Saints 0-1 Bristol City

• St Mary Stadium
• 21/09/25
• Attendance 1,821
• Goals:
  • Saints 0
  • Bristol City 1
    • Lloyd Smith 88'

This was a tough one to take for Saints.

They started well, with Ferguson, Simpson and Brazil going close in the first half.

Both teams had to make substitutes before the break; sadly, it was Collett who had to be replaced for Saints. However, youngster Issy Watts came on and didn’t look out of place at all.

The first half finished 0-0, but although Bristol City had a few chances, it was Saints who had the better of the half.

The second half started in a similar fashion, Saints having good chances, but Bristol were getting into the game and hit the post before making Fran Stenson make a good save.

It was two well-matched sides, both doing everything to try and get the win.

City were able to bring on ex-Saint Lexi Lloyd-Smith and ex-Spanish international Vicky Losada, while Saints had Amy Goddard and then youngsters to come on.

Sadly, late on, one of those youngsters, Ruby-Rae Tucker, dislocated her shoulder in an aerial challenge and had to go off. Saints had made all their subs, so had to play out the last few minutes with ten players.

Bristol City went at Saints, and in the 88th minute, Lexi Lloyd-Smith burst through the midfield, laid the ball off on the edge of the area, it bobbled about between defenders and attackers, before popping up in front of Lloyd-Smith, who hammered it into the corner. 0-1.

Saints did have a chance to grab a late equaliser, but it came to nothing.

A real shame for Saints; they did enough to get a point, and neither team deserved to lose. But I feel more positive about the team than I did last season.