Bristol City experienced a steep “learning curve” in their 6-0 home defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Wednesday night at Ashton Gate, according to assistant coach Jen Foster.
The Robins were knocked out of the Conti Cup by last season’s champions in a rather comfortable fashion, thanks to two goals apiece from Hayley Raso and Lauren Hemp while both Khadija Shaw and Mary Fowler also found the net for Gareth Taylor’s team.
Lauren Smith’s side fell behind inside the opening eight minutes, Raso rising the highest at the back post to head home Alex Greenwood’s cross to begin what was ultimately a destructive first-half performance by the visitors.
Only minutes later the Australian international scored her second breaking away from the defence at pace, before slotting across the goal and into the far corner, before Shaw headed home Man City’s third on the half-hour mark.
There was time for two more goals before the half-time whistle echoed around an Ashton Gate that had been stunned to silence, the fourth of the evening being curled in excellently by Hemp after the Euro 2022 winner displayed some impressive footwork. On the stroke of half-time Hemp, formerly of Bristol City, found Fowler in space to calmly stretch the lead to 5-0 at the break.
The Robins’ second-half performance was a much more enjoyable watch for the home fans inside Ashton Gate as other than a sixth goal, once again scored after Hemp showed her quality to drink past Olivia Clarke in the City net, Smith’s side held their own. Foster was keen to suggest that despite the result the young side would’ve learnt a lot in defeat.
"I think tactically we can take a lot, from a top team like Man City. Their movement, trying to pull us out is a big learning curve for us,” explained Foster after the final whistle.
"It’s something that we’ve not come up against too much this season, it’s a lot to take but I also think the second half performance was much better, we adapted better because we had the time to change things."
City currently sit in second place of the Women’s Championship and with only one promotion place up for grabs, Foster is very clear Wednesday night’s defeat will show the players what it will take to succeed at the top level.
“We’re aiming and we’re pushing to try and win this league, but I think that just shows the benchmark of what we can come up against," she added. "It shows the levels that our players need to get to and push to and hopefully we can get there with as many of them as possible.”
One of the main City were able to take in defeat was the impressive cameo off the bench from 16-year-old Fearne Slocombe who made her first-team debut and caught the eye with a couple of strong tackles and moments of magic on the ball.
“Sometimes it works in their favour when you’re young and you almost play with no fear,” suggested Foster when asked about Slocombe’s impact off the bench.
“I think it goes to show with our academy system the type of player we’re looking to push through into the first team. It’s fantastic that we can give those sorts of players the opportunity.”
For some of those younger players that opportunity may come sooner rather than later, with attentions still remaining away from Championship action, City will host Oxford United at the High Performance Centre on Sunday in the FA Cup as they look to reignite one cup run just as another burns out.
