Lasses Match Preview: How will Sunderland Women fare against the Blades in today’s match at Eppleton?

Barclay’s Women’s Championship

Sunderland AFC Women v Sheffield United Women

Eppleton CW Ground, Hetton-le-Hole, Sunderland

Start: 11:30 a.m.

Tickets and match coverage

Travel: Take the number 55 bus from Sunderland Interchange (Stand K) to Houghton Road-Caroline Street, Hetton.

Coverage: The game will be broadcast live on Twitter via @SAFCWomen

Reflexes: The FA Player will have highlights and a full replay of the match from Monday afternoon.

Podcast: If all goes well, we’ll have Lasses Podcast Live as usual Monday night, 8:30pm-9:30pm

accumulation

Sunderland face Sheffield United today, knowing that a win would secure Championship football again next season.

After last week’s win over bottom-placed Coventry, we go into this game full of confidence and able to play without fear.

Photo by Nigel Roddis – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

the girls

Personally, I don’t see us making any changes to the side unless it’s due to injuries. Katy Watson has started the last two games and has shown her skill and pace that will scare teams. The seventeen-year-old is sure to be a name to reckon with in the future and she’s toying with a belief that defies her years. Alongside her, Emily Scarr has developed into one of the best forwards and will be looking to take advantage of her two assists last week.

Photo by Nigel Roddis – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

opponents

Sheff United is a strange side. They seemed to be getting sucked into a relegation battle, then pulled off a very impressive win over London City a few weeks ago. They have since lost to Palace and have changed managers, so we will have to watch out for the new manager’s rebound.

Courtney Sweetman Kirk is still a forward to be taken very seriously so our defense will need to be careful, but I think our attacking players will have fun against the opposition and look to put some distance between us and Sheff Utd.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

final thoughts

Sunderland have a run of home games coming up and will be looking to make that count against the teams in and around us at the bottom. Mel Reay has had to deal with a lot of injuries this season, the most recent being Liz Ejupi, but I hope it’s nothing serious. Mel has always found a way to make us look strong and competitive.

Hopefully we can get Eppleton out and give the players everything. It’s a great group, and it’s the least they deserve. Out with the girls!

Photo by Nigel Roddis – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

recent league form

Sunderlands: LWLL

Sheffield: DDLWW

head to head

(All venues, all competitions, including friendlies)

Played: 3

Sunderland win: 1

Draws: 2

Sheffield wins: 0

Sunderland Goals: 7

Sheffield Goals: 4

last time out

Sheffield United Women 1 – 4 Sunderland Women – 20 March 2022

Sophie Bradley 22′, Emily Scarr 24′, 39′ Maria Farrugia 57′ Emma Kelly 86′

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