Bristol City goalscorer Abi Harrison believes the Robins are growing in confidence with each passing game and their Championship promotion hopes continue to burn brightly following a 1-0 victory against Blackburn Rovers at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.
Despite it being their first game in over a month, Lauren Smith’s side were well on top against their lacklustre opponents and deservedly took three points thanks to Abi Harrison’s first-half goal.
Blackburn looked bereft of confidence after last week’s 6-0 thrashing by Liverpool, while Bristol City were able to extend their unbeaten run to nine games.
The result leaves the Robins in fifth, nine points behind league-leaders Liverpool, while Blackburn stay 10th.
"Eleven goals for the season overall now, only seven in the league, but I think I should have had more and I think as a team we should have had more and probably just keeping it at 1-0 they thought they had a chance in the game," Harrison said.
“Promotion is always the goal, we know internally what our goals are and what we can do. Obviously, it depends on the form of other teams but we will do everything we can in-house and we will see how it goes in terms of the other teams come the end of the season.”
“We’re confident. We don’t fear anyone in this league and we will do the hard work. Obviously, we’ve got a tough game on Wednesday away to Manchester City (in the WSL Cup) but when people come to our home we want it to be a fortress, we don’t want to be beaten there. So yeah we build on it and I’m sure we will get three points.”
Harrison showed a sign of things to come when she was found in the area straight from kick-off, but her fierce effort was straight at Alex Brooks.
She wasn’t to be denied for long however, as the Scottish striker clinically found the bottom corner after Aimee Palmer’s corner wasn’t cleared to open the scoring on 16 minutes.
The in-form forward wasted a glorious opportunity to make it two shortly before half-time, sending her effort wide after being put through on goal after a superb Melissa Johnson pass.
The away side continued to dominate after the break, with Brooks denying Ffion Morgan’s strike from inside the box.
Aimee Hodgson came the closest to equalising when she advanced into the box, but her effort hit the post. But the home side rarely threatened Fran Bentley’s goal, thereafter, and Harrison’s early strike proved to be enough for the three points.
Blackburn Rovers Ladies: (4-4-2): Alex Brooks, Chelsey Jukes, Natasha Fenton, Jade Richards, Chloe Dixon, Saffron Jordan, Annabel Blanchard, Megan Hornby (Amaya Coleman-Evans, 56), Hannah Coan, Lauren Thomas (Farah Crompton, 46), Aimee Hodgson; Subs not used: Eleanor Heeps, Katie Anderson, Helen Seed, Kayleigh McDonald, Millie Chandarana
Bristol City Women: (4-3-3): Fran Bentley; Ella Powell; Lia Cataldo; Brooke Aspin (Flo Allen, 66); Aimee Palmer; Abi Harrison; Ava Kuyken (Aggie Beever-Jones, 57); Melissa Johnson; Chloe Bull (Gwen Davies, 80); Ffion Morgan (Izzy Cook, 80); Satara Murray; Subs not used: Sophie Whitehouse; Jasmine Bull; Simran Jhamat; Maisy Collis; Jesse Woolley
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