Brighton v Nottingham Forest

Gone with the Wings Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest WFC in the FA Cup 4th Round at The Peoples Pension Stadium

Where are we and What's going on?

We are back at the Broadfield Stadium after a long winter break. It was mild mid-winter day in Crawley. There has been a lot of rain but hopefully the pitch will be ok and it continues to stay dry. It’s the fourth round of the FA Cup so time for the WSL teams to enter. Brighton have drawn Nottingham Forest. Forest sit 7th in WSL2. Will they see this as an important challenge or be saving themselves for a playoff push. The Albion will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing away to Villa last weekend despite taking an early lead through Fuka. Will Dario field a changed line up with a scattering of youngster like in the League Cup. We’ll find out shortly.

Blue skies at the Broadfield

Teams are out. Chia is in goal but there is no sign of Baggers. Hope she is ok. A new face to us in defence alongside Moeka is Manuala Vanegas. She’s been here for a while but we've not seen her before. Carabali has left 😢, headed for the NWSL to play for Boston. Also absent is Fran. Rumours are that she is headed to Juventus 🛫. We hope that's not true but good for Fran if it is. The full backs are Marisa and Charlie. The 6,8, and 10 are Maisie, Fuka and Nadine. Up front are Rosa, Madie and Kiko.

There is a familiar face in the Forest line up. Deanne Rose was noted for her thuggery when she was a Leicester City player. We expect to see more of the same today.

We’ve had Pizza and swapped stickers. The Samba band have warmed out with their increasingly large collection of drums. They get things going with Sussex by the Sea (Samba remix). Let’s go Brighton, Let’s go.

Samba band drummer Auntie Helen

Off we go..

The Albion kick off and are straight on the attack. Rosa’s early shot is saved. Brighton are able to keep the ball but not doing much with it.

Forest are a determined bunch and win a corner on 7. They get first contact but the header misses the goal.

Rosa is booked for a professional foul. The Albion are pressing high and willing to take one for the team to keep Forest pinned in their own half.

Play stops on 29 as Aimee Claypole goes down injured. There are an increasing number of medics on the pitch and she is eventually stretched off 🚑. She is replaced on the pitch by Charlie Wellings. Hope that’s not as bad as it looked. Never nice to see.

It’s typical Brighton with lots of safe possession but no real risk taking in front of goal. Nadine gets a shot off but it’s off target.

Into 8 minutes of added time and Kiko is fouled in the box. It’s a penalty to Brighton. Maisie hangs on to the ball while the fuss dies down. She hands over to Madie who takes it and scores for the Albion on 45+3.

Maisie comes close to scoring herself on 45+8 and it takes a good save to deny her. Rosa’s shot is blocked on 45+10 so it’s a narrow lead for Brighton at the break.

Forest kick off but the Albion are soon back in charge. Madie hits over, Maisie forces a save and Manuela heads over from a corner. Somehow it’s still just 1-0 after a bit of an onslaught from Brighton.

Dario makes his first change on 57 as Jelena comes on to replace Fuka who has had a good game.

Maisie is down injured and it doesn’t look good but she eventually get to her feet to be reminded 🎵she’s one of our own🎵.

There are chance both ways with Nadine forcing a save on 65 shortly followed by a Forest corner that is thankfully cleared. It might start to get a bit nervy if we can’t increase the lead.

There is another change on 72. Carla Camacho replaces Rosa. Carla goes central and Madie moves to the left.

Deanne Rose is replaced on 78 just after a bad foul on Manuela. Coming on in her place appears to be Vivienne Leigh. It’s actually Lia but it fooled us for a minute.

Chiamaka is forced to make a good save from Rachel Rowe. Chia goes down injured a couple of minutes later. We’re all a bit worried as we don’t have Baggers as backup and it’s still too close for comfort. She is soon back out and ready for action. Phew!

Dario uses his last windows to make a 3rd sub. It’s Rachel McLauchlan coming on for Charlie Rule who gets a quick rendition of her song.

Rachel makes an instant impact on the attacking nature of the team. Maisie gets a chance but puts her shot wide.

Brighton get a corner as the 4th official announces 5 extra minutes.

One corner turns into a whole flurry of corners. The 1st is blocked, The following one is blocked initially but drops to Cankovic who taps it home from close range on 90+2 ⚽. A big relief. Double phew!

It finishes on 90+5 with a win for the Albion who progress to the 5th round draw on Monday. An interesting draw please.

We think it’s all over..

