Manchester City responded to their midweek Champions League exit by winning 2-1 at Brighton in the Women’s Super League on Sunday afternoon.

Kerstin Casparij put the visitors ahead eight minutes before half-time and Vivianne Miedema added a second in the 90th minute, shortly before Charlize Rule’s first league effort for the Seagulls.

But interim head coach Nick Cushing’s fourth-placed side held on to clinch a first win in three league games end Albion’s unbeaten WSL home record this term.

Brighton goalkeeper Melina Loeck endured an uneasy moment early on when a straightforward attempted pass hit the leg of Mary Fowler and ricocheted off the post, setting the tone for a tricky first half with ball at feet for the German shot-stopper.

Despite some uncertain moments in their own box, Brighton had sights of goal at the other end, with Poppy Pattinson’s shot forcing Khiara Keating into a save after a significant break in play which ended with American forward Madison Haley hobbling off.

But it was City, recovering from the disappointment of going out of the WCL at the hands of Chelsea on Thursday, who grabbed the opener in the 37th minute thanks to a neat piece of team play.

Holding midfielder Yui Hasegawa slipped a pass in to Australia forward Fowler, who showed great feet to gain a yard of space on her marker before fizzing a pass across the box for the well positioned Casparij to turn in.

Albion returned from the break seemingly rejuvenated, with former Chelsea striker Fran Kirby continuing to relentlessly press from the front. She provided a slick pass for Kiko Seike, with the Japan forward’s shot clipping the top of Keating’s bar.

However, City’s strength in depth proved too much for Brighton, with Miedema coming off the bench to smash a bobbling ball into the top-left corner in the 90th minute.

The strike left the Seagulls with little time to mount a fightback and, although Rule got her name on the scoresheet in stoppage time, it was not enough as City took all the points.