Former Manchester City player Lee Geum-min scored the only goal as Brighton handed Gareth Taylor’s side their second successive Women’s Super League defeat.

The title hopefuls had dominated throughout but, with nine minutes left, another ex-City player Pauline Bremer slipped away from Laia Aleixandri on the left and delivered a low ball into the six-yard area.

And South Korean veteran international Lee, who played for City from 2019-21, arrived at the far post to convert and secure a 1-0 win.

City set the tone for the afternoon just 18 seconds into the game when Chloe Kelly’s fierce shot clipped the Brighton crossbar, the first of a string of chances that were thwarted by a combination of solid defending and uncertain finishing.

A Kelly shot after four minutes was well held by Sophie Baggaley, Jill Roord somehow missed converting Kelly’s far-post cross and Alanna Kennedy sent a 20-yard free-kick flying just over.

Baggaley also did well to keep hold of a deflected Mary Fowler shot in the sodden conditions, Khadija Shaw almost connected with a Fowler cross in front of goal and the lively Kelly came close twice more before the interval.

But there had been early warning signs that Brighton, who held Manchester United to a draw last weekend, were capable of springing and upset.

City’s young goalkeeper Khiara Keating had endured a tough outing in her team’s loss at Arsenal last weekend but she made two important early contributions to deny a Brighton goal, making a close-range block from Elisabeth Terland and then stopping a Tatiana Pinto shot.

City brought on England international Lauren Hemp at the break and, within two minutes, her cross picked out Shaw who headed just over.

As City maintained their pressure, Esme Morgan, Kelly and Hemp all had sight of goal but planted shots too close to the dependable Baggaley.

Just before the hour, Fowler broke up a Brighton attack, Julie Blakstad played in Kelly and her far-post cross was almost turned in by Hemp who just missed the target as she arrived at full-stretch and suffered a painful collision with the woodwork.

Brighton’s defending remained of the very highest quality and, when her back four were circumvented, Baggaley remained a considerable obstacle, handling a Roord shot well then turning a strike from Hemp around the post.

The keeper’s best save of the day came in the 78th minute when Fowler played in Hemp who was denied once more by Baggaley’s sprawling, point-blank block.

After Brighton took the lead, City pushed for a late equaliser. Kelly shot straight at Baggaley yet again and Hemp’s clever chip struck the underside of the bar before Kelly was denied at the near-post by the Brighton keeper.