2020–21 Bristol City W.F.C. season

Bristol City

2020–21 season
Chairman	Simon Arnold
Head Coach	Tanya Oxtoby (until 15 January) Matt Beard (maternity cover) (from 15 January)
Stadium	Twerton Park, Bath
FA WSL	12th (relegated)
FA Cup	Fourth round
League Cup	Runner-up
Top goalscorer	League: Ebony Salmon (6) All: Ebony Salmon (10)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

The 2020–21 Bristol City W.F.C. season was the club's fifth season under the Bristol City affiliation and the organisation's 22nd overall season in existence. It was their fourth consecutive full season in the FA Women's Super League following promotion to the 2017 Spring Season. Along with competing in the WSL, the club also competed in two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

In a bid to enable increased attendances amid COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing measures, Bristol City announced they were moving from the 1,500 capacity Stoke Gifford Stadium in Filton which had been purpose-built by the club in 2011 ahead of the first WSL season, to Twerton Park, an 8,800 capacity stadium home to Bath City FC.[1][2] On 2 September, Jasmine Matthews was named as captain following the departure of Loren Dykes.[3]

On 15 January 2021, Tanya Oxtoby temporarily stepped down as head coach to take maternity leave. Two-time WSL winner Matt Beard, who had left West Ham United in November, was appointed caretaker manager until the end of the season.[4]

Squad

As of 28 January 2021.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ENG Sophie Baggaley 2 DF  ENG Faye Bryson 3 DF  WAL Gemma Evans 4 DF  ENG Jasmine Matthews (captain) 5 DF  NIR Laura Rafferty (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion) 7 MF  ENG Molly Pike (on loan from Everton) 8 MF  ENG Carla Humphrey 9 FW  ENG Ebony Salmon 10 FW  BEL Yana Daniëls 11 FW  ENG Charlie Wellings 12 DF  ENG Florence Allen 13 GK  NOR Benedicte Håland 14 MF  ENG Aimee Palmer 15 MF  WAL Megan Wynne

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 DF  ENG Meaghan Sargeant 17 FW  ENG Emma Bissell 18 DF  ENG Maisy Collis 20 MF  ENG Georgia Wilson 21 FW  SCO Abi Harrison 23 DF  ENG Jemma Purfield 25 DF  ENG Naomi Layzell 26 MF  AUS Ella Mastrantonio 27 FW  ENG Jessica Wooley 28 MF  WAL Ellen Jones 29 DF  ENG Kiera Skeels (on loan from Reading) 31 GK  ENG Mia Smith — FW  ENG Izzy Cook

FA Women's Super League

Main article: 2020–21 FA WSL

Results summary

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
22	2	6	14	18	72	−54	12	2	1	8	8	33	−25	0	5	6	10	39	−29

Last updated: 9 May 2021.
Source: FA WSL

Results by matchday

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
Ground	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A
Result	L	L	L	L	L	D	D	L	L	L	L	W	D	L	W	L	D	D	L	D	L	L
Position	11	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	11	12	11	10	11	12	12	12

Source: ^[citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Bristol City v Everton

6 September 2020 1	Bristol City	0–4	Everton	Bath
14:00	Palmer  28' Bryson  48'	Report	Magill 7' Graham 19', 62' (pen.) Seveke  78' Gauvin 90'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Scott Johnson

Chelsea v Bristol City

13 September 2020 2	Chelsea	9–0	Bristol City	Kingston upon Thames
12:30	Kirby 15' Mjelde 31' (pen.) Leupolz 34' Cuthbert 36' Bright 40' England 66' Charles 69' Harder 73' Kerr 86'	Report	Bryson  90+3'	Stadium: Kingsmeadow Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Stacey Pearson

Arsenal v Bristol City

4 October 2020 3	Arsenal	3–1	Bristol City	Borehamwood
14:00	Nobbs 42' Foord 50' Miedema 86'	Report	Harrison 6'	Stadium: Meadow Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Emily Heaslip

