As the sun sets on a campaign of excitement in the Barclays Women’s Super League, Bristol City find themselves in a disappointing position as the clock runs down on their time in the top-flight. After suffering a burly defeat to Manchester City at Ashton Gate on Sunday evening, relegation back down to the Barclays Women’s Championship is now officially confirmed for the Robins.

Despite the division yo-yo now labelled as a definite, it would be increasingly simple to deem the story of Bristol City’s 2023/24 campaign as a season of doom and gloom. Though with light coming through the cracks of their journey in the top flight, there is plenty of positives to derive from the season at hand.

Lauren Smith’s Stylistic Identity

As much as league position indicates a far from desirable performance in the top-flight, there is much to be said about the stylistic identity being crafted by Lauren Smith at Bristol City Football Club. Smith works to implement a structural integrity to her Robins side, as countless fixtures have seen her side remain disciplined in their principals despite what the scoresheet may display.

The Robins work to play guided football, as their last line continue to showcase their intent to play out from the back, and be aggressive in the press. In many occasions where most sides may opt to drop into a lower block and force clearance, Smith has drilled a stylistic footballing identity into her Robins side that consists of much to be admired.

Whilst it may be easy to draw attention to the low-block enforced in last night’s meeting with the Cityzens in a last-ditch attempt to save their position in the Super League, this season has seen the Robins play through a press and attempt a footballing identity inside of the attacking margins.

Keeping some of England’s giants to fine margins, Bristol City have held Arsenal to just a narrow defeat in the season’s opening weeks, whilst 2-0 losses at the hands of Manchester United have still seen the Robins dominate many areas of the field in both of the reverse fixtures. As Smith continues to implement a spinal discipline to her footballing style at Bristol City, it would be safe to say it won’t be long before her intentions begin to slide results in the favour of the Robins.

“Lauren Smith has our full backing, and we firmly believe she is the best person to help us replicate last year’s achievements of winning the Championship and returning to the Women’s Super League” said Gavin Marshall, Bristol Sport Group CEO after last night’s defeat at home.

The Robins Faithful

Despite their side’s precarious position on the league table, Bristol City fans continue to pile through the turnstiles in support of their Robins in the stands of Ashton Gate.

Remarkable numbers have seen the Robins obtain the fifth highest home side attendance throughout the 2023/24 Barclays Women’s Super League season- behind only the likes of the league’s top four. Ashton Gate have seen an average turnout of 7,278 spectators [as per FootballWebPages] pile through the turnstiles, in a dynamic effort to support their side.

The home efforts from the Bristol City faithful continues to solidify the statement of intent of the football club, as the Robins head into exciting territory despite the results of an undesirable campaign. Yesterday evening the club confirmed that they will maintain their home initiative in the Championship- as all home fixtures are still set to be played at Ashton Gate during their 2024/25 campaign.

“Despite relegation from the Barclays Women’s Super League, the club is committed to playing at the stadium, which has seen an average attendance of more than 7,000 per game this season, and keeping affordable prices for supporters.”

Captain Connolly

A summer signing that drew the attention over the seasoned interval came in the form of Megan Connolly’s permanent transfer from Barclays Women’s Super League opponents in Brighton & Hove Albion. The Irish defender provides to be a versatile pillar in the spine of Lauren Smith’s side, continuing to garner a folio of minutes in both the centre-half, and the holding midfield role.

Not only does Connolly’s (so often overlooked) skillset call for attention, Bristol City’s statement of intent was scripted when the Irish defender was given the captain’s armband upon her arrival at the club. An experienced and versatile footballer who has her sights set on the identity being crafted by Smith exists as a primary indicator for the journey the side is beginning to head on in coming seasons.

Now it is unclear where Connolly’s contractual obligations with the Robins exist, but such a signing of strength is a primary example of the intention that Lauren Smith holds when moving forward with her Robins side.

As the summer transfer window awaits, I would urge much attention to be paid toward the movement of the Robins, as an exciting period awaits the side looking to add to their ever-growing armoury of young talent.

Injury Woes

As Lauren Smith’s side prepared for the battle with a calibre of high talent in the WSL sides they geared up to face, the Robins also faced an onslaught of injury woes as their campaign continued to progress.

Rachel Furness obtained a hamstring injury in November of 2023, which saw her face an extended spell on the sidelines. An omission of such experience proved costly on occasions for the Robins, as Furness’s pillared presence was sorely missed throughout the field’s central areas.

It has been a bitter campaign for Chloe Mustaki, as the Irish defender continues to battle her way through a hip irritation that has consequently ruled her out of contention for the campaign’s remaining duration. Mustaki’s brave attitude through times of great adversity continues to be increasingly admirable, as the Robins fall short in another area of importance.

Naomi Layzell recently faced a spell on the sidelines due to an injury she picked up during the February international break, as Brooke Aspin also missed an extended period throughout the season’s early stage. Bristol City have had to navigate through a piling list of woes to their starting eleven side as the season progressed, having now begun to pull together a nice amount of returns.

Much is to be admired as Bristol City continue to fight their way to fine margins, but in the light of existing as a club without the primary backing of Premier League football, Lauren Smith has had to arm wrestle with minimal squad depth in attempts to prevent a league tier yo-yo as the campaign ran it’s course.

The Growth of Future Competition

Amidst trying to reap the silver linings from the confirmed relegation looming on the horizon of Bristol City’s future in the Barclays, it would be ignorant to ignore the harsh realities that now await them in the Barclays Women’s Championship.

The 2023/24 campaign has had the popcorn flowing, as a five horse race has seen the likes of Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Charlton Athletic, and Birmingham City all battle for promotion in the league’s final month. As the Barclays Women’s Championship continues to reach new heights of competitiveness in the pool of ever-growing talent, Bristol City will not be set to return to the same tier that they left behind last summer.

Sides continue to receive an exponential rise of financial backing from their respective club entities, as those teams battling for league promotion will be sure to continue their march as the summer ticks over into the dawn of the new season.

Not to say Bristol City will not be a part of the roll call, but the challenge of the Championship may catch many by surprise if their attention has been pulled away from the second tier of English football in recent seasons.

The club have opened season ticketing up for purchase, as Bristol City will play all 11 home games at Asthon Gate next season. Available here.