Sunderland are enjoying every minute of life back in elite football with The Lady Black Cats being top of the FA Women’s Championship table after three games.
Some wondered how Melanie Reay’s side may fare in a league which has seen so many clubs invest heavily in their playing squads in recent times but Sunderland’s return to the elite game has seemed like they have never been away. With seven points from an available nine so far, The Lady Black Cats are the surprise package in the opening weeks of the new campaign but should we really be shocked by their rise?
FAWSL Full-Time have analysed those opening three performances and here are three reasons which highlight why Sunderland are at the league summit after the opening month.
The Lady Black Cats work so well as a collective
Sunderland have some quality players in their ranks, make no doubt about that, however, there seems to be no big egos in the Wearsiders’ camp. What we have seen in the opening weeks of the season is that every member of the team works for one another and every player has their role. Players have done their jobs effectively in the first three games and everyone has contributed, whether that be a defender putting their body on the line or an attacking player being clinical.
The team is well-gelled and that is really clear to see. The back-four are solid, compact and communicate so well, the midfield are busy and combative and the forward line are hard-working, they chase every ball and every lost cause.
Defensive records count for a lot in goal-crazy Championship
Let’s face it, the FA Women’s Championship is known for exciting attacking play and goals. Clean sheets can be a rarity across the league but Sunderland have certainly bucked that trend so far with two shutouts in three and just the one goal conceded. In 17 FA Women’s Championship games, just nine clean sheets have been recorded by teams competing in those matches, two of those have been Sunderland clean sheets. The Lady Black Cats are the only team to have kept two clean sheets in their opening three games.
There have been 47 goals scored in 17 matches, an average of 2.76 goals scored per game therefore Sunderland are performing so well when it comes to keeping their opponents out with Reay’s side averaging 0.33 goals per game conceded. The solid defensive base is something which will keep The Lady Black Cats in the promotion hunt if they are to maintain their current levels.
Collecting points on the road could be the difference
Given the fact that this season’s FA Women’s Championship is so wide open, home form is crucial and winning points on the road almost feels like an added bonus, a potential decisive factor on whether a team will challenge for promotion or not. Sunderland have started the season by collecting four points from an available six on the road with a win at big-spending Coventry United and a point at Crystal Palace. Those points collected away from Wearside are really important and good away form will take the strain off having to be so consistent at home.
Of the 17 games played, 11 have ended in home wins, a statistic that highlights just how difficult it is to collect points away from home. Two of the six results which have ended in points being collected by the away side have involved Sunderland. A good points tally away from home could make all of the difference and there is plenty in Sunderland’s team identity to suggest that they will be equally as difficult to beat away as they will be at home this season. Reay’s side are a bit of niche when it comes to their defensive mould and that makes them a different prospect to many of the other clubs in the FA Women’s Championship.
The Lady Black Cats will hope to continue their impressive start to the season when Lewes are the visitors to The Stadium of Light next Sunday.
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