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## Annabel Blanchard

> Blanchard joined Palace in 2022 off the back of a remarkable season with Blackburn Rovers in which she earned both Coaches' and Supporters' Player of the Season, and has since grown into one of English football's most exciting playmakers.

Blanchard is a young, two-footed forward capable of playing across the front line or, more regularly, as a No. 10.

Blanchard began her career aged just 16 with Liverpool, but started her time with the England youth setup the year before, and has represented the national side from Under-17-Under-19 levels.

After leaving Liverpool she joined Leicester City and then Blackburn Rovers, with whom she finished joint-top goalscorer in 21/22.

Blanchard then joined Palace in the summer of 2022 and made a strong start in South London, with four goals in 22 Championship appearances in her maiden campaign.

In 2023/24, Blanchard's brilliance shone as Palace Women claimed promotion from the Championship, the forward scoring 11 times in just 19 league games including clinical hat-tricks against both Durham and London City Lionesses.

Such form led to Blanchard not only winning both the Championship Goal and Player of the Month awards in September – as well as a nomination for the latter for November – but also the club's Player of the Month awards for October and March to boot.

At the start of Palace's first-ever top-flight season, Blanchard became our inaugural Women's Super League goalscorer, netting a brace in our first win against Leicester City – 2-0 at the King Power Stadium – in October 2024.

September 2023

Championship Player of the Month

Championship Goal of the Month

Blackburn Rovers, 2021/22

Coaches' Player of the Season

Supporters' Player of the Season

February 2023, October 2023, April 2024

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

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### Summary:

- Kaminski names an unchanged side from the defeat against Spurs, with Öling and Hughes featuring on the bench for the first time this season.
- 5: Bremer is put through but makes a mess of her shot, and Majasaari easily gathers
- 18: GOAL - Woodham's back pass takes an unfortunate bobble and the ball rolls into the net to give Brighton an early lead
- 33: Losada has her effort saved well by Majasaari
- 42: Stengel has a good effort blocked, and the ball runs out for a corner
- 45+1: Majasaari saves excellently from a dangerous Cankovic free-kick
- **HT: Brighton 1-0 Palace**
- 47: Symonds is shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Everett
- 65: Larisey is booked for a late challenge
- 73: Brighton have a flurry of opportunities to double the lead, but can't find the target
- 87: GOAL - Woodham rolls the balls across the Brighton box and there is Cato to pass it into the net
- 90+5: Brighton clear an effort off the line after Cato heads on goal
- 90+7: Olislagers has a golden opportunity to win for the hosts, but she hits the post
- **FT: Brighton 1-1 Palace**

WSL Highlights: Brighton 1-1 Palace

It was a fiercely contested game in Crawley, but Laura Kaminski's side managed to salvage a draw after some early misfortune.

18 minutes in and Lily Woodham's back pass to Milla-Maj Majasaari took an unfortunate bobble and trickled into the Palace net.

Katie Stengel had the best chance for Palace in the first half, with her strike narrowly deflecting wide. 

Majasaari made amends just moments before the half-time whistle, palming away a Jelena Čanković free kick that was destined for the top corner.

The second-half saw an almost immediate red card for Brighton's Maisie Symonds, who was given her marching orders just three minutes in to the restart.

The ball had come loose and the midfielder's reckless challenge on Palace captain Aimee Everett meant that the referee had no choice but to dismiss the Brighton player.

Despite being a player down, the hosts had the next big chance of the game with Nikita Parris going close to doubling Brighton's lead on 73 minutes.

However it was Palace that scored the next goal, with My Cato bagging her second WSL goal in a Palace shirt on 87 minutes.

Woodham picked up the ball in an advanced position on the left wing and crossed an accurate ball into the feet of Cato.

The Sweden international struck first time, and her finish wrong-footed the goalkeeper and nestled in the bottom left corner to make it 1-1.

The fourth official showed 10 minutes of added time, and Cato almost grabbed hers and Palace's second goal of the game in the 95th minute.

