. > :28:31.new spring series, Manchester City. Won the last two. Drew the first

:28:32. > :28:38.game of the campaign against Birmingham. A shortened season.

:28:39. > :28:44.Parris! Tried to bend the shot. Got a touch on it. It could have been

:28:45. > :28:50.four. It really could. Good break from Stokes. What a ball that is.

:28:51. > :28:55.What a run from Parris. She was trying to bend it into the far

:28:56. > :29:10.corner. The right thing to do. Good hand from Berger.

:29:11. > :29:14.Lawley with it. Four could make it mission

:29:15. > :29:17.impossible. A little tussle in there but away by Berger. Came a long way

:29:18. > :29:30.to get that. Walsh, has had an excellent game. An

:29:31. > :29:37.appeal over there by Sargeant. Carli Lloyd.

:29:38. > :29:44.Always comfortable on the ball. Cruises on the ball. She can be

:29:45. > :30:04.feisty, Darley -- Carli Lloyd. Are they going to think of a change,

:30:05. > :30:09.Manchester City? This is Carter. Good interception by Campbell -- by

:30:10. > :30:14.Campbell who has done well. Just too far ahead of Mayling who looked

:30:15. > :30:19.leaden-footed there. A slump to the shoulder, a tired look about one or

:30:20. > :30:22.two Birmingham players. A showpiece occasion. 3-0 down at the break and

:30:23. > :30:35.here is a substitution. It's going to be Toni Duggan comes

:30:36. > :30:40.on. It's going to be Lawley who departs, picked up that injury

:30:41. > :30:45.moments ago. I think Birmingham won't want to see Toni Duggan coming

:30:46. > :30:48.on the field. Not only is she a great player, just coming in off the

:30:49. > :30:52.back of a hat-trick against Bristol, but she's got a point to prove. She

:30:53. > :31:00.will have wanted to start in this game. She will be really

:31:01. > :31:08.disappointed not to have. The Ghanaian born England under 23,

:31:09. > :31:12.Ayisi. They've just been too good for them, Manchester City, really in

:31:13. > :31:26.every area. Mannion, under pressure, just got away with it.

:31:27. > :31:38.In towards Lloyd. She got a cloud for her troubles. She knew it was

:31:39. > :31:41.coming. Jess Carter wins it back. Typically abrasive style. In towards

:31:42. > :31:44.Ayisi. This is promising for Birmingham City. Bronze got back to

:31:45. > :32:06.Ayisi, just held onto it too long. Again, that's a weary looking Sarah

:32:07. > :32:13.Mayling. They will think about more two substitutions.

:32:14. > :32:21.Toni Duggan comes from the same part of the world as you do, and she a

:32:22. > :32:24.spiky, wholehearted full of life character, who would have been

:32:25. > :32:28.absolutely shell-shocked by the decision not to pick her up the

:32:29. > :32:31.start. Of course, you want to play in big games like this and Toni

:32:32. > :32:36.Duggan is another big game player. She will have been really

:32:37. > :32:39.disappointed. As a player, if you score three goals, you expect

:32:40. > :32:44.probably to start in the next game. She will definitely be wanting to

:32:45. > :32:46.show just what she's about. Two words to describe Toni Duggan...

:32:47. > :32:55.INAUDIBLE . That's good. A terrible mistake by

:32:56. > :32:58.Ann-Katrin Berger, got away with it. I think we were all chatty from that

:32:59. > :33:03.part of the world. You're telling me. I thought I'd say it before you

:33:04. > :33:52.did. This is going to be the first time

:33:53. > :33:57.we've seen a long throw from Megan Campbell, and if you haven't seen

:33:58. > :34:04.her, just get ready for this. This is one of the longest throws in

:34:05. > :34:08.world football. She can reach the far post in normal ground. Don't

:34:09. > :34:16.forget, this is Wembley, but in normal grounds, she absolutely

:34:17. > :34:21.arrows them in. To the near post... You built it up there! All around

:34:22. > :34:27.us, however many thousands there are in the crowd, there was a big groan!

:34:28. > :34:32.We expect so much from her now, after the two throws that she did

:34:33. > :34:39.against Reading, set up both goals. A couple of them in a couple of

:34:40. > :34:46.minutes, came off the bench. It changed the whole game. I don't know

:34:47. > :34:54.if I've the build up a throw as much as that, ever! Dear oh dear. They

:34:55. > :35:01.are normally very good! Normally the longest throw-in world football.

:35:02. > :35:05.Here we have Manchester City in total control. They look to set

:35:06. > :35:17.Parris alight. Harrop doesn't know the meaning of

:35:18. > :35:24.the word surrender. She would play steadfastly all the way through. A

:35:25. > :35:30.youth team member at Birmingham, Kerys Harrop. Caught by Carli Lloyd.

:35:31. > :35:40.I can tell you we now know how many thousands there are in here, 35,271,

:35:41. > :35:48.that's record for a Women's FA Cup Final. It's a great policy the FA

:35:49. > :35:49.have for this. Kids go free. Remember that for this time next

:35:50. > :36:01.year. Let's remind people, Sue, it's

:36:02. > :36:07.important if you do have a chance to support your local WSL team, it is a

:36:08. > :36:11.good afternoon or evening out, watching football, if you are into

:36:12. > :36:20.women's football, if you are young player. Alan -- here's Ellen White.

:36:21. > :36:24.She's tested Bardsley. Work to do for the Manchester City goalkeeper

:36:25. > :36:28.at last. It's exactly what Birmingham need to do, see the

:36:29. > :36:32.opportunity and take it quickly. Karen Bardsley didn't collect that,

:36:33. > :36:35.that second attempt, she was in there but that's what they need to

:36:36. > :36:42.do, they need to do it quickly. They've been taking too many touches

:36:43. > :36:48.up until that point. Two or three of them have frozen out there, really.

:36:49. > :36:56.Birmingham City players. Birmingham City about to make a substitution.

