New signings Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood suffered frustration as Manchester City were held to a goalless draw by a resolute Brighton side.

The England pair, who arrived from Lyon last week, were in the starting XI named by manager Gareth Taylor.

But, although City dominated possession, they could not find a way past Brighton goalkeeper Megan Walsh.

She denied Steph Houghton, Chloe Kelly and Georgia Stanway, while Danielle Bowman was just wide for the visitors.

Relive Sunday's WSL action as it happened

It is a measure of the strength in depth City now posses that Taylor was able to bring four England internationals into his side, with Bronze - back for her second spell in a light blue shirt - and Greenwood joined by Ellen White and Laura Coombs.

But, in their first home game for 203 days because of the coronavirus pandemic, they found themselves facing a Brighton line-up superbly organised by former England boss Hope Powell.

Greenwood shows her class

The visitors could barely get out of their own half in the first five minutes, with Walsh having to be quick off her line within the first 60 seconds to hack clear as Sam Mewis threaded the ball through for White.

Greenwood took every opportunity to make surging runs down the left and Walsh was soon called into action again, pushing a Houghton free-kick around the post.

Stanway slid wide after being played in by Coombs, but after their positive start, it was only in the final 15 minutes of the first half that City rediscovered their attacking purpose.

Another fine ball from Coombs created a scoring opportunity for Kelly, but Walsh stayed big to save, and she ended the half by blocking an effort by Stanway with her legs from Bronze's clever pass.

The only time she let the ball slip through her hands, from a cross-cum-shot by Stanway from a narrow angle, she was quick enough to retrieve the situation before it crossed the line.

Golden chance for opener

White pulled a great chance wide early in the second half, and was later replaced by Janine Beckie, before a cross by Kelly saw Houghton stretch beyond the far post, only to find the side-netting.

It took Brighton 54 minutes to produce a shot on target as Maya Le Tissier's 20-yarder warmed the palms of Ellie Roebuck, but their intensity did not ebb away as they sensed they might take something from the game.

Houghton had to be alert to prevent Rianna Jarrett having a run through on goal, but Greenwood almost carved out an opener for City with a cross which Stanway headed over the keeper, but also just over the bar.

Bowman was just off target with an 84th-minute free-kick from just outside the box and, although City drove forward in added time, a shot by Stanway which flashed across the face of goal was as close as they came to a dramatic winner.