Bristol City v Aston Villa

11 October 2020	Bristol City	P–P	Aston Villa	Bath
14:00				Stadium: Twerton Park
Note: Game postponed following positive COVID-19 test by Aston Villa player[6]

Bristol City v Birmingham City

18 October 2020 4	Bristol City	0–4	Birmingham City	Bath
14:00	Matthews  27'	Report	Corsie 16',  74' Green 32' Walker 50' Murray 65' (pen.) Grant  90'  90+7'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Stacey Pearson

Manchester City v Bristol City

7 November 2020 5	Manchester City	8–1	Bristol City	Manchester
15:00	Baggaley 9' (o.g.) Coombs 39' Walsh 42' Bronze 43' Stanway 48' White 58', 85' Beckie 81'	Report	Salmon 11'	Stadium: Academy Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Cristiana Hattersley
Note: Request for the game's postponement denied after five Bristol players were forced into COVID-19 isolation[7]

Bristol City v Tottenham Hotspur

14 November 2020 6	Bristol City	2–2	Tottenham Hotspur	Bath
18:30	Logarzo 37' (pen.) Salmon 90+2'	Report	Worm 42' Neville 64',  81' Dean  77'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lisa Benn

Reading v Bristol City

6 December 2020 7	Reading	1–1	Bristol City	Reading
14:00	Williams 50' Cooper  62'	Report	Bissell 43'	Stadium: Madejski Stadium Attendance: 433 Referee: Lucy Oliver

Bristol City v Aston Villa

9 December 2020 8	Bristol City	0–4	Aston Villa	Bath
18:30	Bryson  75'	Report	Petzelberger 42', 67',  64' Hayles 57', 75'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Amy Fearn
Note: Rescheduled from 11 October 2020 following positive COVID-19 test by Aston Villa player.

Bristol City v West Ham United

13 December 2020 9	Bristol City	0–4	West Ham United	Bath
14:00	Mastrantonio  33'	Report	Purfield 11' (o.g.) van Egmond 58' Daly 64' Flaherty  67' Thomas 86'	Stadium: Twerton Park Referee: Elizabeth Simms

Manchester United v Bristol City

20 December 2020 10	Manchester United	6–1	Bristol City	Leigh
14:00	Galton 26', 63' M. Turner 45+2' Sigsworth 52' Ladd  66' Heath 83', 86'	Report	Rafferty  40' Salmon 72'	Stadium: Leigh Sports Village Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lisa Benn

Bristol City v Brighton & Hove Albion

10 January 2021	Bristol City	P–P	Brighton & Hove Albion	Bath
14:00				Stadium: Twerton Park
Note: Postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases in Brighton squad[8]

Everton v Bristol City

17 January 2021 11	Everton	4–0	Bristol City	Liverpool
13:00	Christiansen 4', 58' Magill 38' Finnigan 64' Stringer  85'	Report		Stadium: Walton Hall Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Cristiana Hattersley

Bristol City v Chelsea

24 January 2021	Bristol City	P–P	Chelsea	Bath
14:00				Stadium: Twerton Park
Note: Postponed due to heavy snowfall[9]

Bristol City v Brighton & Hove Albion

30 January 2021 12	Bristol City	3–0	Brighton & Hove Albion	Bath
14:00	Daniëls 3' Salmon 34', 59' (pen.)	Report	Green  68' Le Tissier  90+2'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Oliver
Note: Rescheduled from 10 January 2021 following positive COVID-19 cases in Brighton squad.