:36:57. > :37:10.Charlie Wellings come on for them. 19 this week. A tall striker, and

:37:11. > :37:52.England under 17. INAUDIBLE

:37:53. > :37:53.I'm impressed by their willingness to change a bit of their style is

:37:54. > :38:06.season. Steph Houghton was there, she'll

:38:07. > :38:14.keep it in. I can't remember Steph Houghton making a mistake. I don't

:38:15. > :38:17.think she has. She's just a player. Know exactly what you are going to

:38:18. > :38:25.get with her. Always does it very well.

:38:26. > :38:43.INAUDIBLE Here comes Wellings, a tall player.

:38:44. > :39:03.I'm quite surprised, Freda Ayisi always offers an option when they go

:39:04. > :39:09.forward. She hasn't really had the right ball to her. I think Wellings

:39:10. > :39:13.will come on and she'll work hard, again, she'll Harry the defence but

:39:14. > :39:21.they just need that final pass to just be better. Give them an

:39:22. > :39:27.opportunity. In them much programme today, Kerys Harrop had an article.

:39:28. > :39:31.She led us through the individual players in the squad, and she says

:39:32. > :39:35.of Charlie Wellings, she's probably Birmingham's best striker of the

:39:36. > :39:42.ball, a goal-scorer when she gets on the right position. We will wait and

:39:43. > :39:47.see, the youngster towards her position.

:39:48. > :40:15.Have they got enough time? 25 minutes to go.

:40:16. > :40:21.What about the formation? It's something Marc Skinner is working

:40:22. > :40:24.on, playing with the back three at the back and it's worked for her

:40:25. > :40:30.mental this point. Manchester City have had too much for them in this

:40:31. > :40:33.game. -- it has worked for them, until this point. Manchester City

:40:34. > :40:45.have had too much quality. Looking forward to the World Cup

:40:46. > :40:57.finals. Fancy that one? It would be quite

:40:58. > :41:02.nice. INAUDIBLE

:41:03. > :41:15.Steph Houghton. She'll still be there, I imagine, 30 or 31 by then.

:41:16. > :41:22.The year rose to come of course, this summer. -- the euros to come of

:41:23. > :41:30.course, this summer. Won by Wellings. Lucy Bronze got

:41:31. > :41:51.back to her. They beat Chelsea, so to win the

:41:52. > :41:58.2017 FA Cup final they'd have had to beat the three powerhouses, Chelsea,

:41:59. > :42:03.Manchester City, they have, short thus far in the final. -- they have

:42:04. > :42:19.come up short thus far in the final. More into the game now, Birmingham.

:42:20. > :42:20.You have to put that in the context of Manchester City taking their foot

:42:21. > :42:37.off the gas pedal. Birmingham have to go for it, don't

:42:38. > :42:45.they? It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you are 3-0 down.

:42:46. > :42:48.Just saying they build up again, he is pleased with their team, he's

:42:49. > :42:53.asked them to be braver in possession. It hasn't really come

:42:54. > :42:58.off today. The keeper saw it coming, rushed out and did well. Kept it at

:42:59. > :43:03.3-0. She read that situation really well. Got off her line quickly

:43:04. > :43:11.because Nikita Parris was just in there. Lloyd, taken down by Mannion.

:43:12. > :43:18.She is saying she was kicked on the ground.

:43:19. > :43:29.A New Jersey girl, Carli Lloyd. Played for the South Jersey

:43:30. > :43:35.Banshees, the New Jersey Wildcats in her time. Such a committed player.

:43:36. > :43:40.Clearly a foul. Carli Lloyd just touched the ball past her. I don't

:43:41. > :43:45.think there was any kick afterwards though. Steph Houghton, in the

:43:46. > :43:51.interview we played earlier, did you say to her she'd scored some free

:43:52. > :43:59.kicks in her time. She has. Was that an omen? May be. You know your game,

:44:00. > :44:06.don't you? How many times did you play for England? You can't say

:44:07. > :44:14.anything after those throw-in is! She can do that though. Help! Was a

:44:15. > :44:20.goal that was. Brilliant. That was two, Christiansen. Great delivery in

:44:21. > :44:41.43, Carli Lloyd. It was a blistering 14 minute first-half spell.

:44:42. > :44:47.A lovely ball in behind, Toni Duggan, the first touch was a little

:44:48. > :44:51.bit heavy and it allowed Berger to come and make the save. She's had a

:44:52. > :44:56.good gave. She's had a good game apart from the third goal. It's

:44:57. > :45:02.probably the only mistake she's made. Toni Duggan, the touch she

:45:03. > :45:07.made gave Berger up in June -- and opportunities come out and make the

:45:08. > :45:11.save. A great break again for Manchester City. Is going to be a

:45:12. > :45:21.change here for Manchester City, Nikita Parris going off. Georgia

:45:22. > :45:27.Stanway is coming on. She's an 18-year-old, just turned 18 at the

:45:28. > :45:30.start of the year. Wide forward, the right-hand side. In comes the corner

:45:31. > :45:37.kicking towards Houghton it goes wide.

:45:38. > :45:46.Another quality player with lots of potential. When you are tiring as a

:45:47. > :45:51.team and they're bringing on fresh legs, it can make things happen and

:45:52. > :45:59.score goals. It's the last thing you want to see. Look at the stats

:46:00. > :46:15.there. 12 goal attempts by Manchester City against three.

:46:16. > :46:23.Carli Lloyd wants it mrae in behind. Beautiful weight on the pass. Well,

:46:24. > :46:29.she acknowledges the precision of the pass played into her. It was a

:46:30. > :46:32.good set-up. Good play from Duggan and good movement again. They just

:46:33. > :46:38.know where each other are going to run. That makes such a difference.

:46:39. > :46:44.Birmingham at times have looked disjointed but Manchester City when

:46:45. > :46:47.they go forward are so fluid. Lucy Bronze has got away from her marker.

