Albion well beaten by Manchester United

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Two goals from Nikita Parris sentenced the Seagulls to a 2-0 defeat in the Women's Super League on Sunday.

Bruce Talbot

2024-02-04T14:10:00Z

Elisabeth Terland forced a fine save from Mary Earps with this volley.

Interim head coach Mikey Harris saw Albion beaten 2-0 by Manchester United in his first game in charge on Sunday.

Two goals from Nikita Parris were the difference and although United were no great shakes they had a constant threat in Brazilian winger Geyse, who created both goals, and a striker in form in Parris who now has eight in the WSL this season.

Albion’s best chances fell to top scorer Elisabeth Terland, who forced Mary Earps to make two good saves, but the visitors made little attacking headway in a disappointing second half.

Katie Robinson is challenged by United defender Lisa Naalsund.

Harris, in charge after Melissa Phillips left the role on Thursday, saw his side go behind after ten minutes. Geyse sped past Poppy Pattinson and pulled the ball back from the byline to Parris, whose right-foot shot had too much power for ex-United keeper Sophie Baggaley.

Every time Geyse got the ball Albion were on red alert but they fought their way back into the contest and top scorer Terland, not surprisingly, had their best chances.

She latched onto a lovely chip forward by Geummin Lee and hit a first-time volley with her right foot from 15 yards which England keeper Earps stretched to her left to keep out.

Geummin Lee challenges United's defence in the air.

Pattinson then managed to escape from trying to keep Geyse quiet to produce a great cross from the left after Julia Zigiotti spotted her overlapping run. Terland got in front of her marker at the near post and flicked the ball goalwards but Earps was right behind the effort.

Albion were very much in the game at the break but in the second half they failed to test Earps again, even though Harris made five changes to try and unlock the home defence.

And United made the points safe with a second goal after 64 minutes. Again, Geyse got get past Pattinson and Vea Sarri and picked out Parris, who swept a low shot across Baggaley and into the far corner.

Maisie Symonds hits the bar with her free-kick and Albion levelled from the rebound.

An officious referee booked Terland and Lee to add to Albion’s frustrations. They must now regroup quickly with cup ties against Aston Villa and Wolves to come in the next week.

Albion: Baggaley, Kullberg, Thorisdottir (Carabali 79), Bergsvand, Pattinson (Mengwen 73), Robinson, Losada (Symonds 73), Zigiotti, Sarri (Dent 79), Terland, Lee (Pinto 63).