West Ham United v Bristol City

7 February 2021 13	West Ham United	1–1	Bristol City	Dagenham
15:00	Pacheco  17' Svitková 49',  64'	Report	van Egmond 7' (o.g.) Purfield  45+2'	Stadium: Victoria Road Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Sarah Garrett

Tottenham Hotspur v Bristol City

10 February 2021	Tottenham Hotspur	P–P	Bristol City	Canons Park
19:30				Stadium: The Hive
Note: Postponed due to frozen pitch[10]

Bristol City v Chelsea

14 February 2021 14	Bristol City	0–5	Chelsea	Bath
15:00		Report	Kirby 14', 40' Harder 36' Kerr 55' England 60'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-door Referee: Emily Heaslip
Note: Rescheduled from 24 January 2021 due to heavy snowfall

Bristol City v Reading

8 March 2021 15	Bristol City	3–2	Reading	Bristol
20:15	Wellings 24' Daniëls  50' Purfield 58' Salmon 79'	Report	Harries 13' Rowe  40'  90+3', 73'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Rebecca Welch

Bristol City v Manchester City

17 March 2021 16	Bristol City	0–3	Manchester City	Bath
19:30		Report	Weir 12' White 30' Stanway  76' Mewis 89'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Scott Jackson

Tottenham Hotspur v Bristol City

21 March 2021 17	Tottenham Hotspur	1–1	Bristol City	Canons Park
14:00	Worm 3',  27' Cho  82'	Report	Evans 52' Daniëls  66'	Stadium: The Hive Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Rebecca Welch
Note: Rescheduled from 10 February 2021 due to frozen pitch

Birmingham City v Bristol City

28 March 2021 18	Birmingham City	1–1	Bristol City	Solihull
16:00	Holloway  23' Littlejohn  42' Murray 58'	Report	Wellings 13',  64' Evans  83' Skeels  85'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Kirsty Dowle

Bristol City v Arsenal

4 April 2021 19	Bristol City	0–4	Arsenal	Bath
14:00		Report	Miedema 4', 65' van de Donk 45+1' Mead 63'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Sarah Garratt

Aston Villa v Bristol City

24 April 2021 20	Aston Villa	2–2	Bristol City	Walsall
12:30	Sargeant 3' (o.g.) N'Dow  15' Haigh 35' Asante  69'	Report	Evans  37' Bryson 74' Mastrantonio 90+5'	Stadium: Bescot Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Emily Heaslip

Bristol City v Manchester United

2 May 2021 21	Bristol City	0–1	Manchester United	Bath
14:00	Bryson  83' Purfield  86'	Report	Daniëls 79' (o.g.) Zelem  88'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lisa Benn

Brighton & Hove Albion v Bristol City

9 May 2021 22	Brighton & Hove Albion	3–1	Bristol City	Crawley
14:30	Le Tissier 7' Geum-min 52',  82' Kaagman 76' Green  89'	Report	Salmon  45+2' Harrison 61'	Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Amy Fearns

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
8	Tottenham Hotspur	22	5	5	12	18	41	−23	20
9	West Ham United	22	3	6	13	21	39	−18	15
10	Aston Villa	22	3	6	13	15	47	−32	15
11	Birmingham City	22	3	6	13	15	44	−29	14[a]
12	Bristol City (R)	22	2	6	14	18	72	−54	12	Relegation to the Championship

Source: FA WSL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Notes:

1. On 7 May 2021, Birmingham City were deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player in a draw against Reading on 25 April 2021.[11]

Women's FA Cup

Main article: 2020–21 Women's FA Cup

As a member of the top two tiers, Bristol City will enter FA Cup in the fourth round proper. Originally scheduled to take place on 31 January 2021, it was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.[12][13]

Brighton & Hove Albion v Bristol City

18 April 2021 Fourth round	Brighton & Hove Albion	1–0	Bristol City	Crawley
14:00	Kaagman 64' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

FA Women's League Cup

Main article: 2020–21 FA Women's League Cup

Group stage

Bristol City v London Bees

7 October 2020 Group stage	Bristol City	4–0	London Bees	Bath
19:30	Rafferty  3' Robert 10' (o.g.) Logarzo 12' Salmon 80' Wellings 82'	Report	Gamby  28'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Dale Wootton