:46:48. > :46:53.It's beyond her, though. In came Houghton.

:46:54. > :47:02.Might have been a little push in there.

:47:03. > :47:13.I think Lucy Bronze made the initial run to the near post. It was

:47:14. > :47:18.Houghton they were aiming for. White has her arms around Steph. They're

:47:19. > :47:26.good mates so that's a battle with the two of them.

:47:27. > :47:34.Good football by Birmingham. A chance here now.

:47:35. > :47:41.Oh! They got a goal! She's come off the bench. The best

:47:42. > :47:49.striker of the ball. She gets a goal for Birmingham City. She's done well

:47:50. > :47:54.since she came on. Set the ball up for players. Run into channels they

:47:55. > :48:01.needed. Got forward. Good strike there with her left foot to beat

:48:02. > :48:07.Bardsley. Right into the corner. Could this give Birmingham City a

:48:08. > :48:15.lift? 64 minutes on the clock when she came on. Within nine minutes she

:48:16. > :48:22.scored for Birmingham City. She looked really lively, hasn't she?

:48:23. > :48:24.She has. Just been that more aggressive in the final third since

:48:25. > :48:41.she came on. Have broken the chance of a clean

:48:42. > :48:45.sheet. If they get another, with a little over quarter of an hour to

:48:46. > :48:57.go, it would make things very interesting.

:48:58. > :49:17.8th corner of the game for Manchester City. Scott goes near

:49:18. > :49:21.post. Christiansen will stand in with the goalkeeper. Runs from deep

:49:22. > :49:27.positions. It's a good claim by Berger.

:49:28. > :49:31.Looks for the quick release. Out it comes here now to Jess

:49:32. > :49:36.Carter. Another Birmingham... Oh the touch was horrible but she's gone

:49:37. > :49:46.for the challenge by Stokes. Having a real go now!

:49:47. > :49:50.Brazil. Should be Karen Bardsley. Got hit by

:49:51. > :50:01.Ellen White. England colleagues. She said she was going for the ball.

:50:02. > :50:04.You can see she has her eyes on the ball all the way through there.

:50:05. > :50:17.Definite foul. This was a well taken goal by

:50:18. > :50:22.Charlie Wellings. A confident strike. This is better from

:50:23. > :50:28.Birmingham. They've took until this point to really give it a good go

:50:29. > :50:49.and test the Manchester City back line. The Ellen White effort and one

:50:50. > :50:56.from Wellings. They've made a go of it. A little error there.

:50:57. > :51:04.Can they get it out wide? Stamped away by Bronze. Back to Hegerberg.

:51:05. > :51:11.Carter. Another good ball. She was trying to

:51:12. > :51:16.get it out to Williams. Manchester City have tired a little

:51:17. > :51:26.bit. Williams there. She came from an offside position.

:51:27. > :51:44.Another substitution here. It's going to be Abbie McManus, she

:51:45. > :51:46.will replace Campbell, I would think. Can't see them taking

:51:47. > :51:53.Houghton off. Up in the air. It's won in the air

:51:54. > :52:10.by Harrop. Here is Carter.

:52:11. > :52:18.Dispossessed by Christiansen. What a final she has had.

:52:19. > :52:26.Let's see who goes off. It is Megan Campbell.

:52:27. > :52:39.She was preferred at the start. We are not going to see... On comes

:52:40. > :52:43.McManus to replace her. I am pleased she has game time, McManus. She

:52:44. > :52:49.deserves it. Every time I watch her play she's consistent. Oh! The

:52:50. > :52:57.goalkeeper and... Manchester City player went for

:52:58. > :53:04.that. She's OK. You could see both of them

:53:05. > :53:15.going for the ball. That's a real collision. Both are OK.

:53:16. > :53:20.They're just about to announce the atakenedance at the stadium. Great

:53:21. > :53:30.reaction to it, as well. -- attendance.

:53:31. > :53:36.They're bigging themselves up, and why not?

:53:37. > :53:39.So good to see the attendances getting better each year and it

:53:40. > :53:50.shows how much the women's game is growing and developing and people

:53:51. > :53:51.now want to watch the game. Here is White having a go at it now,

:53:52. > :54:07.Birmingham City. Lloyd battling back.

:54:08. > :54:12.Now Christiansen. Out to Duggan. Duggan can switch it. She finds Jill

:54:13. > :54:16.Scott. Could get another one. Scott! It's a lovely goal. To wrap it up

:54:17. > :54:24.for Manchester City. One of the most popular girls in the game.

:54:25. > :54:31.Ten minutes to go. Jill Scott gets a goal in the FA Cup final. Set up by

:54:32. > :54:37.Toni Duggan. Finished brilliantly. Birmingham City 1, mark City 4. The

:54:38. > :54:43.result now is well beyond doubt. -- Manchester City. Manchester City

:54:44. > :54:47.league winners, continental winners and now FA Cup. It was good from

:54:48. > :54:51.Duggan initially to pick out Jill Scott. But that's a lovely finish.

:54:52. > :54:56.Quick feet initially. Then right into the top corner. Birmingham City

:54:57. > :55:00.were just getting themselves back into the game. That puts it totally

:55:01. > :55:03.beyond them now. That's the problem, when you commit

:55:04. > :55:07.players forward to get back into the game that can happen on a quick

:55:08. > :55:23.counterattack. A better cross in. White!

:55:24. > :55:26.Might have seen it a little late. Brazil was in front. She dummied it

:55:27. > :55:30.so it came through to White. Not sure how much she would have seen of

:55:31. > :55:36.the ball before it came to her foot. A good delivery. She's leaning back

:55:37. > :55:42.as she strikes the ball. It was always going to go over.

:55:43. > :56:22.Don't know if she slipped at the vital moment.

