Jill Roord scored on her debut to help 10-player Manchester City to a 2-0 victory over West Ham on the first day of the Women's Super League season.

Gareth Taylor's side lacked a goal-scoring edge until Lauren Hemp netted a superb curling strike in the 48th minute.

Club record-signing Roord added City's second after Chloe Kelly had a penalty saved by Mackenzie Arnold.

Leila Ouahabi was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Emma Harries.

However, West Ham couldn't make the most of having an extra player in the final 20 minutes.

Match report.

An impressive second-half performance saw Leicester City come from behind to inflict defeat on newly-promoted Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Carrie Jones' deflected shot had opened the scoring for the home side on their return to the Women's Super League.

But Aimee Palmer's stunning equaliser from 20 yards on the stroke of half-time sparked the comeback.

Two goals came from Shannon O'Brien and Lena Petermann just after the break and Jutta Rantala swept in a fourth.

Bristol City were afforded a lifeline when CJ Bott flew into Mari Ward and Amelie Thestrup tucked into the bottom corner from the spot - but it proved to be a consolation prize.

Match report.

Elisabeth Terland scored two first-half goals to help Brighton get their Women's Super League season off to a winning start against Everton.

Brighton took early command when Terland headed home in the third minute after Katie Robinson's shot had struck the crossbar, before adding a second 11 minutes later.

Everton captain Megan Finnigan netted with 25 minutes remaining to give her side hope, but the hosts were unable to find an equaliser despite dominating the second half.

The win marks a positive start for Melissa Phillips' team who were involved in a relegation fight last season.

Match report.

Manchester United came from behind to beat an Aston Villa side who lost Kirsty Hanson to a red card in an enthralling match to start the Women's Super League season.

Scotland winger Hanson was sent off for a high tackle on midfielder Hayley Ladd in the second half at Villa Park.

But the hosts took a shock lead minutes later when England's Rachel Daly drilled into the bottom corner.

Villa's celebrations were short-lived as United found an immediate response - Spain forward Lucia Garcia pouncing on a loose ball in the box from a corner to make it 1-1.

And United completed the comeback to win the WSL season opener in dramatic fashion when substitute Rachel Williams headed in Nikita Parris' cross in stoppage time.

Match report

While we wait to hear from Vincent Kompany at Burnley, here is a round up of the first weekend of WSL action.

Image source, BBC Sport

The winners of the 2023 BBC Green Sport Awards have been announced today, and Forest Green Rovers have been named Elite Organisation of the Year.

Since Dale Vince bought a majority stake in the club in 2010, FGR have been on a mission to not only climb the football ladder, but do so as one of the most sustainable clubs in the world.

In 2017, football's world governing body Fifa described the League Two side as the "greenest football club in the world", and in 2018 they became the United Nations' first certified carbon-neutral football club.

They continue to push to become even more sustainable, and in the past year have focused on switching to greener travel options for the team and fans, while continuing to work on the Eco Park development that will house their new stadium.

Read more here.

Paul: Phil, Do you think the PGMOL have enough faith in the referee and officials to allow a more transparent communication feed which is broadcasted live during a game? Do you think they feel mistakes can be accepted more and scrutinised less while we don't find out exactly how they came to a controversial decision?

Phil: They have to have more faith after Saturday, Paul. After the mix-up there will be greater calls for transparent communication and they should be heeded. Time to hear those conversations – preferably at the game so fans know as well. I don’t think mistakes are being accepted or scrutinised less. And the scrutiny will increase after Saturday.

Dave Leaper: How much time should Poch get considering how the team was when he arrived?

Phil: Hi Dave. The one thing Mauricio Pochettino should get is time and patience even though results have been so poor. Chelsea’s recent strategies of change and churn, with both players and managers, have been catastrophic so now is the time to let a proven manager work with what he has, get all his players fit, work on systems and then hopefully get results. Pochettino needs an entire season at least.

BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live have just started their phone-in on the future of VAR.

You can listen to the debate by clicking the audio icon at the top of the page.

Burnley

Both Burnley and Luton go into Tuesday night's Premier League match at Kenilworth Road having played six games this season. This is their game in hand, after the match was postponed from earlier in the campaign.

We will hear from Clarets manager Vincent Kompany soon, with Hatters boss Rob Edwards due to hold his pre-match news conference at 13:30 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

Amy Clark, manager in the sports business group of Deliotte, says fresh investment in the Women's Super League needs to be balanced to avoid the "polarisations" of the men's game.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Clark said: "The critical point is how we transition from those major events into the domestic leagues and capitalise on that momentum. Financially we were already seeing a 60% rise in revenues before the Lionesses' success in the women's Euros, which was significant growth.

"The WSL broadcast contract is coming to market at the end of this year, so that will be critical in driving revenues for the league. Also, in commercial deals we're really seeing an increase in those at club specific level.

"We always say it's important that we don't follow the template of the men's game because polarisation is a key issue for them. Maintaining a balance between the leagues is critical when looking at the future. When we look at the finances, the top four clubs [in the WSL] accounted for over 70% of the leagues revenue."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League striker Jermaine Beckford, praised Nottingham Forest for the way they adapted to playing with ten men against Brentford and still managing to pick up a point.

