Albion look to seal League Cup progress

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Victory over Bristol City tonight will secure our place in the knockout stages.

Bruce Talbot

2024-12-11T05:00+00:00

Dario Vidosic knows Albion will have to be at their best to progress in the League Cup. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion play their final Group D game in the League Cup on Wednesday when they take on Bristol City at Broadfield Stadium, kick off 7pm.

All four teams could still qualify for the knockout stages but if Albion win they will top the group and go through. There is a scenario where Albion will progress with a draw, depending on the outcome of Leicester City's match with Birmingham City.

Team news

Dario Vidosic remains without seven first-team players due to injury. He said, “It will be the same group that were involved on Sunday against Chelsea. We have the same long-term absentees, and we won’t see either Fran Kirby or Maisie Symonds until the New Year.

“The girls have recovered well since Sunday and are ready to go again.”

Dario Vidosic’s thoughts

On the performance against Chelsea... “Looking back now it was a case of ‘what if.’ We had so many big chances and I liked the way we responded to setbacks in the game. When it went 3-1 down we could easily have let our heads drop but we responded again and had chances to equalise. There’s a lot we can improve on but the girls are learning all the time about how we want to play. I always say that experience is the best teacher.”

On Jelena Cancovic’s impact… “It’s been frustrating for her. Every time since she came to the club when she has got some momentum and rhythm she’s been ill or injured so that’s been frustrating but we saw her qualities on Sunday. She is going to play a big part this season and her ceiling is really high.”

Jelena Cancovic scored and impressed against her former club Chelsea on Sunday. 📷 by Kyle Hemsley.

On Bristol City… “It’s going to be a tough challenge. They are going well in the Championship and we know if we’re even a little bit off we will be punished. Every opportunity you have to win some silverware you have to take seriously. Wednesday is win or go home which is good. It’s in our hands and we know we’ll need a good performance.”

The opposition

Albion beat City twice in the WSL last season and they ended up being relegated. A run of five wins in their last six games have lifted City into third place in the Championship and on Sunday they won 3-0 at league rivals Southampton to seal a fourth-round tie against Arsenal in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup next month.

Stephen Kirby, who spent two years as first-team coach at Leicester City, was appointed City manager in September after Lauren Smith quit 12 days before the start of the season. Six-goal Lexi Lloyd-Smith is their top scorer.

Group D table