:56:23. > :56:40.Lucy Bronze. She will get a free kick. Rudimentary tackle from

:56:41. > :57:23.Harrop. A few bruises. Manchester City Chloe Peplow, off

:57:24. > :57:42.goes Andrine Hegerberg, not really been her game.

:57:43. > :57:49.The keeper sort of clawed. A corner kick is given.

:57:50. > :58:01.Good pressure in there by the captain.

:58:02. > :58:10.Limping a little bit. Duggan will take it again. There is

:58:11. > :58:19.a little signal. Carli Lloyd to make the run.

:58:20. > :58:23.Away by Carter. Six-and-a-half minutes to go.

:58:24. > :59:05.Good tackle that time by Harrop. It's been some year for them. Now a

:59:06. > :59:09.big step up, Champions League. Lyon stopped them, as I was saying

:59:10. > :59:15.earlier. They're in the competition again.

:59:16. > :59:17.Starting in October. Or the autumn anyway.

:59:18. > :59:57.Stokes to Lloyd. What do you think they will take

:59:58. > :00:01.away as a sweet memory from an otherwise sour afternoon for them,

:00:02. > :00:05.Birmingham City, Sue? It's probably just the experience of obviously

:00:06. > :00:08.playing at Wembley in front of a big crowd and I think the fact that

:00:09. > :00:10.they've really improved in this second half. Without a doubt, these

:00:11. > :00:14.players will have learned from that experience. They'll want to come

:00:15. > :00:23.here again and hopefully pick up that winning trophy, rather than the

:00:24. > :00:28.losing one, unfortunately. Mark Sampson was pointing out they're a

:00:29. > :00:37.young team. Lucy Bronze might have been fouled there by Parris.

:00:38. > :00:44.Marc Skinner has only just taken charge, so he's still in his

:00:45. > :00:51.philosophy on style -- he's instilling his loss Leanne style on

:00:52. > :00:58.the players, which can take a while. Much higher in the second half,

:00:59. > :01:03.Mayling, pushing Danny Stokes back. The quality and delivery from

:01:04. > :01:08.Manchester City in the first class, we haven't seen that in the second.

:01:09. > :01:19.-- in the first half, we haven't seen that in the second. Stabbed

:01:20. > :01:27.away. Mannion got it out. Sargeant, it was. They have bodies forward.

:01:28. > :01:36.Have they got enough legs? No, they haven't.

:01:37. > :01:42.Who would be your player of the match, Sue? For Manchester City,

:01:43. > :01:47.there have been a lot of players that have really stood out in this

:01:48. > :01:50.game. You look at both full-backs, midfield, obviously Carli Lloyd.

:01:51. > :01:56.I've gone with Keira Walsh and I think for me, she's just, she

:01:57. > :02:00.quietly goes about her business. She breaks the play very well, protects

:02:01. > :02:03.the back four and in possession, she's quality. I've gone with

:02:04. > :02:08.probably somebody that not everybody would pick, but I don't know what

:02:09. > :02:13.you think about that. I think it's a great choice. You and I agreeing,

:02:14. > :02:26.goodness me! I know! Make a note of it, everyone. It never happens, to

:02:27. > :02:30.be honest. Anyway, you say tomato, I say tomato. Use a lettuce leaves

:02:31. > :02:33.language, I say triple burger. Paige Williams goes off. On comes

:02:34. > :02:45.Abbey-Leigh Stringer. 21-year-old midfielder. She's made

:02:46. > :02:50.the route across from Aston Villa to Birmingham City. Came on in the

:02:51. > :02:52.semifinal with about a quarter of an hour to go. She's come through the

:02:53. > :03:04.Young England route. A couple of minutes to go. That was

:03:05. > :03:15.a bomb of a challenge. A tired tackle. There's been a yellow card.

:03:16. > :03:26.A bit of a shame, this late on in an FA Cup final. It was an almost

:03:27. > :03:30.exhausted psych into a challenge. You are right, she's worked so hard

:03:31. > :03:40.this game, Jess Carter. Another very good player. Lots and lots of

:03:41. > :03:45.potential. It is late. It wasn't an exhausted sag into a challenge, it

:03:46. > :03:52.was a terrible tackle. It was, when you see the replay. It was hefty,

:03:53. > :04:00.wasn't it? Still battling. It's a great attitude, when your team is

:04:01. > :04:08.behind in the Cup Final, to want it as much as she was.

:04:09. > :04:22.Stretched a little bit too much in there. This is a great run. For

:04:23. > :04:24.Manchester City. He is Carli Lloyd. Stanway wanted it back again, into

:04:25. > :04:55.Duggan. Flag up. Your Man of the Match Joyce got a

:04:56. > :05:05.great ovation in the stadium. They must have agreed with us. Three

:05:06. > :05:08.minutes of stoppage time to play at the end of the 2017 final. Having a

:05:09. > :05:36.bit of a slip. There will be a few tears a bit

:05:37. > :05:43.later on, I would think. Definitely. They follow Alan every game, home

:05:44. > :05:51.and away. Lloyd here has got it beyond Mannion. It is Duggan. The

:05:52. > :05:56.referee has blown, I think. Well, it's a yellow card to bring out a

:05:57. > :06:02.card for that of friends there, it could have been worse. Was there

:06:03. > :06:06.cover in the middle? I'd like to see it again. You could see that Carli

:06:07. > :06:10.Lloyd was waiting towards goal. You can see here, she just catches

:06:11. > :06:17.Mannion, breaking towards goal. There was just cover, but was fouled

:06:18. > :06:23.just outside the area? Yes, it was. And there was cover. Right decision

:06:24. > :06:29.from the referee. She's had a good game, hasn't she? She has, very

:06:30. > :06:37.good. Weldon Rebecca Welch. And the assistant referees, also the fourth

:06:38. > :06:50.official. -- well done, Rebecca Welch. Solid goalkeeping, good

:06:51. > :06:54.technique. But in behind it. -- got in behind it.

