PORTSMOUTH WOMEN V BLUES WOMEN PREVIEW

Finally, football is back for the girls in blue feels like forever but its finally back and just like the end of 2023 Blues finished on top of the tree but lets hope for a different ending at the end of the season this time then last years disappointing fifth place finishing ten points behind eventual winners Crystal Palace.
But a new year brings new expectations and with Amy and her girls I think it be a great end of the season hopefully getting back into the WSL. Off the pitch there have been some changes to with the brilliant Emily Simpkins going off to the states to have a new challenge, but we have replaced with Jay Bradford who was working at Rangers with Blues legend Jo Potter. And on the transfer front there has been one outgoing with Siobhan Wilson going on loan to Remi Allens Southampton side which is a great move for her.
ONTO SUNDAYS GAME
Blues first game of 2025 is a away trip to the south coast to face Jay Sadler’s Pompey side who in the last game got a great point at Sunderland drawing 2-2 with goals from Sophie Quirk and the equalizer goal from Lily Dent to get there second point of the season.
For Blues it was a disappointing end of 2024 with a stalemate against Charlton Athletic finishing 0-0 .
I think the first goal will be so important if Blues get it, I think we can get the three points but if Pompey get it its something to hold on for them and there got players that can hurt us with former Blackburn Rovers striker Megan Hornby who scored the winner against us on the opening day of 23-24 with a well time finish pass Lucy Thomas.
Also, they’re got experience with Sophie Baker which there will need if there got any chance of getting of the relegation zone.
People are saying it will be a walk in the park but I disagree like the beginning of 2024 after will beat London City we went down to Watford and two goals from Michelle Agyemang got the hornets the three points. So, Blues need to be focus and switch on to get anything out of the game on Sunday.
LAST TIME WE MET
Blues made it a comfortable win with goals from Libby Smith a brace for debutant Lee Geum-Min and a Louise Quinn header got us a 4-0 win. I would love to see a repeat of that on Sunday to have a great start for 2025 but I think it will be a tight cagey game.
To the fans going down there have a safe trip and hopefully you can bring back those three points back to St Andrews.
KRO STEPHEN GILL