THE EAGLES FLEW ALL OVER THE BLUES IN A DOMINATED DISPLAY

Blues automatic chance of getting back into the WSL are on a knife-edge after being comprehensively beaten by inform Crystal Palace under the leadership of former Blues greats Jo Potter and her assistant Remi Allen. Goals from Annabel Blanchard a header from Abbie Larkin & a third from Welsh Striker Elise Hughes made it the easiest three points of the season for the Eagles. For us a lot of questions need to be asked of the recruitment of players and why are we looking at the foreign market all the time to pick up these players but more on that later. Amy made two changes with Veatriki Sarri coming back in and player of the month Lily Crosthwaite coming back in after her knock against Forest.

FIRST HALF 

The first meaning for chance of the game was for Palace when a Annabel Blanchard header was saved by Adrianna Franch n the 9^th minute.

Then in the 12^th minute a My Cato shot missed the left hand post.

Palace were all over Blues the next chance for them came when a Aimee Everett header missed the left hand post in the 13^th minute.

The first meaningful Blues attempt came in the 22^nd minute when a Wilma Leidhammar shot was straight at Shae Yanez.

But Palace took a deserved lead when a beautifully flick header on from Abbie Larkin but through Mollie Mae-Sharpe who pulled it back to Annabel Blanchard and finished of brilliantly a great team goal  in the 29^th minute.

The next chance game for us when ex Palace player Shanade Hopcroft shot missed the left hand post in the 35^th minute.

But Palace doubled the lead just before the break when former Blues player Hayley Ladd played in Ashleigh Weerden and her cross beautifully put it on the head of Abbie Larkin who made it three goals in four games and Palace looked like team who deserved to be fighting for promotion and Blues look defeated.

HALF TIME BLUES WOMEN 0-2 CRYSTAL PALACE WOMEN 

SECOND HALF

Blues needed a reaction and we did get it in sorts when a header from Neve Herron was straight at Shae Yanez in the 5oth minute.

And Herron had another chance of in the 54^th minute when her shot went over the bar.

Palace’s first effort of the second came from Annabel Blanchard but her shot from outside the box was high & wide.

Then a effort from Lotta Lindstrom in the 64^th minute also went high and wide.

In the 74^th minute a Wilma Leidhammar shot went just passed the post.

Then substitute Oceane Hurtre shot from outside of the box which was easily saved from Shae Yanez in the 77^th minute.

But the eagles finished the game off in the 80^th minute when a quick counter attack when Ashleigh Weerden played in Elise Hughes and passed it into the net and there fully deserved it.

The last chance for Blues getting a goal back when Lily Crosthwaite crossed for Ocean Hurte to tap in 3-1.

The last chance of the game was Lola Browne shot going into the arms of Adrianna Franch.

FULL TIME BLUES WOMEN 1-3 CRYSTAL PALACE WOMEN

MY THOUGHTS ON THE GAME

First of all, congratulations to Crystal Palace there out fought out played and when there had a chance their put it away with their quality especially from Abbie Larkin who was outstanding. For Blues there was nothing to be positive about this was a performance that a relegation side should be ashamed off to be a part of . The only players I will give credit to are Rebecca Mckenna and Martha Harris you gave there all from one to ninety but the rest of them should have stayed at home. I don’t understand why she did not start with Shannon Cooke, and the subs were ridiculous, but players need to look at themselves and understand who the playing for the fans. Are history against playing against the top teams and when we got something to play since are relegation from the WSL has been nothing more than embarrassing it’s not just under Amy under previous gaffers to yes we can blame the head coach but the players to we been down this road before and we need a wakeup call. And I hope the players staff and board are hurting like us fans are I been supporting Blues women since 2012 and I never been so dishearten by a performance then last night I know we are second but momentum on consistent bases what make teams get out of the WSL2 and I hope the next time we come back into  WSL2 action I want to see it from the coach to the players.

MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH 

There are a lot of Crystal Palace players I can go for but I have to go for Abbie Larkin it was a stand out performance  from Larkin getting her goal but the set up for the first goal was outstanding.

RECRUITMENT 

I think there have to be questions on the recruitment side of things in January we brought in Asato Miyagaw, Shanade Hopcroft, Michaela Kovics &
Wilma Leidhammar there only one I was excited about was Hopcroft because of her experience in this league . And also letting go Ava Baker, Tegan McGowen & Lily Agg all on loan and my problem is we don’t have leaders in our squad and letting Agg on loan was a ridiculous decision and we don’t have enough experience in this squad I don’t know why we keep looking at the foreign  market if you ask me I prefer to look at the WSL & WSL2 signings look at Palace the majority of the team played in the WSL or WSL2  I really hope they look at this in the future. Also on signing foreign players in January they need time to adopt to are style of football and if we are going for the title we cant have people adopting we need ready players  who come in and understand the league.

UP NEXT 

We in  FA Cup action against Chatham Town on Saturday and its a 17:15 kick off and the game will be live on TNT Sports.

STEPHEN GILL KRO

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