Speaking on the Football Daily podcast, Beckford said: "Any team that goes down to 10 men with 35 minutes remaining of the game have to make it really difficult to be beaten.

"I've played against teams where the opposition have gone down to 10 men and they drop deep, make the pitch really narrow and fill all of the spaces to make it difficult to break them down. That's what Forest did.

"They managed to somehow grab an equaliser which was something I wasn't expecting to see. It lacked quality and was a tough watch at times."

Listen to the full episode here

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has joined us this morning for a Q&A. The first question comes from Chris.

Chris: Rugby and cricket seem to have television reviews largely sorted, and a significant part of this is broadcasting the chat between officials on pitch and in front of the screen. Why doesn’t football do the same?

Phil: Great question this. I really do think this is something football will have to consider very soon. Let the fans hear what is going on. Do not keep them in the dark. We have seen how clarity and communication can improve things. What we saw on Saturday was actually the end result of a lack of clarity and communication.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford manager Thomas Frank, speaking to Sky Sports: "We are just in that spell where we can't get over the line in terms of winning the games. It's a game we clearly should have won.

"We can't keep the ball out of the net when it's 11 against 10. That's an unbelievable finish that'll happen one in 100."

On whether this poor form is just a spell: "100%. We are strong believers of good performances, keep doing the right things, adding layers, keep learning from games like this.

"It's just a matter of time before we get over the line and get some wins."

On his faith in the technology: "I know it's the talk of the town VAR. I'm just so tired of talking about it. I'd much rather talk about football but I understand why we need to do it.

"I also feel the pain and frustration when it doesn't go your way. I need to focus on what I can affect."

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper, speaking to MOTD: "There is a lot to assess. I thought we started the game a lot better. We played some good football and got in some good areas. The frustration is we haven't created enough when we have got into good areas.

"Brentford had spells of the game without really hurting us. We didn't start the second half well and there were lots of individual mistakes which led to the free-kick and the Brentford goal.

"And then it's a different game. You're 1-0 down with 10 men but to think that we got back in the game, got the result and seen it out, it ends up being a much better point for us than for Brentford."

On the red card to Moussa Niakhate: "We all want the referees to be in a good place. Not just what happened yesterday but in general, it is the one Premier League game of the day. It needed to be a real clear and concise performance. But they have just raised more questions than answers.

"There are going to be talking points when there didn't need to be. If he doesn't give him the second yellow - it's definitely a first yellow and it's a silly one from Moussa around the edge of the box because you have to defend the free-kick - but to give the second one. If he doesn't give it, it doesn't even get mentioned.

"The fact he's given probably creates more problems for them to talk about. We'll have to accept it but in the greater scheme of things we all want referees in a good place. Unfortunately today he's added to that a little bit."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at City Ground

Image source, Getty Images

Ten-man Nottingham Forest fought back from a goal down to draw with Brentford as Nicolas Dominguez's first goal earned the hosts a point.

After a tame first half, the game sparked into life early in the second when Moussa Niakhate was sent off having stood on the heel of Yoane Wissa.

From the resulting free-kick, Brentford captain Christian Norgaard put his side ahead as he powered in a header from Mathias Jensen's delivery for his first goal of the season.

But the lead only lasted seven minutes before Argentina international Dominguez, who joined Forest in September from Bologna, produced an excellent diving header, with the ball looping over visiting goalkeeper Mark Flekken.

Victory would have moved either side into 10th place, but neither could find a second goal on a rainy day in Nottingham.

Brentford substitute Neal Maupay, on loan from Everton, had a chance to claim a winner, but failed to connect cleanly when inside the penalty area.

The draw meant the Bees have now gone five Premier League games without a win since a 3-0 success at Fulham in the second match of the season.

Match report.

Michael Beale has called for unity after he was sacked as Rangers manager on Sunday.

The 43-year-old's tenure was brought to an end after less than a year in the post on the back of Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Aberdeen.

Rangers failed to reach the Champions League this term under Beale and sit third in the Scottish Premiership, seven points behind leaders Celtic.

"I will always follow and support the club," Beale wrote on Instagram.

"Now is the time for everyone to unite fully behind Steven Davis and the team in the coming games.

"There is still so much to play for this season and I have a strong belief in this group of players. Thank you and good luck."

Full story here and BBC Scotland are running a live page with all the reaction.

I can't promise the word VAR will not be mentioned for the rest of the day Adam, as it most certainly will.

But we will also bring you the latest on today's other big football news stories, starting with Rangers' search for a new manager following Sunday's sacking of Michael Beale...

BBC Radio 5 Live

Hopefully now everyone is up to speed on the VAR controversy.

The issue is sure to feature heavily in Phil McNulty's Q&A this morning, while the second half of BBC Radio 5 Live's morning phone-in will also be on the issue.

You can have your say from 10:00-11:00 BST today - click on this link to listen to the show.

Earlier this morning, Henry Winter - the Times' chief football writer - was the guest on 5 Live Breakfast show's daily In My Opinion slot. He suggested six ways to improve VAR.

We will bring you those six ways shortly, but you can listen back to Winter's words of wisdom now via this link - he was on from around 07:54 BST.