Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor speaking BBC Sport: "It was a good performance from us. There were good parts of our play in the first half, we just lacked that final pass. We just needed to take that little bit more care.

"But the first good pass we made in the second half I think was Keira Walsh and we get in and score from an own goal.

"The problem you have when you play Brighton is they’re so determined. Last season when we won here 7-1, they didn’t give up. They never give up.

"You’ve got to be resolute, you’ve got to be determined, but I thought some of our play in the second period was very, very good.

What did he say at half-time? "I had to praise the way that they played but obviously you’re a little bit annoyed that we haven’t taken one of our chances or good moments. Spoke a little bit about the back four squeezing up slightly but it was more about that final pass.

We had moments in the first half but not enough chances, in the second half we really opened up and you could see the players played with confidence.

On Lauren Hemp's performance. "One of the messages I said at half-time was get the ball to Lauren as much as we can because you could see she was really at it today. She brings such energy and directness to the team. Sometimes we overuse her a little bit. She’s great and we’re really glad to have her."

That's been an entertaining first 45, Reading have been much the better side but Leicester have their keeper Demi Lambourne to thank for keeping them within shouting distance following that fine penalty save to deny goalscorer Natasha Dowie.

WSL bottom side Birmingham City have started 2022 is stunning fashion! They lead competition pacesetters Arsenal 2-0 at the break.

Is this the upset of the season in the making?

We are into first-half injury time and Arsenal have their first shot on goal. It's a poked effort from Vivianne Miedem which is easily dealt with.

Birmingham City want a second and force a corner.

It's whipped in from Veatriki Sarri and Gemma Lawley sends a header wide.

Emma Harries races clear on the right wing and her audacious chip from distance hits the bar! The rebound falls to Dowie, but she slides her shot just wide.

Reading are cracking to watch on the break.

This will go down as just about Arsenal's best chance of the first-half, and it's not even a good one.

Space opens up for Jordan Nobbs to have a crack from outside of the box, but her shot is a wild one and goes a long way over the bar.

That corner comes to nothing, but Vivianne Miedema does manages to threaten with a header from a corner moments later. These chances have been rare for the Gunners so far.

Purfield hacks Eikeland down as the Leicester player zooms away and goes into the referee's book. She was sent off last time out, so she'll have to careful.

Beth Mead flicks a wonderful pass into the path of Kim Little, who races into the box.

The run of the Arsenal captain, however, is checked by Veatriki Sarri. The Gunners have to settle for a corner.

We have just passed the half-hour mark and Arsenal are yet to have a shot on goal.

Birmingham have been well organiser and really suffocated the Gunners, who have struggled to string passes together.

It's another corner for Arsenal. Eventually a cross is worked into the box, which Simone Boye Sorensen meets with a header. Her effort, however, is off target.

Saved!

Dowie puts it to the right of Demi Lambourne, but the keeper guesses correctly and palms it away around the post!

Arsenal have their first corner of the game and it's whipped in dangerously.

Birmingham, however, are equal to it. None of the frailties that plagued them before the winter break are there for Birmingham right now.

Natasha Dowie is fouled and Reading have the chance to make it 2-0 from the spot!

Rose zips down the left wing and goes to ground in the Leicester area, but the referee is uninterested and gives the Foxes a free kick instead.

Some good work from Kim Little sees the ball eventually skip through to Beth Mead in the box.

Mead drifts to the right to shoot but Harriet Scott blocks the shot.

Birmingham City with a corner, which they play short. They are attacking Arsenal with real confidence.

When the ball is eventually worked in, but it's swept out out again.

Postpublished at 23 mins

23 mins

Reading 1-0 Leicester City

Grant takes another hefty challenge, and has some more treatment with Freya Gregory limbering up on the sidelines.