Birmingham City Set for Tough WSL Return Against Manchester City

Birmingham City are back in the big time – and Amy Merricks has no intention of easing themselves in gently.

The newly crowned WSL 2 champions open their first top-flight campaign in four years with the hardest assignment going: away to reigning Women's Super League winners Manchester City at the Joie Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Same ground. Same opponent. Very different mood.

The last time Birmingham played a league game there, in May 2022, they were torn apart 6-0 and sent spiralling into relegation. That result closed a chapter. This one feels like it could start a new one.

Merricks: “We are here to compete”

Merricks, who led Blues to the second-tier title on the final day of last season, is not tiptoeing into the champions’ backyard.

“I think it's a great time to play Man City. We know it's going to be a challenge but we are well and truly up for it. We are here to compete, not just make up the numbers,” she said ahead of the trip north.

“Our focus is on ourselves, we appreciate and respect who they are and what they have, but our mindset doesn't change.”

That mindset is built on front-foot football. Birmingham averaged 2.09 goals per game last season and carved out a reputation as one of the most adventurous sides in the division. Promotion has not persuaded Merricks to put the handbrake on.

“There is a core part of our identity that is non-negotiable for us as Blues and myself as a head coach,” she explained.

“We are a progressive team, we will find ways to create and score. We are really clear on what our strengths are and what we need to maximise.

“This is the best league in the world, it is going to be tough and a challenge, but what we can't do is lose our strengths. We have to amplify those and put ourselves in the best position possible.

“We have to focus on what we can control and that's how we can compete. We don't fear anyone. I think we showed that in the cup competitions last year.”

That last line is not empty bravado. Birmingham made life deeply uncomfortable for Manchester City in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals in March, forcing the champions to grind out a 1-0 win.

City wary of Birmingham’s bite

Andree Jeglertz has not forgotten that afternoon. The Manchester City boss expects another awkward, tactical battle rather than a ceremonial welcome-back party for the promoted side.

“We had a tough game against them last year. They were tactically very good and destroyed all the space on the field, defending low and their transitioning was very good. There are threats in their team we need to give attention to,” he said.

“Playing against a team that is new in the league is always a challenge because I know they are coming in with a lot of energy in the first game.”

Energy will meet experience on Sunday. City swept all 11 of their home WSL matches last season on their way to the title. The Joie Stadium became a fortress, and they start this campaign as the team everyone wants to knock off their perch.

Yet Jeglertz refuses to let his squad slip into a champion’s comfort zone.

“We are still chasing, chasing to win again. If you start protecting things, I don't think that will help us. We need to be in a mood of hunger, trying to win again, to compete in different tournaments.

If we drop a little bit in performance or attitude, teams will go past us.”

Early injury tests for champions

City begin their title defence with problems to solve. Vivianne Miedema, their marquee forward signing, will be sidelined until at least late autumn with a knee injury. Defender Rebecca Knaak also misses the Birmingham game because of a foot issue.

There is some relief. Defender Jade Rose and midfielder Grace Clinton are back in training and pushing towards involvement. But summer signing Niamh Charles remains, in Jeglertz’s words, “a big question mark” for Sunday.

So the champions are not at full strength. The promoted side refuse to back down. One team protecting a perfect home record, the other trying to erase the scars of a 6-0 defeat on the same turf.

Birmingham insist they will go toe-to-toe with Manchester City. The question now is whether that bold promise can survive the first 90 minutes of life back in the WSL.