By Caitlin Kelly 12/4/24
Above: Bristol City’s trophy lift celebrating their promotion from the Barclays Women’s Championship in the 22/23 season. Photo: The FA
As this season draws to a close, the title race in the Championship is beginning to heat up with just fourpoints separating the top four sides.
The four-way title race will inevitably be battled out until the final matchday with so little to divide those at the pinnacle. With just three match days remaining, who will be the next to lift the Championship trophy and advance into the WSL?
Sunderland
Sunderland are currently topping the table, accumulating 40 points so far this season. This situates them one point above Crystal Palace but have played an extra game than their second-place opponents. In recent fixtures, the Lasses have been in flying form picking up 12 points out of a possible 15 in their latest five.
With just two fixtures remaining, their final chances to secure their top of the table position are facing Charlton at home, before taking on Crystal Palace away, both of which are fellow title contenders. Thus, their concluding stretch to get their hands on the trophy will be a tough one, but certainly not impossible.
However, the one fixture they experienced defeat in their previous five was versus London City Lionesses. Before entering this game, London City were positioned just above the relegation zone where Ruesha Littlejohn’s 25th minute strike secured all three points for the home side, points which are beneficial for their safety in their league. Although Remi Allen’s takeover has transformed this London City side, thisloss for Sunderland may leave others questioning their consistency to beat near bottom of the table sides in games which could instead be used to boost goal difference.
Despite this, Sunderland have failed to pick up any points just four times through the entirety of this Championship season,points being shared four times, and winning 58% of their games so far. A demanding final two fixtures should not make promotion unachievable for Sunderland should they continue their excellent run of form.
Above: Sunderland celebrating one of three goals in their most recent fixture defeating Watford Photo: Sunderland AFC Women Official Media
Crystal Palace
Trailing one point behind Sunderland in second place is Crystal Palace. Having one game in hand from the league leaders could give Palace the opportunity to leapfrog Sunderland when this fixture is played. Across their previous five fixtures, Crystal Palace too have amassed 12 out of 15 possible points with 13 goals scored and just three conceded.
Their remaining three fixtures consist of Birmingham City at home, followed by facing Lewes away, then lastly facing title rivals Sunderland on the final day of the season. With the opportunity to add nine points to the table instead of six puts them at an advantage over Sunderland to jump to the top of the table.
With their second opponent currently sitting in the relegation zone, this could be deemed as an easy chance to pick up three points and improve their already dominating goal difference to boost their hopes of lifting the Championship trophy at the end of the season. Their first opponent however may be a tougher match as Birmingham City sit further up the tablecurrently in 5th place. City’s recent form saw them grab seven points out of a possible fifteen in their previous five fixturescompared to Palace’s twelve, meaning the Blues have the disadvantage of being the side who are less in form.
Despite this, the last fixture of the season will prove most challenging where the present first and second placed teams on the table go head-to-head. This game will be a vital decider on who will grab the top spot on the final day with just four points separating first and fourth in the league.
Another factor which may prove crucial in deciding who will lift the trophy is goal difference. Palace, throughout the season, have often won games with high score lines whilst conceding very few. This has resulted in them soaring abovethe other title contenders at present. If on the final day Palace were to be level on points at the top of the table with an opponent, it will presumably be them who secure promotion to the Women’s Super League.
Above: Crystal Palace celebrating a goal in their win vs Watford at Selhurst Park Photo: Crystal Palace Official Media
Southampton
Three points behind Crystal Palace in third place is Southampton. They have so far accumulated 36 points in 20 fixtures. The Saints have also been in good form in their recent fixtures having amassed nine points out of a possible fifteen in the previous five games.
Just two fixtures remain for the Saints with their final chance to add points to the table being against London City Lionesses at home before facing Charlton away, creating another title race clash for the final day of the season.
Their first opponent being London City Lionesses, a bottom end of the table side, could potentially give them the opportunity to add a further three points to their tally. However, Allen’s takeover of the team has saw London Citybeat teams they wouldn’t have expected to earlier in the season, such as Charlton and Sunderland, so the game could instead be a match which could go either way.
Their second opponent will inevitably prove a tougher match as they face title chasing rivals away from home. Again, these two top of the table clashes commencing on the last day of the season will ultimately decide who will lift the Championship title in one of the closest battles since its formation.
Above: Southampton celebrating a goal in their win vs Lewes Photo: Southampton Official Media
Charlton Athletic
Level on points with Southampton but with a game in hand and sitting in fourth place is Charlton. In their recent fivefixtures, the Addicks have picked up seven points out of a possible fifteen.
Their three remaining fixtures to play consist of playing Watford away, before travelling to Sunderland and lastly followed by facing Southampton at home. This run of fixtures may prove a challenge as they face two title race rivals, however the potential advantage of having a game in hand could give Charlton the chance to takeover Southampton on the table.
With the Addicks’ first fixture being against Watford, this could be deemed as a good chance to add a further three points to the table as Watford sit rock bottom of the table and have picked up just three points out of a possible fifteen across their recent five fixtures.
Their final two fixtures will be a battle to pick up points facing two teams also fighting for promotion. The outcome of these fixtures will also be pivotal for overall outcome of who secures the title, especially the final day of fixtures whereby current first and second place face each other as well as current third and fourth place going head-to-head.
Before the final fixtures, just four points separate the four teams in the title race and the final matchday where they all go head-to-head will most likely give one of the fiercest title fights since the Championship’s establishment in 2014. With points being so tight between those at the top, goal difference may prove a pivotal factor if teams were to go level on points at the top. Crystal Palace currently dominate with their goal difference of 32, followed by Sunderland and Southampton level on 14 and Charlton trailing behind on 10. The two top of the table clashes on the final day of the season will inevitably decide who will lift the Championship title and secure promotion to the WSL.
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