That’s all for tonight. Well done to Arsenal Women, to Fulham and to Aston Villa, who will all be toasting victory this evening. See you soon for more.
Villa v Southampton must be up there with the worst ever PL games.
— Jeff Stelling (@JeffStelling) September 16, 2022
The Aston Villa manager Gerrard speaks to Sky Sports after a precious win: “We stuck together and got it done … Listen, a lot of the criticism and external noise is fair, although some people get carried away … we had to accept that and act as a group. To be fair to the players they’ve rolled their sleeves up. We’ve had to change our style, maybe digging in, fighting more … as we move up the league, maybe the pretty stuff will return.”
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Peter Lansley was our man at the City Ground to watch Forest’s latest capitulation:
“That, for me, was a big, big moment in the game,” points out Gary Neville of the Aston Villa goal, in a match that finished 1-0. Love it.
John McGinn speaks to Sky Sports: “It’s huge. We’ve been criticised for not grafting and not fighting … tonight, we fought for ever ball … it’s a huge three points, and it feels good.
“If I was watching the telly I’d have turned it off. But we owed the manager a performance … You either go into your shell, or you puff your chest out, and do something about it.”
Why was it such a scrappy game, asks Geoff Shreeves: “We cannae argue it’s rust [following the postponement last weekend] … I don’t know, we’ve not been in great form, we’ve not been creating enough chances … once we got the goal, it was about staying strong … we need to build from this.”
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The collective groan at Villa Park that Ben (quite rightly) leads his report with was audible on the TV. Both sets of fans were gutted that there was more of it to endure.
Even the five minutes of second-half stoppage time was met with a communal groan. Aston Villa did not exactly blow Southampton away but for Steven Gerrard, who spent the closing stages biting his fingernails, this was a victory and a welcome clean sheet that will have done wonders.
Is it, though?
I daresay Sky Sports will have a spot of reaction coming up from Villa Park following that quite frankly woeful match. So I’ll bring you some!
Neither side did much for their hopes of having representatives in the All Star game, that’s for sure.
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Gerrard makes a point of shaking hands with Joe Aribo, now of Southampton, who of course he managed at Rangers.
Full-time! Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton
Job done for Gerrard and his men. It certainly wasn’t pretty but it’s a win.
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Full time! Nottingham Forest 2-3 Fulham
Steve Cooper’s men have thrown away a lead yet again. There were three goals for Fulham inside six second-half minutes.
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Bazunu goes up for a corner. Villa break out. Ings tries a shot, aiming at the open goal, from just inside the Saints half. He gets is horribly wrong, the ball skews off the outside of his boot and out for a goal kick. He laughs.
Curtain up. As the Women’s Super League season began on a freezing Friday on the fringes of London, the hazy sunlit pastures of Wembley felt a long way away. Perhaps this was for the best. There are new battles to be fought, new rivalries to nourish, and for Arsenal a new campaign that brings with it the familiar hope of finally deposing Chelsea from their throne. Time to get to work.
Six minutes of added time at the City Ground.
Could Forest fight back for a point? They’ve got a minute or so plus stoppages.
“This game’s been awful. Aston Villa won’t care.”
Jamie Carragher, there.
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I’d have thought that Forest v Fulham was always likely to be more watchable than Villa v Southampton, but I guess it’s easy in hindsight. The commentator at Villa Park has just rather enviously mentioned the five goals in tonight’s other match.
“Just seen Armstrong replaced by Armstrong has that ever happened before (non-related players) in a professional football match? Not much else to talk about for this game …”
I’m sure non-related players of the same name have swapped before. But Armstrongs? No idea.
Goal! Nottingham Forest 2-3 Fulham (O'Brien 77)
Forest get one back thanks to the substitute Lewis O’Brien. Can they nab a point? Can they nab a win? Worrall, Lingard and Surridge are also on.
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Hang on. There IS something to report from Villa Park. The clock ticks to 70 minutes, the game stops for a minute, and the crowd applaud to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign.
It’s the same deal at the City Ground, and indeed it will be the same at every PL match this weekend:
70' | #NFFC 1-3 #FUL
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) September 16, 2022
The City Ground applauds in recognition of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
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If you are hoping for updates from Villa Park, there still isn’t a huge amount to report. Villa lead 1-0. Southampton are struggling to make inroads in attack. But so are Villa.
The Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou, has called on away supporters to respect a minute’s applause in memory of the Queen before Sunday’s game at St Mirren.