That was a good result without being the best game. It was a bit dull and a triumph of possession over aggression. Perhaps missing Frans competitive edge but it did come to life for the last 5 or so minutes. It was the high tempo attacking football that we know the Seagulls are capable of. It was a bit nervy at 1-0. Forest never really threatened but a goal back was always a possibility. The Seagulls chose to wait into injury time to settle our nerves. And the first goal was in injury time too. Not sure if that means anything? Maybe there is something in that, related to mentality. Feeling the pressure of the clock ⏰ and doing something about it.

The changes were positive which is something we have an issue with under Dario. Using Madie to wear them down and then bringing on Carla to run at them is the sort of change we like. We would like to see Madie playing as the 10, holding the ball up and feeding Carla in the 9. We are big fans of Nadine but she has had better games with her first touch letting her down too many times in the Forest box.

The crowd was a bit disappointing considering it’s the first home game since mid December but that’s how it is with cup games sometimes. The draw is on Monday where we will find out our opponents for the 5th round. Do we have a preference? Not really, just not West Ham or Villa again as we are always playing them in one cup or another. It’s cup action for Newhaven up next as we make the trip to Godalming in Scary Surrey.

The other bits

POTM: Today's award goes to Fuka Tsunoda for her best performance we have seen in a Brighton shirt. She has great feet and used them to great effect today to keep Forest pinned in with a high press.

The officials get no complaints from us so well done and thanks.

There is no printed programme to peruse so again it’s a 0/10 (should be -10).

The Scran’O’meter scored the Margarita Pizza the usual 10/10, Thanks Doughshack. The lattes were a steaming hot 8/10.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Treblemaker

Chelsea v Manchester United in the Adobe Women's FA Cup Final At Wembley

We are back at Prenton Park South as the Blues take on the Reds in a repeat of the final 2 years ago. It’s the World's greatest cup competition and the 2 previous winners are trying to get their hands back on the famous trophy. The Blues are up for the treble having already won the WSL and the cup formerly known as the Conti Cup. The Reds are trying for back to back trophies. They lost to Arsenal in a 7 goal thriller so finished 3rd in the WSL. The season ends here with the FA Cup Final which is as it should be. We’re way up in the cheap seats with a good, although distant view of the whole pitch. The pitch is looking great after yesterday's men’s final but it did get a good watering afterwards. #PepsTears. We’ve had a selfie with Basil, fallen out with the security and made it up to the lofty heights above the dugouts and tunnel. The team sheets are out and the surprise it that it’s 3 at the back for the Chels. In Blue are Mille, Naomi and Natalie, Running up and down the wings are Lucy and Niamh. It’s Erin and Kiera in the middle. Up front are Aggie, Mayra and Sandy. Hannah is in goal as ever. Only Millie and Niamh remain from the winning team 2 years ago. The Reds have gone for a back 4 with Millie Turner and Maya Le Tissier centrally in front of Phalon Tullis-Joyce. Aoife Mannion is on the right and Gabbi George on the left. There is no Jade Riviere today. Miyazawa and Jansen are in the middle. Bizet and Galton are either side of Grace Clinton who is the 10. Terri is up front. The two goalkeepers are joint holders of the WSL seasons Golden Glove. We’re expecting this to be tense and nervy with so much at stake. But we’re hoping for an end to end goal fast. There are loads of people on the pitch. Oli Murs  🎶 comes on and does a new song that nobody knows and then “Dance with me tonight”. No sign of Troublemaker. There are wheelie bins of fire 🔥 joined by a few fireworks 🎆. It's not as exciting up here as it is near the front. It’s all cleared away very quickly and we’re off. Go Chels.

It’s all Red at the start with them dominating, mostly via Bizet on the right. A succession of corners leads to nothing. The Blues can’t hold onto the ball. It takes 10 minutes for them to settle into the game and start to get forward. It’s down the wings mostly, primarily on the left with Niamh and Sandy. It’s a bit end to end with chances for both teams. It’s so close on 20 from Ramirez but somehow PTJ keeps it out. The Reds are defending well but the Chels are starting to dominate. Cuthbert is everywhere & is fouled by Bizet after a corner. It’s a pen to the Blues which is eventually confirmed by VAR. It’s fun watching the spidercam hovering above the groups of players like it’s trying to eavesdrop. Sandy takes the spotkick and makes it count in front of the Utd fans ⚽. 1-0. There are 5 minutes added but the Chelsea confidence is up and the Reds are chasing shadows. Advantages Chelsea at the break.