Crystal Palace v Bristol City

5 November 2020 Group stage	Crystal Palace	2–4	Bristol City	Bromley
19:45	Goddard  30' Baptiste 55', 58' Haines  63'	Report	Bissell 19' Logarzo 30', 41' Wellings 51'	Stadium: Hayes Lane Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Ryan Atkin

Lewes v Bristol City

18 November 2020 Group stage	Lewes	1–3	Bristol City	Lewes
19:45	Cleverly 55',  87'	Report	Purfield 22' Bissell 30' Salmon 31'	Stadium: The Dripping Pan Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Chloe-Ann Anderson

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		BRI	CRY	LON	LEW
1	Bristol City	3	3	0	0	0	11	3	+8	9	Advanced to knock-out stage		—	—	4–0	—
2	Crystal Palace	3	2	0	0	1	10	6	+4	6	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking		2–4	—	6–1	—
3	London Bees	3	1	0	0	2	2	10	−8	3			—	—	—	1–0
4	Lewes	3	0	0	0	3	2	6	−4	0			1–3	1–2	—	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

Knockout stage

Bristol City v Aston Villa

13 January 2021 Quarter-final	Bristol City	2–1	Aston Villa	Bath
19:30	Salmon 55', 58'	Report	Larsen 86'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis

Bristol City v Leicester City

3 February 2021 Semi-final	Bristol City	1–0	Leicester City	Bath
19:30	Skeels 72'	Report	Barker  35' Smith  65'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Rebecca Welch

Bristol City v Chelsea

14 March 2021 Final	Bristol City	0–6	Chelsea	Watford
14:30	Palmer  77' Rafferty  90+6'	Report	Kerr 3', 10', 48' Kirby 28', 34' Reiten 55'	Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Abi Byrne

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 9 May 2021

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		FA WSL		FA Cup		League Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	Sophie Baggaley	27	0	21	0	1	0	5	0
2	DF	ENG	Faye Bryson	17	1	7+8	1	0	0	2	0
3	DF	WAL	Gemma Evans	27	1	20	1	1	0	6	0
4	DF	ENG	Jasmine Matthews	13	0	9+1	0	0	0	2+1	0
5	DF	NIR	Laura Rafferty	17	0	6+7	0	0	0	2+2	0
7	MF	ENG	Molly Pike	12	0	11	0	1	0	0	0
8	MF	ENG	Carla Humphrey	27	0	20+1	0	1	0	5	0
9	FW	ENG	Ebony Salmon	27	10	15+5	6	1	0	6	4
10	FW	BEL	Yana Daniëls	28	1	19+3	1	1	0	4+1	0
11	FW	ENG	Charlie Wellings	26	4	17+3	2	1	0	3+2	2
12	DF	ENG	Flo Allen	20	0	14+2	0	0	0	4	0
13	GK	NOR	Benedicte Håland	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
14	MF	ENG	Aimee Palmer	20	0	11+4	0	1	0	3+1	0
15	MF	WAL	Megan Wynne	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
16	DF	ENG	Meaghan Sargeant	4	0	3	0	1	0	0	0
17	FW	ENG	Emma Bissell	24	3	8+10	1	0+1	0	5	2
18	MF	ENG	Maisy Collis	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0+1
20	MF	ENG	Georgia Wilson	3	0	0+2	0	0	0	0+1	0
21	FW	SCO	Abi Harrison	26	2	8+12	2	0+1	0	2+3	0
23	DF	ENG	Jemma Purfield	27	2	21	1	1	0	5	1
25	DF	ENG	Naomi Layzell	13	0	4+3	0	0+1	0	1+4	0
26	MF	AUS	Ella Mastrantonio	20	1	10+5	1	0+1	0	4	0
27	FW	ENG	Jessica Wooley	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
28	MF	WAL	Ellen Jones	8	0	1+4	0	0	0	1+2	0
29	DF	ENG	Kiera Skeels	13	1	9+1	0	1	0	2	1
31	GK	ENG	Mia Smith	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Izzy Cook	1	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0
Players who appeared for the club but left during the season:
6	MF	AUS	Chloe Logarzo	11	4	7+1	1	0	0	3	3