:06:55. > :07:30.Mayling still working hard, but she's given that away. It looked

:07:31. > :07:35.like a tired prod of the pass. Stokes into Lloyd, she's done really

:07:36. > :07:40.well there. Stanway. Chased and chased well by Harrop, but she still

:07:41. > :07:44.gets the shot off. A lovely bit of setup play by Carli Lloyd.

:07:45. > :07:49.Outstanding bit of play. She could see Georgia Stanway and it was just

:07:50. > :07:52.a lovely ball, right into her path. I actually think Georgia Stanway

:07:53. > :07:57.could have played the ball back to Carli Lloyd. She made a run just

:07:58. > :08:03.round the outside. Manchester City having won the league, having won

:08:04. > :08:10.the Continental Cup, have won the 20 17th FA Cup. Manchester City on the

:08:11. > :08:15.day were simply too good. Lucy Bronze put them ahead after 18

:08:16. > :08:20.minutes with a header, setting up Christiansen for brilliant second,

:08:21. > :08:24.seven minutes later, and Carli Lloyd rose at the far post, three up on 32

:08:25. > :08:29.minutes. They were not going to be beaten. Substitute Wellings pulled

:08:30. > :08:36.one back. Ellen White worked her socks off. We have the world's best

:08:37. > :08:39.player on your team, when you have seven of England's European

:08:40. > :08:45.champions in your team, it's always going to be difficult for the rivals

:08:46. > :08:50.and Birmingham City found it too difficult on the day. Manchester

:08:51. > :08:53.City are worthy winners. Yes, the best team won. Manchester City were

:08:54. > :08:58.solid in defence. When they went forward they were dangerous. They

:08:59. > :09:01.were clinical in front of goal. Birmingham City got themselves back

:09:02. > :09:05.into the game slightly in the second half, but the strongest team won in

:09:06. > :09:08.this game. Birmingham have done excellent to get here, but just

:09:09. > :09:16.couldn't cope with Manchester City's quality on the day. They are growing

:09:17. > :09:19.force in European football they've won the FA Cup. This is the one they

:09:20. > :09:25.lacked, this is the one they wanted, this is the one they have got.

:09:26. > :09:31.Scenes of celebration, for the England squat Watt squad players.

:09:32. > :09:36.What do you think Ellen White will make of the afternoon? You know her

:09:37. > :09:39.so well. She worked so hard. She was constantly trying to get her team

:09:40. > :09:43.back into the game. It's a difficult one to take. She will learn from

:09:44. > :09:46.this and she'll come back and I think she knows that Birmingham City

:09:47. > :09:49.are team that is developing and improving all the time, but she will

:09:50. > :09:54.be disappointed, she will be absolutely gutted. A terrific goal

:09:55. > :10:01.by Christiansen, wasn't it? Outstanding. She can make those late

:10:02. > :10:03.runs into the box and it's having the quality to be able to finish

:10:04. > :10:07.that off and that that's exactly what she did. Third FA Cup win in

:10:08. > :10:12.the career of Steph Houghton, and embrace for the coach, Nick Cushing.

:10:13. > :10:17.He has a team here now that over the next two years can go on and press

:10:18. > :10:21.the likes of Lyon and the teams who have dominated European football in

:10:22. > :10:27.the women's game over the last few years. Carli Lloyd, outstanding, at

:10:28. > :10:32.moments, a player of her quality to be in English football is a terrific

:10:33. > :10:35.thing. What a terrific performance by Keira Walsh today, Sue's player

:10:36. > :10:39.of the match. She's with Eilidh Barbour.

:10:40. > :10:44.You've added the FA Cup to your list of trophies at this club. How

:10:45. > :10:47.special does this one feel? It feels unbelievable. It's what is

:10:48. > :10:51.considered the biggest trophy in England and it's the only one we've

:10:52. > :10:55.not won so far. It's a great feeling to take the trophy back to

:10:56. > :10:58.Manchester. It was the perfect first half, you didn't seem fazed as a

:10:59. > :11:07.team by the occasion. Were you able to take any of it in at all? I think

:11:08. > :11:10.the three goals came quite fast, so other team we were pleased to get

:11:11. > :11:13.the three goals. Get the game sorted and it was a good feeling for us.

:11:14. > :11:16.The captain Steph joins us. You were favourites, there was an expectation

:11:17. > :11:20.upon your shoulders to win today. How proud I use that you've been

:11:21. > :11:24.able to do it? Obviously being favourites puts you under a bit of

:11:25. > :11:27.pressure but this is what the team is about, big players who play on

:11:28. > :11:33.big occasions and it was showing the first half performance. We were

:11:34. > :11:40.unbelievable. Credit to this girl, she is young and she makes our team

:11:41. > :11:42.tick. You hold all three domestic trophies at Manchester City. It's

:11:43. > :11:47.been a dominant display domestically. How much further does

:11:48. > :11:52.this team go? Why do you build towards? We have to make sure we

:11:53. > :11:55.retain these titles and we have to take the Champions League and we

:11:56. > :12:00.have had a taste of the semifinals, but we want to keep going until we

:12:01. > :12:06.win it. Weldon today, Akira, you are the player of the match and we ask

:12:07. > :12:10.Junior and Elliott to present the SSE player of the match.

:12:11. > :12:14.STUDIO: Manchester City absolutely living up

:12:15. > :12:18.to their invincible title they earned last season in the league.

