The home side have turned around a difficult start to life in the FA WSL with a four game unbeaten run that has seen them collect all of their six points thus far. The only win of the league season came with a late Loren Dykes goal against Doncaster Rovers Belles, that coming after an even later goal arrived to grab a draw against Liverpool, defender Grace McCatty the source of that strike. Those are the only two goals scored by the Vixens this season as they have found Super League goals hard to come by and it will be no easier against a determined Arsenal defence that has leaked only two goals.
Pre-season league favourites Arsenal are currently sat second in the table, four points behind leaders Birmingham City with a game in hand. Birmingham remain the only team to take points off of Arsenal this term after ex-Gunner Karen Carney netted the winning goal in her sides away win at Borehamwood. If Bristol are to get anything out of the game then they will have to keep tabs on the Gunners top scorer Ellen White. England international striker White has already got on the scoresheet ten times this season in the Super League, FA Cup and Champions League, including six in her last four against Barnet, Birmingham, Lincoln and Doncaster.
The sides have already met once this season, Jennifer Beattie hitting the goal of the month for April in a 1-0 Arsenal win which can be seen in the match highlights package below.
Academy will put their unbeaten home start up against Arsenal's 100% away record in this tasty tie and Bristol boss Mark Sampson is confident that his side can maintain their run, he told bristolacademywfc.fawsl.com:
"We showed Arsenal what we are about in our game earlier in the season and it will be the same come Thursday. They will be looking to assert their style on the game and we will be looking to assert ours so it will be a big battle early on to see who can get the upper hand.
"All over the pitch there are some great match ups and it will be up to us to make sure we get on top of our direct opponent early in the game and show them what we are about. We are confident our style of play will cause them problems and psychologically we are very strong and ready to do what we need to do.
"It is a home game so it is up to us to set the tempo and that is something we certainly intend to do with our pressing and tackling."
The game was changed from a 6:30 kick off to a 7:15 start at the WISE campus in Filton. Adults can purchase their match tickets for £6 while concessions and students can get in for £4. Tickets in the Bristol Academy end of Coventry's Ricoh Arena for the Women's FA Cup final will be available at this game at £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions.
Picture and Mark Sampson quote sourced from http://www.bristolacademywfc.fawsl.com/. Highlights video taken from http://www.fawsl.com/.
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