A change for the Reds as Tooney replaces Millie Turner with Jansen dropping back into defence. They get an early chance as the ball in from Bizet finds the head of Terri but Hannah makes an easy catch. It’s a good start for the Reds. The first yellow card goes to Galton for a choke hold on Lucy. Terri hits on the break but Girma has the pace that has been missing at the back when holding a high line. Toone forces a better save from Hannah. Clinton is the next to get a yellow card for bringing down Erin. It’s soon reciprocated as Erin is booked for a foul on Grace. Leah Galton goes down in a tussle with Lucy. Play goes on as Lucy flags for it to stop. The ref eventually notices and gets thanked with a chorus of “you’re not fit to referee”. We beg to differ. She has let it flow without it getting too niggley. Kat Macario comes on to Gabby George puts in a great cross and Erin puts it just wide of her own net. Macario’s first shot is miles wide. Another Red change and it’s another defender replacing an attacker as Mannion is replaced by Malard. It’s Gabby George booked next for poleaxing Aggie. No regrets there. The Blues are starting to control again. with some nice attacking moves. Sandy is in the middle of it all. Aggie makes way for youngster Weike Kaptein. The Reds haven’t given up and are still looking for an equaliser but they are starting to tire from chasing the ball. Ten to play and it’s time for supersub Rachel Williams who replaces Bizet. Kat Marario makes it 2 on 85 as she heads home a Baltimore freekick ⚽.  2-0. It feels like job done now and the crowd can feel it. There are fans heading for the exits 🏃🏼‍♀️. Not in the Blue end, that is bouncing. It’s too big a hill to climb for the Reds now. They might get 1 back but 2 now is not going to happen. Getting 1 back would make it tense now though. It’s 10 minutes added on. Will we see the important 3rd goal? We do see it and it’s Sandy Baltimore from close range on 90+1 ⚽. Nine miserable minutes for the Reds now. The rate of exodus increases🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️. Some late changes as Baltimore, Bronze and Cuthbert are subbed off to great applause. JRK, Guru and Nusken are the replacements. The Reds defence are in for a torrid few minutes but they hang on and it stays 3-0. It’s time for a party in the Blue end 🥳. The other end have mostly sat tight and are backing their club despite the loss. Blue is certainly the colour today. The medals 🥇🥈 are handed out, another cup is raised 🏆 and the party starts. Invincible? Up to everyone else to prove otherwise.

That was a very Chelsea performance. It took a little while to get a grip on the game but after that it never really looked in doubt. Erin was causing so much grief for the Reds that the penalty was inevitable. Sandy was unstoppable with 2 goals and an assist. The attendance was a bit lower than last year at 74,412. There were a good few empty seats around. Maybe bought by hopeful Arsenal fans thinking they would make the final 😶. The Blues formation change helped be more aggressive out wide in possession. Chels couldn’t cope with Utd initially but the Reds will regret not making it count when they had the best of the possession. Would have starting with Toone have given them a better chance of an early goal? Maybe. Planning to stay in the game is never a smart move against such a good team. The Reds needed maximum aggression from the off. This season has been a fantastic start for Sonia in her “transition” season. Other teams are going to need to step up if the Blues are not going to run away with it again. The big prize still eludes them though. It would be great if Arsenal could do the job against Barca in Lisbon. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼.  That's it. Another domestic season comes to an end. A fitting end today with a Blue treble confirmed. Just the Lionesses 🦁 to go now before the summer break.

POTM: goes to Sandy Baltimore 🏅. It was a real breakthrough game to show us how world class she really is. Two goals and an assist for the third. Fantastic performance. Well earned.

Ref: Despite the protests and the abuse from the Man Utd fans, she had a good game. No VAR intervention required as she got it just right. It was fairly physical but she only intervened when needed. Congrats. Hope we see more of you in the WSL.

The Scran’O’meter loves a ‘Spoons’ breakfast but was disappointed by the decision not to purchase Pick N mix.

Basil watch: He was at the top of the steps. Later on, he was in the Chelsea stand behind the goal and up and down the aisles.

Bottles tops were confiscated along with the bottle and the contents 😡. You can only take in empty bottles.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

We're a long way up

It's final day

Winners making a mess

Pre match show from Oli

Met Basil outside

Achy Breaky Bart

Brighton & Hove Albion Men face Chelsea in the FA Cup 4th round at the AMEX Stadium

The Seagulls (boys edition) host the Blues, seen here in black with pink and yellow trim, at Falmer in the FA Cup 4th round. Following the Women's defeat to Aston Villa at Walsall this afternoon, we are hoping that the boys can get a result tonight. It’s been a long day already so to do it in 90 minutes would be much appreciated. We're in the front row of the North Stand which we have been told is the noisy bunch. We have managed to avoid being eaten by Gully. Again. The balti pie has been consumed (mostly, one of us may be wearing some of it and has an appointment with the Vanish when we get home). The wheelie bins of fire 🔥 put on a very impressive display. There is a very loud rendition of 🎶Sussex By The Sea🎶, a bit louder than earlier today, and we are off.

