Durham’s Dee Bradley says that the team that wants it more will be victorious in Sunday’s North East derby at Maiden Castle.
The Wildcats welcome A690 rivals Sunderland to their home ground for their latest derby meeting in the Barclays Women’s Championship.
Sunderland travel to Maiden Castle top of the table while Durham have won eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions in DH1.
When speaking to WSL Full-Time in the lead up to the match, Bradley said that the contest will be decided by whichever team is the hungrier on the day.
“Every time we play Sunderland, it is a proper battle and you have to concentrate and be ready for the full 90 minutes,” Bradley said.
“Anything can happen and whoever wants it more will win.”
Sunderland were tipped by many to struggle this season but Melanie Reay’s side have defied the odds and they find themselves in pole position after eight games. Bradley went on to say that she is not surprised by The Lady Black Cats’ success so far this season.
She said “Not really (surprised), no. Sunderland have always been a really good team, they’re difficult to break down and we have always had a tough game against them. They’ve brought in new players but they’ve always been well-structured. They’re sticking to their structure and doing it well.
“You have to give credit where credit is due but at the same time, I think that our performances and our results don’t give a true reflection of how we’ve done all season. I do think it’ll be a good test for the two teams.”
While both Durham and Sunderland are putting up strong fights in the Barclays Women’s Championship, Newcastle United are investing heavily in the third tier. Bradley welcomes the North East competition and she believes that having more local teams battling for glory can only be good for the game.
“It’s what the North East needs,” Bradley said. “We need more teams, we need more competition, we need it all. It’s nice to see Newcastle investing and Sunderland are up there at the top of the league.
“In terms of women’s football in the North East, I think it’s good to have three teams that are competitive. Every weekend that we are in London, there are six or seven teams down there competing. The more we have up here, the better.”
Less than 250 tickets remain for this weekend’s derby clash and Bradley believes that a vocal home crowd can really make the difference for Durham.
She said “If we can outnumber the Sunderland fans this weekend, I think we have a very good chance. When they’re at their loudest, we play our best. A prime example is Manchester United at home last season.
“You can feel that backing and hear a roar when you need it the most, so the louder they are, the better we play.”
The North East derby between Durham and Sunderland kicks-off at 12pm on Sunday afternoon. The last remaining tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
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