Full-time in the WSL! Arsenal 4-0 Brighton
That will be that at Meadow Park. The Gunners, aided by a seventh-minute red card for Emma Kullberg, made hay against Brighton with goals from Little, Blackstenius, and a second-half double from Mead.
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“I’m watching the Notts Forest game tonight, and it’s interesting they still don’t have a sponsor on the front of their shirt,” writes Charlie. “It’s refreshing to see a team without the logo of some obnoxious online betting company splurged over the shirt, but why can’t they find a suitable advertiser?”
As I understand it, Forest have been holding out for more than a sponsor is prepared to pay.
Goals for Fulham! (Palhinha and Reed)
Marvellous for Fulham. But oh dear, Forest. Harrison Reed makes it 3-1 after Palhinha’s leveller for the Cottagers.
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Goal! Arsenal 4-0 Brighton (Mead 83)
It’s two for Mead and four for Arsenal. She follows up an effort by the substitute Maanum and slots it comfortably into the corner.
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Goal! Forest 1-1 Fulham (Adarabioyo 55)
It’s all square in Nottingham. Willian with the corner, Tosin Adarabioyo with the header to level it. Forest surely can’t suffer another turnaround defeat – can they?
54' TOSIN HEADS US LEVEL!!!
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) September 16, 2022
🔴 1-1 🤍 #NFOFUL pic.twitter.com/nFV7laccgt
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Hurtig, Nobbs, Catley and Maanum are all now on the pitch for the Gunners at Meadow Park. Miedama, Walti, Foord and Blackstenius off.
Awoniyi and his Forest teammates celebrate.
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) September 16, 2022
A quarter of an hour to play at Meadow Park, but Arsenal have the points and an opening win wrapped up already. Jonas Eidevall will be happy to get off the mark with a win in the WSL.
Disallowed goal for Arsenal!
Miedama follows in and taps home a half-saved shot by Mead. But it’s ruled out, I think for offside against Miedama.
Good from Duncan Alexander, king of football Twitter banter, re: Danny Ings and his indeterminate age.
how old danny ings is // how old i think danny ings is
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) September 16, 2022
20 // 27
21 // 27
22 // 27
23 // 27
24 // 27
25 // 27
26 // 27
27 // 27
28 // 27
29 // 27
30 // 28
Goal! Arsenal 3-0 Brighton (Mead)
Miedama gets to the byline on the right and strokes a smart cut-back towards Mead, who sweeps it into the net first time. It’s party time at Meadow Park, if you happen to be a Gunners fan.
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“Having watched fifteen minutes of Nottingham Forest during the Arsenal-Brighton interval, I feel well qualified to have an opinion,” writes Kari Tulinius. “They look well drilled going forward, but defensively seem barely aware of each other’s existence. Usually when managers are faced with a load of new players, the defence gets sorted quickly, but the attack takes a while to gel. Are Fulham making them look good in attack or was that quarter of an hour representative of the team?”
The word on the street is that Worrall has been in poor form in central defence, which is rather backed up by the fact that Cooper benched him tonight. Boly and Cook should pull themselves together soon enough, I’d have thought.
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Premier League half-time scores
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Fulham
Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton
Douglas Luiz nearly curled a corner straight into the goal for Villa just before the break, as they pushed for a second. Luiz has just come on for Boubacar Kamara, who must be injured. Coutinho was then booked for something. Anyway, it’s 1-0 at the break in both tonight’s PL matches.
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Goal! Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton (Ramsey 41)
Villa have a corner. It’s taken short and then whipped in by Coutinho to Watkins, who brings a good save from Bazunu with a smart header from a central position, about eight yards out. Bazunu fails to get the ball out of the danger zone, though, and Ramsey mops up and volleys in the rebound. There is a VAR check … but the goal stands. Gerrard’s men lead.
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Goal! Arsenal 2-0 Brighton (Blackstenius 50)
A neat pass from Mead allows Blackstenius to crack a fine shot into the top corner from point-blank range.
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“I was hoping for a more entertaining game than what Arsenal v Brighton has been so far,” emails Charles Antaki. “Possibly the Brighton sending off hasn’t helped, and maybe there’s a certain amount of rustiness in all concerned. Sure, Arsenal have dominated; but they haven’t made that many good chances, and apart from a couple of inspired runs by Foord and some lovely passes from Miedema, there’s been a certain amount of drudge. Six world-class goals, please, in the second half.”
Blackstenius nearly gets one – her effort is nudged on to a post by Walsh in the Brighton goal. Brighton then storm down to the other end, and nearly get one themselves.
