Welcome to One Step Away, The Cutback’s WSL2 newsletter covering results, standout performances, talking points and everything else you need to know from around the league.
Another weekend, another goal-filled round of WSL2 action. There may not have been quite as many goals as last week, but 22 were scored across six games to provide plenty of action.
Four-goal hauls were a recurring theme, while Bristol City ended Ipswich Town’s unbeaten start to the season to begin their push toward the play-off places.
There was also more frustration for Durham, who remain trapped at the bottom of the table, while Watford’s younger players continue to show promising signs.
A tale of 4-1s
Four goals, a consolation and a familiar scoreline: this weekend saw three WSL2 fixtures end with a 4-1 scoreline.
Southampton beat Sheffield United 4-1; Nottingham Forest recorded the same scoreline against Wolverhampton Wanderers, ending Wolves’ unbeaten home run. Sunderland completed the trio, beating Durham 4-1 after establishing a commanding 3-0 lead by half-time.
Can Durham salvage their season?
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for Durham to take any positives from this season, as another heavy defeat leaves them with a mountain to climb if they are to stay in WSL2.
Durham’s financial limitations have been a frequent obstacle, but manager Willie Kirk highlighted how the January transfer window could be pivotal to saving their season. Nevertheless, the league’s only independent women’s club urgently needs results if they are to have any chance of survival.
Speaking to club media, Kirk emphasised the scale of the task at hand: “We’re continually trying to make things better at the club. We’ve got the January window coming up and we’ll be active. It’s about adding to what we’ve got and adding that little bit of quality.”
Kirk is not without experience of an uphill battle to escape relegation. He pointed to his time managing Leicester City in the 2022-23 season, when he guided the club to safety in the WSL despite a similarly precarious position.
“Listen, I’ve been in worse positions than this. I’ve been bottom of the league with zero points after 10 games in the WSL and we stayed up. We’re not quite at the stage yet, we’re only seven in, but it feels a little bit desperate and we need to start accumulating points. We’ve got two games left before Christmas and whatever points we pick up in those games will give us a foundation to build on in the second half of the season.”
Bristol City bring Ipswich’s unbeaten run to an end
Ipswich Town’s impressive unbeaten run finally came to a halt as Bristol City came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory.
For a side that has looked so difficult to beat this season, it was a frustrating afternoon for Ipswich. Princess Ademiluyi has been one of their most dangerous players this season, but Bristol City did an excellent job of limiting her influence and disrupting the supply into the forward areas. It proved an important part of a comeback that showcased the resilience of Charlotte Healy’s squad.
After the match, Healy was full of praise for the character her players showed after falling behind, saying: “What I love about this group is we don’t know when we’re beaten, and it almost sparked us into life.”
Youngsters make their mark for Watford
Eighteen-year-old Vera Jones, on loan from Chelsea, scored the only goal in Watford’s 1-0 victory over Leicester City. The England youth international is one to keep an eye on, and this was another demonstration of the attacking quality she adds to Watford.
At the other end of the pitch, Hornets goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel kept Leicester at bay, saving all five of the opposition’s shots on target. Another teenager, Eva Gray, was equally impressive at right-back, making crucial blocks and tackles to limit Leicester’s opportunities in the final third. Contributions from these young players offer encouraging signs as Watford look to build consistency.
It was a performance that pleased manager Renée Hector, who has been looking for greater defensive solidity from her side.
“It’s been a long time coming: a performance like that and getting the result we deserved,” Hector said. “The clean sheet is important because we’ve been leaking goals.”
What to watch, where and when
This weekend brings one of the biggest fixtures in the WSL2 calendar: the Tyne and Wear derby, as Sunderland host Newcastle at the Stadium of Light. Newcastle and Sunderland occupy the top two positions in the table and have staked their respective claims to being the best teams in the league. Both also come into the fixture after important victories.
It will be a high-quality, highly charged affair, with three points absolutely crucial to both sides in the battle for automatic promotion. The fixture is taking place during a men’s international break and should attract a good crowd.
The Cutback recently spoke to Newcastle’s Beth Lumsden about their impressive start to the season, and the competition for places that has driven them forward.
Here’s the full run of fixtures for this weekend.
Sheffield United v Bristol City - Saturday 14th November, 18:00 GMT
Burnley v Southampton - Sunday 15th November, 14:00 GMT
Nottingham Forest v Leicester City - Sunday 15th November, 14:00 GMT
Sunderland v Newcastle United - Sunday 15th November, 14:00 GMT
Watford v Ipswich Town - Sunday 15th November, 14:00 GMT
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Durham - Sunday 15th November, 14:00 GMT