Cole 🧊 Palmer takes the kick off and the Blues get the first chance. Bart Verbruggen makes a great save to tip it over the bar. The resulting corner turns into a comedy of errors as Bart fumbles it then headbutts it into his own net on 5. Opps. 0-1 to the Chels. The early play is energetic and fiesty. The battle between Lamptey and Pedro Neto is very entertaining. Neto is getting very frustrated 🤣. There is booing every time Cucurella gets the ball and the same for Sanchez in goal. The equaliser comes on 12 as Georginio heads home from Veltman’s cross ⚽. Best limbs wev’e seen for a while. The booing starts as soon as Cucurella gets the ball and turns into a massive celebration as he is sent flying by Veltman. Cheering a foul like it’s a goal. Love it🥰. Veltman gets a yellow and the freedom of the city 🗝. The Blues are getting frustrated with the officials, none more so than Neto who, when he is fairly tackled by Lamptey, ends up doing a forward roll over him. His shouting and gesticulation get him nowhere. Dunk gets injured late in the half. He comes back on but it looked nasty and we don’t expect to see him after the break. It’s still 1-1 as the whistle goes.

The Seagulls are now attacking the North End so let’s hope we get some action around the Chelsea goal. Webster comes on to replace the injured Dunk. Brighton start well and Chelsea are looking frustrated but still dangerous. Mitoma is causing chaos down the left wing. He drifts into the middle and is on hand to put the ball into the top of the net on 57⚽. Limbs especially in the North Stand as he celebrates right in front us 📣. There are a few more chances but we can’t stretch the lead. As the clock winds down, the pressure builds on the Seagulls. They start to use the corners of the pitch for a bit of Chloe Kelly style time wasting. It works and the final whistle goes on 90+4 with a 2-1 victory.

That was fun. First time watching the Albion men at the Amex and the first time in a decade or 5 watching Chelsea boys. A deserved win in front of an almost sell out crowd. The was a good atmosphere and it was especially noisy in the North Stand behind us. The Chelsea fans were surprisingly quiet for such a big number. Guess Basil doesn’t go to these games ,they could do with him to get them singing. Some of the chanting at Cucurella was a bit much and was probably only spurring him on. We enjoyed the battle between Lamptey and Neto with Lamptey being good value for the win. The Albion now move on to the 5th round with the draw taking place on Monday. Don’t think we will be there but you never know. Maybe next year though 🤔.

POTM: goes to Kaoru Mitoma for being unplayable, And celebrating in front of us.

The officiating was good, kept the game flowing and innored the theatrics of both sides. The lack of VAR helped and was good not to be waiting for ages for decisions. A better game for it.

The Scran’o’meter gave the Balti pie a scrummy 9/10. Hope it comes out in the wash.

It’s been a very long day so we’re going home to bed when we can find the car.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

In the West Stand

Warm in here

Love a programme

When The Chip Goes Down

Brighton & Hove Actually Women face Aston Villa Women in the FA Cup 5th Round at the Poundland Stadium

The Seagulls travel to the West Midlands to play the Villains at a cold, damp and overcast Bescot Stadium. The Seagulls beat Durham 3-1 at the Amex training centre after some ‘issues’ with the pitch in Crawley. This should be a tougher test as Villa are vying with the Seagulls, Spurs and Liverpool to be the best of the rest in the WSL. No points on offer today though, just a place in the last 8☝. There is a new face in the Albion line up. It’s Nadine Noordam who we last saw playing for Ajax against Chelsea in the Champions League a year ago. Maddie is banned after being sent off last week. Melina keeps her place in goal 🥅. Bruna is injured and has gone back to Barca ✈. Kieke is injured and not in the squad today. The Villians have the usual suspects plus our own Katie Robinson who is on the bench. We have arrived in plenty of time thanks to the excellent Dave the Driver 🚌. 32 fans and a meerkat travelled on the coach. It’s a cup 🏆 game so the risk of extra time and penalties is ever present. Hope not though as we have to get back in time for the men’s game at the Amex. We meet up with the Villain’s mascot in the carpark. It’s Olaf ☃ but in need of a good wash. The pitch doesn’t look great. It’s got even less grass than the Broadfield. There are about 50 of us. There is a group of about 20 Villians behind the goal making a good noise. They have a bigger drum 🥁 than we do but we do our best with 🎶Sussex by the Sea🎶 as the teams come out.