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They are under way again in the WSL at Meadow Park.
For Aston Villa, Coutinho twists and turns and hammers a shot from distance which flies over the bar. A bright moment, a bit of intent, which is something.
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Tonight’s latest scores are as follows:
WSL
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton (HT)
Premier League
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Fulham
Aston Villa 0-0 Southampton
Over on Twitter, Stuie is buzzing for Liverpool in the WSL. And why not?
@LukeMcLaughlin evening luke looking forward to Liverpool back in the WSL on Sunday
— Stuie Neale (@MrNeale92) September 16, 2022
The Poland international teammates, Matty Cash and Jan Bednarek, are pictured in the stands having a chat and a bit of a laugh at Villa Park. Glad they are enjoying themselves.
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Cook in the book.
28' | #NFFC 1-0 #FUL
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) September 16, 2022
Cook is booked for bringing down Willian on the edge of the area 🟡
Trivia: Steve Cook and Willian have a combined age of 65.
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Elyounoussi and Adams try and link up for Saints in the Villa penalty area with 25 minutes gone. There is moment of panic for Villa but they clear their lines. Perraud soon has a comical air shot in the next phase of play, then James Ward-Prowse has a shot blocked.
At the City Ground, Forest lead Fulham by a goal to nil.
“We’re just waiting for this game to really come to life,” points out Seb Hutchinson, commentating for Sky Sports at Aston Villa v Southampton. Very much so.
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Kári Tulinius emails:
“Hello Luke, If like me, someone wants to watch Arsenal-Brighton but lives outside the UK, it’s also possible to watch the match on the Arsenal website.”
Good to know, thanks Kári.
In the Premier League, there really isn’t an awful lot happening at Villa Park, so little has changed there. Need I tell you it’s 0-0? Looks like I just have.
Half-time! Arsenal Women 1-0 Brighton Women
The teams head off for a half-time cup of tea and a segment of orange or two at Meadow Park. Arsenal have dominated, and could easily be 3 or 4-0 up, but Brighton have limited the damage to one goal. For now.
“This season I decided to play Premier League Fantasy football for the first time in well over a decade,” writes Peter Oh. “I’m in about six millionth place so it’s not going particularly well. I’m confident, however, that I’ll be able to beat the drop - provided I don’t get sacked.
“Anyway, the sight of Ashley Young in Aston Villa’s starting XI takes me right back to my previous stint as manager. I used to pick him pretty regularly back then, with good returns if I remember correctly. He’s not in my starting XI this match week but kudos to him for still being around, making fantasies come true.”
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A lovely hit by Walti for Arsenal which is beaten out for a corner by Walsh. Then another effort is cleared off the line. If Brighton get anything here, fair dinkum, it’ll be a miracle.
An email from Adam Kline-Schoder: “As you mentioned that Arsenal vs Brighton is not on telly, I feel compelled to point out that it -- and many other matches besides! -- is available for free on the FA Player. There’s commentary and all that too, plus other fun features at the half to introduce more players from the league.”
Quite right. I’ve got it on. Thanks Adam.
Goal! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Fulham (Awoniyi 11)
The Nigeria international scores for the Tricky Trees at the City Ground! A header from a free-kick.
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What’s occurring at Villa Park, I hear you cry. Not much. It’s 0-0 after 10 minutes.
Nottingham Forest, who are badly in need of a win, have started with a smattering of confident passing against Fulham.
Over at Meadow Park there is another chance for Arsenal, but it’s still 1-0. It’s going to be a long night for the Brighton defenders following Kullberg’s early sending off.
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Blackstenius cracks the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the box! It’s all Arsenal, unless you count that earlier chance for Terland.
Goal! Arsenal 1-0 Brighton (Little 28)
It’s there. Foord does well to get to the byline and cut the ball back. Little controls, takes her time, and belts the ball unerringly past Walsh in the Brighton goal.
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At Villa Park, fans held a minute’s silence for the Queen, followed by applause … and now we’ve got a rendition of God Save the King.
Aston Villa and Southampton hold a minute of silence to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. pic.twitter.com/w5Wu1vW76k
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 16, 2022
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Arsenal, as you might expect, are all over 10-woman Brighton. It’s all hands on deck for the Seagulls defence. But hang on! Brighton counter and Terland, on debut, clips a shot just wide of an upright.
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Red card! Kullberg (Brighton)
A terrible start for Brighton. Emma Kullberg is shown a straight red card after challenging Stina Blackstenius of Arsenal, who was going through on goal.
