Errors cost Birmingham City in their most recent loss, but a new club record signing indicates potential.
The talking points from Birmingham City’s tight 1-0 loss to Charlton Athletic in the Championship on Sunday afternoon are provided by BirminghamLive.
Birmingham City Women lost 1-0 to Charlton Athletic on Sunday at St. Andrew’s, extending their Championship winless streak to four games.
The Blues would have liked to record three points after earning their first point of the season in their previous match, a 0-0 draw against Lewes. In the beginning, it seemed to be headed in that manner because they controlled possession and created more opportunities.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead in the second half thanks to a goal from Kayleigh Green who converted a penalty. Darren Carter’s team made every effort to equalize, but they were unable to do so, and their agonizing run continues.
Despite all of City’s resources and opportunities, it was two chaotic moments that ultimately proved costly. A blunder at the back gave Charlton the opening goal after they had produced very nothing in the first 60 minutes or so.
The ball was received to the right of Lucy Thomas’s area, who had done very little up to this point. The goalkeeper slipped and dropped the ball after being swiftly closed down by Green.
She fouled Green in a last-ditch effort to make amends, and the penalty was scored into the top corner. Jade Pennock received a second booking shortly after that and was consequently dismissed.
Both challenges, the first being in on the half hour mark, were arguably needless. The forward was in the opposition half and didn’t need to commit the foul.
What was shaping up to be a straightforward game for the Blues, who just needed to put the ball in the back of the net, turned into disarray and an insurmountable task within the space of a few minutes.
Still awaiting first win
Four games into the new season, four games without a win. It’s a set of results Carter and his players will wince at the sight of given they were a mere few points away from promotion last term.
The score lines haven’t necessarily been an accurate representation of the performances, however. On Sunday, at least, the Blues were the better team for much of the game.
They failed to capitalise on their domination and their opponents were able to make it count when it mattered. The need to be more ruthless in their displays and put their chances away is something the manager acknowledged at full-time.
Ivana Fuso shows promise
One of the few positives to come out of Sunday’s game was the performance of new women’s club-record signing Ivana Fuso. The Brazil international completed a deadline day move from Women’s Super League side Manchester United earlier in the week and has already shown glimpses of what she can offer moving forward.
The 22-year-old was often at the heart of what City did well and she certainly has an eye for goal. An effort in the first half was tipped behind by the goalkeeper and she unselfishly tried to set up Libby Smith in a quick counter-attack move just before the break, but the Blues were once again denied.
“Ivana has undoubted quality,” the manager said post-match, when asked about Fuso’s influence. “We were unsure (whether she’d be ready) as she’s only been in the building two days training with us. She’s come off the back of a pre-season with Man United where she’s played 70 minutes and 15 minutes before today.
“It was a 50/50 whether we started her today and we felt that she could come in with her energy and the adrenaline of being at a new club, she could make an impact and she did. She had a good chance in the first half and set up Libby (Smith) with a clear cut one not long after.
“She showed some really bright moments and the more she’s in with us and understands how we play and do things, and gets fitter, she’s going to be a real threat for us.”
Latest red card highlights need to adapt
It’s been no secret this summer that the FA will be clamping down on dissent, time- wasting and a myriad of other things. That’s been evident in the sheer number of bookings across the game’s leagues in recent weeks.
The Women’s Championship has been no different. Last season, eight red cards were awarded across the entirety of the campaign.
This term, in just four games, there has already been five. In City’s last game away at Lewes, both teams were reduced to 10 players with summer signing Katie Dungate sent off for the Blues for a second bookable offence.
Pennock’s red card on Sunday can be deemed as quite harsh, but it highlights the need for teams to adapt to the new rules and quickly. Otherwise, regular suspensions will be another difficulty to contend with this season,
adding more firepower
On deadline day, the Blues added further players in addition to Fuso. Choe Yu-ri, 29, followed South Korean veteran Cho So-Hyun through the door to offer more firepower.
Choe has spent her whole career to date in her home country, while Choe joins the club after leaving WSL team Tottenham this summer. Due to her participation in the forthcoming Asian games, the Blues will have to wait to watch the latter play, but both signings could be crucial later in the season.
