24 December 2019

Mid-season Women's Super League review: Brighton stumble out of the blocks as defensive woes continue to haunt them

Over the course of the Christmas break NewsChain is taking an in-depth look at each of the Women's Super League sides' performances so far this season.

Next up it's Brighton, a side that struggled at the bottom of the table last season and carried on in much the same way so far in this campaign.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Last season: 9th

Current position: 10th

Hope Powell took over at Brighton in 2017 after 15 years coaching the England national team (PA Images)

The 2018/19 season was Brighton's first in the top flight, so it was understandable that it took them seven games to claim their first win.

But this time around manager Hope Powell would have expected her side to come out of the traps a little quicker.

In reality, Brighton again failed to win for a considerable amount of time, going two months without a league victory.

Ultimately, too many defensive mistakes have led to the south coast side conceding 22 goals, the second most in the division.

After opening with a goalless draw against Bristol City, Brighton did show signs of promise when they took a point off title challengers Chelsea.

But the rot started to set in when they were thrashed 4-0 by Arsenal and then picked off 3-1 at home to West Ham.

A superb display against Birmingham appeared to show the rest of the sides in the WSL what they can do when everything clicks.

But the following week they resorted to lacklustre defending as they were thumped 4-0 once more, this time by the newly promoted Manchester United.

A draw against Reading has given them a three point cushion above Bristol City in the relegation zone.

However, two more defeats, the second of which came in a 5-0 defeat Manchester City in their final game of 2019, means they head into the new year with very little momentum.

Brighton return on January 5 when they host fellow strugglers Liverpool.

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