Travesty in Blue

Brighton & Hove Albion Women face Chelsea Women in the WSL at the Peoples Pension Stadium

It’s great to be back at a packed Broadfield for the Seagulls hosting the Blues on a cold but sunny afternoon in Sussex. The Seagulls haven’t won in ages but are unbeaten at Crawley this season. Long may that continue.  Chelsea have drawn 1 and won 26 this season. They have a busy month of March coming up with this the first of the 8 games which include 4, Four, Quartro..in a row against Man City. They won’t want a tough test today. Shame. The Seagulls will be up for it. Sally is back in good form too. Scooter 🐩 has recovered from his tail surgery and in our row in the stand. We haven’t seen Basil yet but we are sure we will make himself known at some point. The team news is out. The Seagulls have 3 at the back with Poppy, Dotti and Guru. Playing as wingbacks are Rachel and Merisa. Vicky and Nadine sit behind a front three of Maddie, Nikita and Fran. Looks like Nikita on the left and Maddie on the right. There’s still no Maisie as this is the last game of her ban. The Blues have Hannah in goal as the good news is that Zecira is pregnant. Congratulations. There are a few big names on the pitch. There is a new record signing, Naomi Girma in defence with Millie, Lucy Bronze and Sandy Baltimore. Also new girl and previous record signing Kiera Walsh (fresh off the plane from Spain) joins Nusken and Kaptien in midfield. Up front are Aggie, LJ and Johana. There is a scary amount of talent on the bench. Not sure if we want them to stay on the bench or that Chelsea are under pressure and need to use them. The latter probably. There are some quick fireworks, a rendition of “Sussex by the Sea”, a bit of “Right here, right now" and it’s time to take the knee. Be fearless Seagulls.

Chelsea kick off but Brighton are soon in possession and very much in control. Fran and Maddie both get shots in the first minute. The Seagulls keep the Blues pretty much pinned in for about 10 minutes. Chelsea eventually get a chance to attack after about 15 minutes. It results in a great goal as LJ’s looping cross is volleyed home by Sandy. 0-1. Oops. Harsh on the Seagulls but a great goal. We need a quick response now. The Albion don’t wait long to equalise as Marisa scores from a tight angle on 16 ⚽. Get in. We come close again but Nikita’s shot is just over. The ref (it’s Kirsty today) suddenly wakes up and books Rachel for a minor tackle having let Chelsea foul and foul again for the first 30 minutes. Mostly on Maddie. There are chances both ways before Vicky converts Rachel’s low cross to score on 45+2. In the lead at the break. Come on you Seagulls.

The Ska band arrive in front of the West Stand at the break and entertain us with a few tunes. They have a new guitarist and a louder guitarguit🎸. A January signing perhaps?

Big half ahead for the Seagulls. Chelsea make a change bringing on Oriane Jean Fransois to replace the largely anonymous Keira Walsh. Chelsea start the brighter. Oriane is making a difference and gets a shot in. The Chelsea fans in the North Stand are counting as Melina holds the ball waiting to kick it. The counting gets to about 20 before she kicks it. Refs don’t enforce 6 seconds any more. They do it for the next one but as they get to 20, the ref stops play to allow Girma to get treatment. It’s now the Seagulls fans turn to count the wasted seconds. Girma can’t be fixed with the “magic spray” and is replaced by Natalie Bjorn. In other not so good new, Mayra Ramirez replaces Sjoeke Nusken. Not what the Seagulls defence wanted to see. The changes have their impact as after just 2 minutes on the pitch, Mayra’s close range shot is saved but falls to Lauren James who taps home. The Seagulls have a good spell but Vicky is fouled and injured. She is replaced by Dejana. We expected that change about now anyway. Chelsea get a period of good possession although they struggle with the off-side trap. They eventually get through and get a couple of corners but the Seagulls dig deep in defence. It’s Fran’s turn to get fouled and injured next. After treatment, she is replaced on 76 by Pauline who goes to the right. Dario uses the break to make another change with Rachel making way for Kiko who plays on the left. Into 9 minutes of injury time and Chelsea are still pushing for a winner. Aggie (forgot she was on the pitch) shoots over. They get a free kick just outside the box. LJ hits it with a curl, like she does, but it misses the top corner. Phew! She has been fairly anonymous most of the game but gets another shot that forces Melina into a good save. Marisa goes down injured again after the earlier foul and has to be replaced so on comes Caitlin Hayes. There is a bit of re-organisation at the back which frees up Poppy to roam forwards a lot more. LJ is less anonymous as she is booked for a foul off the ball. It’s almost the last action of the game as the whistle goes at 90+10. And breath and cheers the girls. What a performance.