:12:19. > :12:22.They were unbeaten. Why are they so good? They've just got depth across

:12:23. > :12:27.the whole squad. You look at the players they've brought on, Toni

:12:28. > :12:29.Duggan, Georgia Stanway, both England internationals, and they've

:12:30. > :12:34.got world-class players in their starting XI. I think that's really

:12:35. > :12:41.that's the crux of it. They've only been around in the WSL as a team

:12:42. > :12:45.since 2014, and they've achieved so much, the domestic trouble. Alex,

:12:46. > :12:49.your thoughts? It's not just one player, if Lucy Bronze is not

:12:50. > :12:52.scoring you have Carli Lloyd, you have Jill, who had a quiet game

:12:53. > :12:59.today, popping up with a fantastic goal. There are so many elements to

:13:00. > :13:02.the Man City team that they continued to grow. Eilidh Barbour is

:13:03. > :13:07.with the manager, Nick Cushing. It was the piece of the jigsaw that

:13:08. > :13:10.was missing. You are FA Cup winners, it sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

:13:11. > :13:14.It was the game after winning the double, the aim was the FA Cup. You

:13:15. > :13:17.know what, we've been good in every round but I thought today we were

:13:18. > :13:22.exceptional. With the schedule we've had and the games and travel we've

:13:23. > :13:26.had, to come and win 4-1 is exceptional. It's the first FA Cup

:13:27. > :13:36.final for the club and a first visit to Wembley, but they didn't seem

:13:37. > :13:39.phased by the occasion. How much mental preparation did you have to

:13:40. > :13:41.do today? I didn't have to do a lot. We challenge the players every day

:13:42. > :13:43.in training. We try to create something harder than the games in

:13:44. > :13:47.Manchester. I trust the players. They are big game players. They

:13:48. > :13:51.showed that last year, going undefeated. Today, they had to find

:13:52. > :13:54.their experiences of big games and they've done it, and exceptional

:13:55. > :13:58.performance. There's an expectation, it can be difficult to play to your

:13:59. > :14:02.potential. What does it say about these goals they were able to go out

:14:03. > :14:09.and do what they can do? I think the expectation that they put themselves

:14:10. > :14:12.is greater than any expectation from the outside. I got a big expectation

:14:13. > :14:16.on them every day to be the best they can be and if you are the best

:14:17. > :14:18.version of yourself and your team is improving, you win trophies. The

:14:19. > :14:22.first trophy we won after winning the double would be the most

:14:23. > :14:26.satisfying because it reinforces you are the dominant team in England.

:14:27. > :14:30.How important is that for you? Continuing to develop Manchester

:14:31. > :14:35.City. You've developed a hugely talented squad, bringing in players

:14:36. > :14:41.like Carles Gil -- Charlie Wyke. How important is it to continue the

:14:42. > :14:47.journey? We had Georgia Stanway on the pitch, McManus came on, it's not

:14:48. > :14:50.just the Carli Lloyd and Steph Houghton that contribute, it's the

:14:51. > :14:54.young players who we work hard every day and Keira Walsh's performance as

:14:55. > :14:59.a 19-year-old player who has never played international football on a

:15:00. > :15:02.senior stage was exceptional today. Weldon, Nick, go and enjoy it. Thank

:15:03. > :15:06.you. STUDIO:

:15:07. > :15:11.Very well deserved. Manchester City have had a tough schedule, playing

:15:12. > :15:14.in Europe, the Champions League semifinal against Lyon and the

:15:15. > :15:18.Spring Series and they've managed to do this.

:15:19. > :15:23.They were good today, strong, never in doubt they weren't going to win

:15:24. > :15:29.the game. What he has done a great job with, yes, they have excellent

:15:30. > :15:32.players but they work hard, well organised defensively and have a

:15:33. > :15:36.set-piece. All the qualities top teams have. Congratulations to Nick,

:15:37. > :15:40.as well. He has done a good job with the team. They've grown the team

:15:41. > :15:43.carefully and slowly and methodically and now they're a well

:15:44. > :15:49.oiled machine. He managed to sign the world's best player. Carli Lloyd

:15:50. > :15:52.is pitchside. You came here to win a trophy, to play well and you have

:15:53. > :15:56.certainly done that today. Well done. Yeah, it was a fantastic team

:15:57. > :16:01.performance. You know, this group's been trying to get this trophy for

:16:02. > :16:06.quite sometime. I just have kind of come in in the last month or so and

:16:07. > :16:10.helped push that along. Total team effort. Players on the pitch,

:16:11. > :16:15.players off the pitch. Fantastic, feels good to come back to Wembley

:16:16. > :16:20.and win again. And special Wembley memories, this has been a good place

:16:21. > :16:25.for you. Very good, hopefully I am back at some point again. Tremendous

:16:26. > :16:29.stadium. Pitch is fantastic. You know, a quality win to get that

:16:30. > :16:32.today. Like you say, this team has been building for a number of years

:16:33. > :16:36.before you have come in. What has most impressed you about the squad

:16:37. > :16:39.and the group of players, about the set-up here as you have built

:16:40. > :16:44.towards this Cup win? I think character. You know, we tied

:16:45. > :16:48.Birmingham recently in the spring series and to come out, fight,

:16:49. > :16:52.hungry, shows the character. We have had a tough battle against Lyon in

:16:53. > :16:57.the Champions League but we fought to get the second leg out in front

:16:58. > :17:00.of us. It's a great group of girls. I really enjoyed being here, the

:17:01. > :17:04.organisation is fantastic. They've got all the support they need. I

:17:05. > :17:10.have enjoyed my time here. I will let you enjoy lifting the trophy.

:17:11. > :17:13.Well done. Thank you. STUDIO: I am sure she will enjoy

:17:14. > :17:17.those celebrations very much indeed. Rachel, what could Birmingham have

:17:18. > :17:19.done differently? I don't know. I like to say what Nick said about

:17:20. > :17:23.each individual maximising their potential, being the best version of

:17:24. > :17:26.themselves. I don't think Birmingham could have done much more

:17:27. > :17:30.individually. As a team, they needed to play the game further up the

:17:31. > :17:34.pitch. They put themselves under pressure early on by playing out the

:17:35. > :17:38.back, that's their style, that's how they like to build up their play.

