Birmingham City carry on their unbeaten streak in 2026 after an excellent away-day performance against Portsmouth.
Birmingham City are currently comfortably second in the WSL2, with Portsmouth battling relegation in eleventh. Both teams began energetically with end-to-end action at Westleigh Park this evening/last night, and had fans out in full force despite the cold and rainy weather.
Portsmouth only had 2 changes to their starting XI, with their January signing of Lucy Shepherd not making an appearance, and Arsenal loanee Jessie Gale being recalled and moved to Bristol City for the remainder of the season. Birmingham City also made two starting XI changes, but utilised many of their January signings throughout the match.
The rain held off for the first half, and it was the battle of the blues. Both teams fought end to end from the beginning, with Portsmouth being forced into a substitute in the 21st minute due to their number 9 coming off injured.
Birmingham began to capitalise on their chances, with new signings Lotta Lindstrom from London City Lionesses and Lily Crothswaite from Durham coming out in full force and showing what they are made of.
Birmingham eventually started their scoring of the evening from Veatriki Sarri in the 24th minute, from a quick turnover of the ball from Portsmouth. Although early to concede, Portsmouth kept their heads held high and fought back, with Tia Primmer having some chances on goal.
Unfortunately for Portsmouth, Birmingham scored again five minutes later, with Lily Crosthwaite earning herself a well-deserved goal. Putting Birmingham up 0-2 just fifteen minutes before half-time.
Three minutes were added onto the first half, with Portsmouth still looking positive, but unable to find a way through, inevitably giving them fewer scoring chances.
The second half started miserably, with rain pouring from the open-topped stadium and the wind interfering with most of the long balls. Birmingham made their first substitute of the game, of record-breaking new signing Wilma Leidhammar from IFK Norrkoping, who transferred for a fee of £273,000.
The weather didn’t stop either of the teams, with Portsmouth wanting to bring the fight more and more, with a standout defensive performance from Hannah Coan, who crucially blocked multiple shots from Birmingham.
Birmingham kept going, with their third goal coming from Veatriki Sarri for her Brace in the 52nd minute, and an assist from the noted Lily Crosthwaite, making it 0-3.
Unluckily, Portsmouth couldn’t catch a break, even when Lotta Lindstrom scored in the 60th minute. Fortunately, the goal was called offside, which gave a spark back to the Portsmouth supporters.
The atmosphere around the stadium stayed positive as the supporters stood up in the 62nd minute to clap life-long Portsmouth supporter, Trevor Swan, who unfortunately passed away recently.
Leaning into the 64th minute, Birmingham began their next changes of the evening, with Sarri and Hopcroft coming off for new signing Hurtre from PSG and loanee Libby Bance.
Sadly, Portsmouth’s luck still didn’t change, with them having to make another forced change; Jesse Woolley came off for Angelina Nixon.
Birmingham decided to use their last two substitutions with Louis and Harrison-Murray coming on for Miyagawa and Lindstrom, which worked in their favour as the final goal of the night came in the 84th minute from Wilma Leidhammar, on her debut for the club, and an assist from Batcheba Louis to solidify their victory.
After four minutes of added time, Leidhammar was denied a brace, leaving the final score 0-4. This result leaves Birmingham two points behind top-of-the-table Charlton Athletic, although their result against Newcastle this weekend may change that, and Portsmouth stay only 5 points away from relegation.
Portsmouth: Gray; Bull (c), Humphries, Coan, Collins; Rowbotham, Woolley (Nixon 70); Primmer, Barker, Hornby; Jones (Dahou 22)
Subs not used: Erhabor, Rutherford, Sheffield
Birmingham: Franch; McKenna, Cooke, Herron, Holloway; Hopcroft (Bance 65), Cornet (c) (Leidhammar 46); Crosthwaite, Miyagawa (Louis 78), Sarri (Hurtré 65); Lindström (Harrison-Murray 78)
Subs not used: Thomas, Harris, Kovacs, Quinn
Referee: Ryan Atkin
Attendance: 703