That was fantastic. Still unbeaten at the Broadfield and the performance of the season against the league leaders. The energy in the first half was amazing and although it dipped at times in the second, the commitment level never dropped. There were some very good saves, loads of blocks and some great attacking football. The Seagulls looked like a different team. Vicky was further forward, more like an 8 than a 6. She was much more influential in that role. The formation was just right and everyone had a great game. Hope Dario can remember the cheat code he put in tonight. He didn’t do bad with the changes either. The big crowd of 4491 made for a good atmosphere. Well, the Brighton fans made a good noise. Basil struggled to get much going down the other end despite him being in good form. We have a few Chelsea fans in the West Stand but they were mostly of the young variety. The Seagulls are still in 5th in the league and the gap below hasn’t changed although Liverpool have replaced Spurs in 6th. We have a break now as it is the FA Cup next weekend and we got knocked out.

POTM: Today’s recipient is Maddie 🏅for a great performance for 100 minutes despite getting continuously flattened. Dario found a great role for her holding the ball up with her strength 💪.

The ref had a poor game and favoured the big team on the telly. No one wants to preside over Chelseas’ first loss. A ridiculous yellow card for a first foul by Rachel but nothing for the constant fouling by the Blues. Lino missed a clear offside for the second Chelsea goal. Sun in her eyes. Not really a good enough excuse. Moan over 😶.

The Scran’O’meter is back to it’s best with the 9.5/10 Dough Shack pizza 🍕 and 8.5 chips 🍟. Yum.

Basil watch: No sign of him outside but he was very vocal and lively down the other end for most of the game.

See you soon.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Blue sky to welcome the Blues

Ska break

Stand By Your Stan

QPR host Sheffield United in the EFL Championship at Loftus Road

We are in the Loft at Loftus Road to watch the “R”s, Hoops, etc, host the Blades on a sunny afternoon in W12. We’re here for a speacial reason and some Championship football. At half time there will be a tribute to Pauline McCarthy. There’s is a bit in the programme too. Big “R”s fan and much missed. It’s a full house of over 17,000 and we’re behind the goal in the safe standing with the big banner. We don’t know either team but are in the home crowd so hoping for a few goals to cheer for the Hoops. It’s going to be tough as the “R”s are on a poor run in mid-table, The Blades, whose fans are in the upper tier at the other end and 2nd to Leeds and in the automatic promotion spots so a big game for the visitors. They won’t want to leave without 3 points today. A tough task for the “R”s to come away with anything today so will need the 12th man to spur them on. "London Calling" blares out as the players come out. There is no taking the knee or fireworks so it’s straight into the football. 

News from Tranmere is that Nigel Adkins has stepped down as Tranmere manager after last weeks home defeat so good luck to the boys today. Hope there’s a boost now the shackles are off. UTFW🥊.

It’s fairly even in the early minutes. The “R”s are getting some joy out wide with the winger Yang looking good on the right but the Blades start to get on top and dominate for a while. Their pressure pays off as a headed goal gives them the lead on 10. 0-1. There is a big noise from the other end who have been quiet until now. They continue to dominate. The Hoops hit them on the break and put the ball in the net on 35 but it’s ruled off-side. Booo. The Blades dominate some more but it remains 0-1.

At half time there are lots of birthdays announced before the tribute to Pauline. There is then an announcement that Stan Bowles family are here because there was private ceremony this morning to scatter his ashes on the pitch. They wanted to score one last goal for him so came on the pitch and kick the ball into the net in front of the Loft. Good job there is no VAR. He was well off-side. Joking aside, RIP to Pauline ❤ and Stan. 

It starts fairly even again. The Blades double their lead on 54 from a fast break and a shot outside the box, The are a few chances both ways. The changes start and there are some very high numbers going on and off. Come in number 58, your time is up. QPR are awarded a penalty for handball just inside the box. The important 3rd goal goes to the “R”s. They are inspired and dominate, coming close with a few chances. Dembele has come on and is causing problems on the right so they keep fouling him. Gets nothing for it though. They get more good chances in injury time and some so close to the equaliser but it doesn’t go in. It ends with a 2-1 loss at 90+8.

An entertaining game of football. Not the best quality but plenty of passion on display. The result wasn’t a surprise, we thought the “R”s put up a good scrap and were unlucky not to level it at the end.. The crowd certainly got behind them and showed their dislike of West London “rivals” Chelsea, whoever they are? The Hoops could have done with Clint Hill in defence today. The atmosphere was the highlight. And the tributes to Pauline and Stanley Bowles. The best team won but the “R”s fought hard for a point.

POTM: Goes to speedy winger Yang Min-hyeole. Love a speedy winger playing on the correct foot.

The Scran’O’meter would normally rate a post match meal but as it's a special occasion so the Pizza Express Fiorentina Pizza was a very nice 9/10.

The ref got some abuse from both sets of fans and struggled for consistency. He could just as easily have not given the penalty for the "R"s goal. We all had a good laugh at the linesman who was running up the pitch. He was later hit on the head with a lighter which is totally out of order to a man just doing his job. Besides smoking kills.

Bottle top news: Bobble tops remained unmolested during the bag search.

See you tomorrow.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

In the Loft

Packed in here

There's only one...

Shepherd's Bush Meerkat

RIP Pauline