:17:39. > :17:42.But you put them under pressure and from that point it gave confidence

:17:43. > :17:46.to Manchester City to push further forward, keep their back line up and

:17:47. > :17:50.from that point Birmingham, certainly in the first hour of the

:17:51. > :17:53.game really, just couldn't get out of their half and Manchester City

:17:54. > :17:57.were pretty much pinning them back. We saw some bright sparks, some

:17:58. > :18:01.energy from Birmingham City in the second half after they got that

:18:02. > :18:04.consolation goal. We did, when they got the goal we were jumping for joy

:18:05. > :18:08.in the studio and thought they would push on from that. Look, they're a

:18:09. > :18:11.young team. They're not used to playing an occasion like this, they

:18:12. > :18:16.need to remember this feeling, it will hurt now. But let this be a

:18:17. > :18:19.driving factor, feel it and have hunger to get back here next year.

:18:20. > :18:23.We shouldn't forget Birmingham City have won the FA Cup final before.

:18:24. > :18:28.Absolutely. You have to give credit to Mark and the team. We talk about

:18:29. > :18:31.the run to get here, beat the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea. They earned

:18:32. > :18:36.a right to be here. They'll learn lessons. These big games, small

:18:37. > :18:41.details make a difference. City got the details right. Executed

:18:42. > :18:44.brilliant set-pieces, perfect pressing strategy and made it

:18:45. > :18:47.difficult for Birmingham for the majority of the game. They said they

:18:48. > :18:51.weren't going to show fear, they were coming out to win it. How do

:18:52. > :18:55.they pick themselves up now going forward? Yeah, it's tough. I have

:18:56. > :18:59.been there twice in terms of losing FA Cup finals. It's hard. There are

:19:00. > :19:02.some games to play and the great thing with football is there always

:19:03. > :19:05.is the next game. I am sure they'll put this behind them. Like Alex

:19:06. > :19:11.said, remember it and focus on the next one. Let's hand back to our

:19:12. > :19:19.commentary team, Jonathan Pearce and Sue for the trophy presentation.

:19:20. > :19:24.Thank you very much. The fact that Hegerberg and White both looked so

:19:25. > :19:27.desperately disappointed, is a good sign for Birmingham City, that shows

:19:28. > :19:32.they will be hungry for more. This is a group in development. And a

:19:33. > :19:37.club very much on the progressive route, getting good players in and

:19:38. > :19:42.as long as they get the backing of the club they'll come again. Here

:19:43. > :19:49.comes the trophy. The FA Cup.

:19:50. > :20:01.Up will come Manchester City, winner of today's final.

:20:02. > :20:07.?240,000 will be distributed throughout this Sean's competition.

:20:08. > :20:11.70,000 up from last season, which is good. That will out to clubs around

:20:12. > :20:15.the country. -- this season's competition.

:20:16. > :20:22.The honour party prepare to give out the trophy.

:20:23. > :20:30.And up they come. A terrific afternoon for Manchester

:20:31. > :20:35.City. Lawley on the winning side against

:20:36. > :20:40.her former club. She played very well. Picked up an

:20:41. > :20:46.injury late on. Karen Bardsley behind her.

:20:47. > :20:54.They'll go on to complete the spring series with Manchester City. Had a

:20:55. > :21:02.dramatic start and will be expected to win that. The other players will

:21:03. > :21:07.go out with England to Holland in the European Championships.

:21:08. > :21:14.Biggest crowd ever for a women's FA Cup final. 35271.

:21:15. > :21:21.Sunshine, good goals, and entertaining FA Cup final.

:21:22. > :21:27.This is a curious route up towards the honour party. Since the stadium

:21:28. > :21:39.was revamped and rebuilt. Lucy Bronze in there. Scored the

:21:40. > :21:48.first goal of the game. There is the coach. Completed the

:21:49. > :21:55.treble. Done everything he could. Now Nick Cushing. Made it back in

:21:56. > :22:02.time for the birth of his third child after they won the

:22:03. > :22:09.continental. There he is.

:22:10. > :22:20.Along the line they go. There is the trophy. That's the one they want.

:22:21. > :22:26.Jennifer Beattie, Scottish international, didn't get on, 26

:22:27. > :22:34.years of age today. Georgia Stanway who got on late on.

:22:35. > :22:40.Karen Bardsley. There is a good young player, as well, the Dutch

:22:41. > :22:46.youngster, Tessel Middag in the squad. Substitute goalkeeper, as

:22:47. > :22:51.well, Hourihan. Painful moment this for White. Twice on the winning side

:22:52. > :22:58.in a Cup final, twice on the losing side. Duggan, smiles for her at the

:22:59. > :23:03.end. She looked pretty disconsolate yesterday when she found out she

:23:04. > :23:06.wasn't starting. She played well when she came on. Jill Scott at the

:23:07. > :23:14.end completed the scoring. Carli Lloyd. Well, she has had her hands

:23:15. > :23:20.on the World Cup and the Olympic gold. Now the FA Cup in England.

:23:21. > :23:22.Steph Houghton reaches out the hands. You don't want to let the lid

:23:23. > :23:34.drop off. Up it goes!

:23:35. > :23:41.The 2017 SSE Women's FA Cup. The ticker tape sprinkles down. Golden

:23:42. > :23:45.and shimmering. The celebrations and this Manchester City side. The

:23:46. > :23:48.golden girls of English football. They've completed the domestic

:23:49. > :23:52.treble inside 12 months. A wonderful achievement. A wonderful

:23:53. > :23:59.performance. Beating Birmingham City on the day by 4-1.