It’s all Villains from the kick off and Brighton can’t keep hold of the ball. It’s very broken up and scrappy, not helped by he state of the pitch. The Seagulls start to come back into it after about 15 minutes. Nikita’s shot is saved. Jelena’s free kick drops to Maria but she can’t sort her feet to prod it home. Nadine is starting to come into the game a bit and is looking like a good addition. The Albions are given the strangest free kick on 36. Anna Patten returns to the pitch without the ref’s permission and so she gives us a free kick. There is confusion before it’s taken, unsuprisingly more so because it’s indirect. Still ends up wasted though. Maddie gets her chance but the shot is saved. The Villains are outraged when Kirsty Hanson isn’t given a pen but it’s waved away. Oh dear, what a shame, never mind. The breakthrough comes when a mistake by Lucy Parker sees the ball fall for Nikita who makes it count. on 45. Into injury time and Villa get a corner. It’s a scamble in the box and it drops to the unmarked Anna Patten who prods it home on 45+2. Bugger. Level at the break.

It’s a rare bit of quality on the pitch that sees the Villains take the lead. It’s a Rachel Daly header from the middle of the box on 50. 2-1. They finish us off with a 3rd on 55 as Chastity Grant runs on to a through ball and scores from a tight angle. 3-1. The Seagulls protest 🙋 about it being off-side and Dotti ends up getting booked for something 🤷. Jelena hits one of her great freekicks but it’s saved in the top corner. The Seagulls' changes start on 66. Nadine is replaced by Pauline, Vicky by Marisa and Jorelyn by Dejana. Hope that adds a bit more energy. We get a goal back as Nikita finishes from Maddie’s cross. 3-2. Anna Patten goes down injured again. She gets up, goes down etc and is finally subbed off. We get lucky as there is a mix up between Maria and Melina but the Villains can’t capitalise. Jelena has not stopped running but she can have a rest now as she is replaced by Michelle on 82. Villa are starting to waste even more time now. We breathe a sigh of relief as Rachel Daly goes off only to groan as Ebony Salmon replaces her. The Seagulls are playing better now and get some chances as Michelle has a positive impact. She gets caught off-side in the last action of the game. A frustrating 3-2 loss. We may have lost but at least we did it in 90 minutes so we can get off back to the Amex now.

That was fun and frustrating in equal measure. The actual game was the frustrating bit as the Seagulls struggled to pass on the lumpy muddy pitch. The coach trip and spectating were fun 🎉. The Villains Ultras, all 20 of them, competed to make a good noise and the banter was good natured. “You’re only here to steal our chips” beats “you’re just a sh*t West Ham” everytime. The attendance was very low, 500 maybe. So low it’s not been officially published. Embarrassing, although it isn’t their usual venue as they are normally based at Villa Park. We need to have different ideas when Plan A doesn’t work due to the conditions. Anyway, we’re concentrating on the league now and looking forward to the Hammers away next Sunday. That’s all for now. Got to get back to the Amex to watch the boys.

POTM: Goes to Maddie for a gutsy performance and an assist 🏅. Special mention goes to Dave the Driver 🚌 who got us there and back safely and in good time.

The ref will be disappointed with her poor day at the office today. At least we hope she would be disappointed although she may be oblivious to or even proud of her performance or lack thereof. Villa got a foul for flattening their own keeper. The keeper herself flattened Nikita and got a free kick for it. NAd booking Dotti for pointing out the bleeding obvious. Enough said.

The Scran’O’meter thought the Vegan Pukka pie managed a mediocre 6/10 and the hot chocolate earned a watery 6/10 despite adding loads of sugar. We should have had the chips which were apparently very nice. We would also have paid for them and not stolen them as per our reputation.

Long trip back to Brighton now. See you later.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

World of Quid

On the football motorway

A Shot in the Dark

Tranmere Rovers FC away to Oxford City FC at Marsh Lane in an FA Cup 1st Round replay

The Rovers take on the Hoops of the National league South in a replay after the first leg at Prenton Park ended 3-3.

The Whites were victorious on a cold November night  in Oxfordshire with first half goals from James Norwood and Paul Mullin to finish 0-2.  We progress to the second round and so Southport here we come.My first evening match.  Not been out in the dark before. Loving football under the flood lightsAnd thanks to reserve keeper Shamal George for narrowly missing me with the ball during the warm up.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

SWA starting to arrive