A dangerous corner was lofted back into the box, and Cato headed it on goal, only for the goalkeeper Loeck to clear the ball off the line.

There was yet more late drama though, as Brighton countered and Marisa Olislagers found herself one-on-one with Majasaari.

The Netherlands international saw her shot beat Majasaari, but not the Palace post as the ball rebounded to safety.

This result earns Palace their first point in the WSL of 2025, with Newcastle United in the Adobe Women's FA Cup next up on Sunday, 9th February at the VBS Community Stadium.

[You can get tickets for that game here.](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/559?position=2)

**Brighton**: Loeck (GK), Thorisdottir, Pattinson, Bergsvand, Losada (Carabali, 96), Bremer (Olislagers, 54), Parris, Cankovic, Symonds, Haley (Agyemang, 81), McLauchlan

Subs not used: Baggaley (GK), Hayes, Noordam, Rayner, Stefanovic, Rule

**Palace:** Majasaari (GK), Cato, Everett (Veje, 54), Sharpe (Sharpe, 71), Weerden (Larisey, 61), Green, Nolan, Potter, Gejl (Blanchard, 61), Woodham, Stengel

Subs not used: Yañez (GK), Gibbons, Arthur, Hughes, Öling

After an unfortunate own-goal 18 minutes in, the Eagles rallied to a credible 1-1 away draw at Broadfield Stadium in the Barclays Women's Super League.

Report & Highlights: Palace Women earn valuable point away at Brighton

Brighton and Hove Albion Women v Crystal Palace Women (2025-02-02)

Crystal Palace Women

English Women's Super League

Brighton and Hove Albion Women

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Newcastle United Women

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EXPLORE PALACE WOMEN

Cato reacts to draw against Brighton

Speaking to Palace TV, she said: “It was a tough game, like every weekend.

“But I’m just really, really happy that we fought hard and got a point here.”

Cato’s crucial equaliser in the 88th minute ensured Palace left with something to show for their efforts, and she gave credit to her teammate for setting up the goal.

“It was Lily \[Woodham\] who put in a really good cross, and I was in the box and just managed to put the ball in the goal,” she explained.

After the disappointment of conceding late against Spurs last week, Cato believes this result will give the squad a much-needed boost.

“This means a lot, we had a really tough weekend against Tottenham when we conceded in the last minute. 

"So this means a lot, and we just need to keep fighting like we have done every week. I hope the points are going to come.”

Next up for Cato and the team is a home fixture in the fifth round of the Adobe Women's FA Cup against Newcastle United on Sunday, 9th February.

[Tickets for that fixture are available here!](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/559?position=1)

After her late equaliser salvaged a draw away at Brighton & Hove Albion, midfielder My Cato reflected on Palace Women's ability to bounce back after last week's disappointment.

Cato: We just need to keep fighting

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Match reports

Match reports

Report & Highlights: Palace Women earn valuable point away at Brighton

Latest News

Cato: We just need to keep fighting

Report & Highlights: Palace Women earn valuable point away at Brighton

Latest Videos

Allyson Swaby's first interview as an Eagle!

WSL Highlights: Brighton 1-1 Palace

Kaminski reflects on draw with Brighton

Cato reacts to draw against Brighton

Pre-match Press Conference Brighton & Hove Albion (A)

WSL Highlights: Palace 2-3 Spurs

10Annabel
Blanchard

Match reports

Match reports

Report & Highlights: Palace Women earn valuable point away at Brighton

Latest News

Cato: We just need to keep fighting

Report & Highlights: Palace Women earn valuable point away at Brighton

Latest Videos

Allyson Swaby's first interview as an Eagle!

WSL Highlights: Brighton 1-1 Palace

Kaminski reflects on draw with Brighton

Cato reacts to draw against Brighton

Pre-match Press Conference Brighton & Hove Albion (A)

WSL Highlights: Palace 2-3 Spurs

10AnnabelBlanchard

10Annabel
Blanchard