:24:00. > :24:03.STUDIO: You can see how much it means to all the players. I expect

:24:04. > :24:06.celebrations will continue well into tomorrow. Alex, you were here this

:24:07. > :24:10.time last year. I remember watching, it looked like it was the happiest

:24:11. > :24:12.day of your life. I am getting emotional now watching them, it's

:24:13. > :24:17.bringing back memories. It really is. As a kid, you dream of playing

:24:18. > :24:21.at Wembley. To walk the Wembley stairs and lift a trophy, those

:24:22. > :24:25.players will remember this for the rest of their lives. Yeah, wish I

:24:26. > :24:29.could say the same. You played... No, I am not taking anything away, I

:24:30. > :24:36.have won the FA Cup and it was fantastic with Everton in 2010. It

:24:37. > :24:40.wasn't a Wembley, that's the brilliant thing of the progression

:24:41. > :24:44.of women's football. It's been at Wembley, where it should be. Whether

:24:45. > :24:47.you are male or female you want to play at Wembley, it's the iconic

:24:48. > :24:50.place for this country. The opportunity for these girls to do

:24:51. > :24:56.that and to celebrate, it really will last long in their memories.

:24:57. > :25:00.More than 35,000 people here inside Wembley Stadium. Record crowds. What

:25:01. > :25:02.does that mean for the story of women's football in this country?

:25:03. > :25:05.It's fantastic. You have to pay credit to all the guys behind the

:25:06. > :25:11.scenes who work so hard to get people to come. Our fans who turned

:25:12. > :25:14.out, but I was chatting to Alex earlier, that final with Doncaster,

:25:15. > :25:16.there was less than 5,000 there, that was four years ago. So we are

:25:17. > :25:23.making great progress and every year it gets better. Looking at a picture

:25:24. > :25:26.of Toni Duggan looking very happy. Can't imagine she will have been

:25:27. > :25:29.happy she didn't start. That's the life of a football, you have to deal

:25:30. > :25:33.with those situations. Some players show it more than other players. As

:25:34. > :25:37.an experienced player you learn to deal with how to manage your face as

:25:38. > :25:43.it were, have a professional outlook so you can only impact positively on

:25:44. > :25:47.the team. It's a competition for places, you are playing in the

:25:48. > :25:50.biggest day of your footballing career. Suddenly you are not

:25:51. > :25:53.starting, that's going to hurt for any player. She's come on the pitch

:25:54. > :25:57.and did a great job when she was on the pitch and that's all you can

:25:58. > :26:04.ask. We need to talk about Lucy Bronze who was on fire. Someone says

:26:05. > :26:08.if Lucy Bronze wins a medal will she become Lucy Gold? No, but we can

:26:09. > :26:13.show you the opening goal. I like that. Lucy was massively influential

:26:14. > :26:18.in the whole game. As we come to know her as a recognisable sort of

:26:19. > :26:21.defensive, attacking defender, she was phenomenal today. Her goal is

:26:22. > :26:26.nothing more than we expect. I spoke to Lucy before the game, because we

:26:27. > :26:30.only had Kelly Smith ever on the shortlist for Fifa World Player of

:26:31. > :26:33.the Year, I said to her this is your stage and you are the next player

:26:34. > :26:36.who I believe can get on that list and have that recognition as an

:26:37. > :26:40.England player. OK. We can look at these goals.

:26:41. > :26:47.Yeah, we talked about it at half-time. The Birmingham defending

:26:48. > :26:52.line should be higher. Gives more space for Berger to collect this.

:26:53. > :26:59.Doesn't. It's a great run from Lucy Bronze. Her whole all-round play,

:27:00. > :27:01.she creates the second goal by picking up possession and turning it

:27:02. > :27:05.over. Birmingham weren't very clever in giving them back possession in

:27:06. > :27:09.their own half. Mark, you were saying they don't get enough credit

:27:10. > :27:13.for set-pieces, that's what they really excel at and probably won the

:27:14. > :27:17.game on. It's a big part of the big games. If you look back at all the

:27:18. > :27:22.games and the World Cup 2015, America scored the first two from

:27:23. > :27:25.set-pieces. They blew Japan away. It was the corners. Manchester City so

:27:26. > :27:29.efficient and clever, have big players on the pitch. Good delivery.

:27:30. > :27:34.In big games you need those details to go right for you. Jill Scott will

:27:35. > :27:37.be pleased she managed to get on the score sheet. We were talking that

:27:38. > :27:42.Jill was having a quiet game. She was going about her job but a quiet

:27:43. > :27:45.game normally for Jill. To get a goal like that and an exquisite

:27:46. > :27:49.finish, she will be delighted. Birmingham got their consolation, of

:27:50. > :27:53.course. Yeah, what a strike that was for Charlie Wellings off the bench

:27:54. > :28:00.as a youngster, coming and playing at Wembley. That must be a strike

:28:01. > :28:02.she can only have dreamt of. Her left foot, non-dominant foot. And

:28:03. > :28:05.beat Bardsley who was a by-stander for much of the game. Moving

:28:06. > :28:09.forward, what do you think Birmingham will take from this? They

:28:10. > :28:12.need to remember it will hurt now, but remember the journey they've

:28:13. > :28:15.been on to get here, knocking Arsenal out, my team, knocking

:28:16. > :28:19.Chelsea out, they deserve to be here today. Remember this feeling but

:28:20. > :28:23.want to be back here next year. Mark? A lot of lessons frshgs a

:28:24. > :28:26.football point of view you learn the big games that you have to play

:28:27. > :28:30.what's in front of you, they got caught with that. They stuck to the

:28:31. > :28:34.plan, which is honest. But it's the wrong plan. The ability to adapt to

:28:35. > :28:39.what's in front of you is a big lesson to learn. It's the same for

:28:40. > :28:43.the manager, it was his first time, FA Cup final. It's phenomenal for

:28:44. > :28:48.them. Incredible achievement for Manchester City. Congratulations.

:28:49. > :28:52.Thank you to Alex and Mark. Good luck atUre 2017 and of course,

:28:53. > :28:57.Rachel, who you will hear on the radio throughout. Manchester City

:28:58. > :29:00.women hold the WSL title, the continental Cup and the FA Cup. It's

:29:01. > :29:04.a tremendous treble. Thank you for watching. Goodbye.