Tranmerekat on Tour: The Wind Cries Mary

England Women v Portugal Women in a World Cup warm-up friendly at Stadium MK

It's a warm but humid but the rain has kept off as the Lioness host the Selecção das Quinas in the first game of our 23-24 season at the home of MKDonalds. I'm still lovin' it!. It's a friendly and is the last game before the Lionesses jet off to Australia for the World Cup. Millie and Jordan aren't available so who will be in the starting 11. Rachel is up front with the Lauren's and Tooney. Esme and Jess are centre halves with Alex and Lucy out wide. Scary Mary is Captain scary Mary today so they had all better be on best behaviour.

The Lionesses start well and create a few chances although they are all easy for the Portuguese keeper. Georgia is everywhere (all that German training is paying off) and Keira has picked up some feistiness at Barca. England are camped out in the opposition half for long periods but the chances come and go. The visitors make a break a couple of times but Jess and Lucy are having a great game. No score at the break.

Lots the of changes for the second half with Russo on for Daly, Niamh Charles on for Greenwood and Chloe on for Tooney. Lauren James moves to the 10 and Chloe goes wide right. There are a couple of uneasy moments early on a Niamh gets caught out for pace. The team soon settle into attacking again and Alesia has a good few chances that go wide. Portugal register a shot on target after 66 minutes after a fast break but Mary is up to it. She gets caught out a couple of minutes later though as she misjudges a back-pass from Hemp but it luckily goes wide 👀. Anaaand breath. A couple more changes as the half progresses with Katie Zelam on for Kiera and Katie Robinson on for Lauren Hemp. Robbo is her usual menace even on the left. Story of the second half is lack of accuracy around goal but Portugal did defend well and earned the draw.

Not a great watch but it's good to be back. Nice to see Robbo get another cap 👒. Some interesting decisions for Serena to make now. Bon Voyage for the journey down under on Wednesday ✈.

The ref didn't have much to do although she did need to damp down the niggly tackles. She could have done that earlier is our only complaint with it being a friendly but they are all grownups.

POTM goes to Lucy Bronze 🏅who continues to be World Class every time she plays.

Scranometer missed the game as we has a cooked breakfast on the way 🍳🥓.

The 23/24 season starts with a draw but it's good to be watch football again.

See you on Tuesday

Love Tranmerekat 🐾