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Ref.
30 June 2020	MF		Ella Mastrantonio	Western Sydney Wanderers	[14]
2 July 2020	MF		Aimee Palmer	Manchester United	[15]
6 July 2020	MF		Megan Wynne	Tottenham Hotspur	[16]
7 July 2020	DF		Jemma Purfield	Liverpool	[17]
19 August 2020	FW		Emma Bissell	Manchester City	[18]
3 September 2020	GK		Benedicte Håland	FF Lugano 1976	[19]

Loans in

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Until	Ref.
5 September 2020	DF		Laura Rafferty	Brighton & Hove Albion	End of season	[20]
28 January 2021	DF		Kiera Skeels	Reading	End of season	[21]
	MF		Molly Pike	Everton	End of season	[22]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Ref.
1 June 2020	DF		Poppy Pattinson	Everton	[23][24]
5 June 2020	MF		Olivia Chance	Sheffield United	[25][26]
11 June 2020	MF		Katie Robinson	Brighton & Hove Albion	[27][28]
22 June 2020	GK		Eartha Cumings	Charlton Athletic	[29][30]
	FW		Jeon Ga-eul	Reading	[29][31]
7 July 2020	DF		Frankie Brown		[32]
15 July 2020	DF		Loren Dykes	Cardiff City Ladies	[33][34]
5 September 2020	FW		Ella Rutherford	Charlton Athletic	[35]
28 January 2021	FW		Chloe Logarzo	Kansas City NWSL	[36]

References

1. Leighton, Tony (25 April 2010). "Bristol Academy builds Britain's first women's stadium". The Guardian.
2. "New home for City Women". Bristol City. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
3. "Matthews named as Robins skipper". Bristol City.
4. "Beard in temporary charge as Oxtoby cover". Bristol City.
5. "City Women Squad". Bristol City.
6. "Two Villa games off after Covid-19 test". BBC Sport.
7. "Club statement: Bristol City v Manchester City". Bristol City.
8. "Bristol City-Brighton off because of Covid". BBC Sport.
9. "Weather forces three WSL postponements". BBC Sport.
10. "Spurs Women v Bristol City postponed". Tottenham Hotspur.
11. "Blues Women deducted one point". Birmingham City Football Club. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
12. "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.
13. "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.
14. "Matilda Mastrantonio signs for City Women". Bristol City.
15. "Palmer returns to City Women". Bristol City.
16. "Wynne pens permanent deal with Robins". Bristol City.
17. "Jemma Purfield is a Robin". Bristol City.
18. "Bissell is a Robin". Bristol City.
19. "Haaland signs for City Women". Bristol City.
20. "Rafferty is a Robin". Bristol City.
21. "Skeels is a Robin". Bristol City.
22. "Pike joins City Women ranks". Bristol City.
23. "Pattinson departs from City Women". Bristol City.
24. "Everton Women Sign England Under-21 International Pattinson". www.evertonfc.com.
25. "Olivia Chance to leave City Women". Bristol City.
26. "Olivia Chance signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
27. "Robinson departs City Women". Bristol City.
28. "Powell adds second new signing". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
29. "Jeon Ga-Eul and Eartha Cumings depart". Bristol City.
30. "Charlton Athletic Women's Official Site". www.cafcwomen.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
31. "Royals women sign South Korean international Jeon Ga-eul". www.readingfc.co.uk.
32. "Best wishes to Frankie Brown". Bristol City.
33. "Dykes transitions into Assistant Coach role". Bristol City.
34. "Loren Dykes Signs For Cardiff city ladies". Cardiff City Ladies. 16 July 2020.
35. "Charlton Athletic Women's Official Site". cafcwomen.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
36. "Logarzo departs from City Women". Bristol City.