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Gerrard is asked about Philippe Coutinho who was dropped for the match against Manchester City: “He’s trained with a little bit of hurt … I’ve seen a different performer, a really driven one.”
So, the new WSL season is a couple of minutes away. It’s not on telly, but is available to watch via the FA Player on governing body’s website. Arsenal will kick off against Brighton very shortly.
The Premier League matches, Forest v Fulham (also not on telly) and Villa v Southampton (on telly!) will kick off at 8pm.
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“Becks” queued up to see the Queen lying in state. Here is the video:
Aston Villa v Southampton teams
The Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has recovered from illness to face Southampton. Ashley Young and Philippe Coutinho return for the injured Matty Cash and Douglas Luiz, who is on the bench.
Joe Aribo drops to the bench in the only change from Southampton’s 1-0 defeat at Wolves, replaced by Moussa Djenepo.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Young, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Ramsey, Kamara, McGinn, Bailey, Coutinho, Watkins. Substitutes: Douglas Luiz, Sanson, Ings, Buendia, Chambers, Augustinsson, Nakamba, Olsen, Dendoncker.
Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Kotchap, Salisu, Perraud, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi, Djenepo, Adam Armstrong, Adams. Substitutes: McCarthy, Lyanco, Caleta-Car, Aribo, Stuart Armstrong, Mara, Edozie, Larios, Walcott.
Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland)
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Nottingham Forest v Fulham teams
Steve Cooper makes three changes to his Forest team, with Wily Boly making his Forest bow in central defence this evening, while club captain Joe Worrall notably drops to the bench. Boly is joined in the team by Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler and Taiwo Awoniyi. Jesse Lingard and Cheikhou Kouyate are the other players who move to the bench.
Fulham bring in Issa Diop and Willian with Neeskens Kebano among the substitutes, with Antonee Robinson ruled out because of an ankle injury.
Nottingham Forest: Henderson, Boly, Cook, McKenna, Williams, Yates, Freuler, Renan Lodi, Gibbs-White, Johnson, Awoniyi. Substitutes: Biancone, Worrall, Lingard, Hennessey, O’Brien, Toffolo, Surridge, Kouyate, Dennis.
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Diop, Reed, Joao Palhinha, Reid, Andreas Pereira, Willian, Mitrovic. Substitutes: Rodak, Duffy, Kebano, Cairney, Chalobah, James, Mbabu, Vinicius, Harris.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia)
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Gareth Taylor says he understands the concern of Manchester City fans after a summer of change and has urged them to be patient as his new players get to grips with the league and setup.
Arsenal v Brighton teams
Arsenal: Zinsberger, Wienroither, Williamson, Rafaelle, McCabe, Walti, Little (capt), Miedema, Mead, Blackstenius, Foord. Substitutes: Marckese, Wubben-Moy, Beattie, Catley, Maritz, Maanum, Nobbs, Iwabuchi, Hurtig.
Brighton: Walsh, Fox, Pattinson, Sarri, Lee, Zigiotti, Terland, Bance, Green, Kullberg, Williams. Substitutes: Startup, Park, Robinson, Jarvis, Ferguson.
Our first starting XI of 2022/23...
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 16, 2022
🏴 @leahcwilliamson in defence
🇳🇱 @VivianneMiedema starts
🇸🇪 @SBlackstenius up top
COME ON YOU GUNNERS! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/UWv8WrX40v
Here's the team to face @ArsenalWFC for our opening game of this season's @BarclaysWSL! 🚨
— Brighton & Hove Albion Women (@BHAFCWomen) September 16, 2022
📲 https://t.co/1JRqX8gtVj // #BHAFC 🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/A9AAeKqJK7
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Keen to get the lowdown on this season’s WSL?
Suzanne Wrack explains all in this video:
Preamble
Good evening. Following last weekend’s postponements, the Premier League and the Women’s Super League return tonight: Aston Villa v Southampton and Nottingham Forest v Fulham are on the menu in the Premier League, while at Meadow Park, the WSL season kicks off with Arsenal v Brighton.
The weekend’s action will of course be characterised by tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II before her funeral on Monday: and as rugby union and plenty of other sports demonstrated last weekend, it’s perfectly possible to stage top-level sport and allow those who wish to a chance to pay their respects, all at the same time.
The WSL kicks off at 7.30pm, the two PL matches at 8pm, and I shall also bring you freestyle updates from matches across Europe, along with any appropriate breaking news and weekend preview stuff. Let’s go.
