With the international break over, WSL returns to action this weekend alongside Tier 3, with WSL2 teams having to wait a little longer to return to league action due to Subway Players Cup fixtures taking priority this weekend. This week we take a look back at last weekend’s key fixtures in Tier 3 before turning our attention to this weekend’s league fixtures.
A weekend of change in Tier 3
Huddersfield Town started last weekend as the only team in the FAWNL Northern Premier Division to be unbeaten in the league this season, and were visiting a Peterborough United team with only 2 wins from 6 games. However any complacency had to disappear quickly with Peterborough 1-0 up within 2 minutes, and 3-0 up by the time the ref blew for half time. It was only the second time this season that Peterborough have scored more than once in the opening 45, and they couldn’t add to that tally in the second half. They did however manage to hold on to the win, with the 3-2 final score seeing Huddersfield drop all the way to 4th place.
That drop was partly the result of Stoke City moving above them, with a comprehensive away win at Liverpool Feds, their first away win in the league since February – also the last time they scored more than once in a game when away from home in the league.
The other team to climb above Huddersfield were West Bromwich Albion, courtesy of a win at home against Loughborough Lightning. The result meant West Brom now have the longest run of wins in the Northern Premier Division, having won their last 5 games in the league – a record that only Oxford United in the Southern Premier Division have beaten. With the Baggies only securing 9 wins in the whole of the 25-26 season this is definitely a streak to keep an eye on.
The biggest win of the weekend was however Rugby Borough’s 5-1 scoreline against struggling Boldmere St Michaels, who have not secured a win in the league since the opening day. For Rugby Borough it was the second time this season that they have scored 5 at home, the other occasion being their opening day fixture against Peterborough. The only blemish on their record was conceding for the second time this season, although their average of conceding just 0.28 goals per game in the league this season is still far above any other team in the league.
In the Southern Premier Division, Oxford United went into the weekend with an even better record, having not conceded in the league this season, whilst scoring an average of 3.8 goals per game. Swindon Town were the latest team given the challenge of trying to get post Oxford’s formidable defence, but like all the teams before them they failed to find a way through. It was however the second weekend in a row that Oxford’s attackers were restricted to just the one goal, with the 1-0 full time score arguably being a respectable scoreline for a Swindon team who have not won since the opening day.
Elsewhere in the South, Fulham were hoping to bounce back from their first league loss in 52 outings as they visited second placed AFC Bournemouth, a team who went into the weekend having not conceded more than once in a league outing all season. Fulham managed to end that streak as they put 2 goals past their hosts to secure a 1-2 victory and climb above them into second place, 2 points above them and with a game in hand.
Cheltenham hosted Plymouth Argyle with both teams in search of their first league win of the season. With 5 goals and 9 yellow cards there was certainly a lot going on, however ultimately Plymouth found themselves on the receiving end of another big scoreline, losing 4-1 to remain the only team without any points in Tier 3 – and now also the only team without a win in Tier 3.
Big clashes this weekend
The games continue to come in Tier 3, with all 24 teams in action again this weekend. In the Northern Premier Division the biggest match of the weekend is arguably Rugby Borough’s visit to Stoke City, as 1st place meets 3rd place. Rugby’s lead and goal difference is such that Stoke City could not catch them even if they do win, with West Brom also requiring a goal-fest to take top spot, but this is still a big fixture. Rugby’s only loss so far this season has come away from home, whilst Stoke remain unbeaten at home, with 12 of their 16 goals having come at home, an average return of 3 goals per game. Both teams have only failed to score on one occasion this season, so this game has potential to be a fascinating encounter between 2 top teams.
At the other end of the table, bottom of the table Hull City host Peterborough Unuited, as the hosts search for their first win since the opening day. The hosts have secured only one point at home this season, a 1-1 draw, and have not scored more than one goal in a home league fixture since their 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough in March of this year. Meanwhile the visitors have put together consecutive wins for the first time since their promotion, and having inflicted Huddersfield’s first loss of the season last weekend they will come into the match high on confidence.
Fellow promoted side Norwich City host West Bromwich Albion this weekend, with the hosts not having lost at home yet this season, with 3 score draws which include both 3rd placed Stoke City and 4th placed Huddersfield Town. Meanwhile West Brom’s 5 consecutive league wins is their longest run of league wins since 2019 and their promotion to Tier 3, so they will be keen to go one better than the teams around them and find a way to beat Norwich. Given Norwich’s history of score draws, and the fact they have only failed to score on one occasion this season, it seems likely West Brom will need to beat their average 1.8 goals scored per game if they hope to take all 3 points.
In the South, Plymouth Argyle host AFC Bournemouth in another game which shows how fortunes have changed this season. Last season these 2 teams were battling all season for the one-off playoff spot, with Argyle taking the spot, and now the teams meet with Plymouth rock bottom and having conceded an average 4.4 goals per game this season. Bournemouth meanwhile have lost 2 games in succession for the first time since that race for the playoff spot back in April, and having scored an average of 1.4 goals per game will be hoping this match may be a chance to improve a tally that looks low compared to last season’s 2.7 goals per game average.
In the other games in the South, an AFC Wimbledon side who have not lost since the opening day become the latest to hope that they can find a way to stop Oxford United marching on, as they host the league leaders. AFC Wimbledon have come away with a clean sheet in almost two-thirds of their league fixtures this season, and with Oxford’s attacking form having dipped slightly in the last 2 games, they will feel at least that Oxford continuing their winning streak is not a foregone conclusion.
Cheltenham Town secured their first league win of the season last weekend, but this season must face a Portsmouth side unbeaten since the opening day. That opening day fixture is also the only time this season that Portsmouth have failed to keep a clean sheet, but with 2 consecutive 0-0 draws in their most recent fixtures, the hosts must find their attacking form again if they hope to keep their positive run intact.
WSL returns
As we write, the weekend’s opening fixture is already underway, with the first 45 having seen no goals as Arsenal host Birmingham City at the Emirates. Arsenal currently have only one league goal at the Emirates this season, and find themselves winless since the opening day. However with the visitors having failed to find a win yet this season, and having not yet got a point away from home, the pressure already mounting on Renée Slegers will surely only increase if the scoreline remains goalless.
In the pick of Sunday’s fixtures 2nd placed Chelsea host 4th placed Spurs, with Chelsea currently one of only 2 teams unbeaten in the WSL this season. Spurs fell to their first defeat of the season at the hands of London City Lionesses just before the international break, and will be keen to put the 1-6 mauling behind them. With Chelsea having not conceded in any competition since their opening day draw against Villa, Spurs will need to re-find the goalscoring form that saw them score an average of 3.75 goals per game in their opening 4 fixtures, if they hope to put the London City result behind them.
Charlton Athletic are the only team without a point in the WSL so far this season, having only found the net on 2 of their 5 outings. This weekend they host Manchester United in their search for their first WSL point. With United seemingly having found their form after a rough start to the season, Charlton undoubtedly have their work cut out, and will need to improve on attacking form that has seen them average less than one shot on target per game in their opening fixtures.
Finally, Brighton secured their first win of the WSL season last time out, beating Charlton Athletic at home. However this weekend they face a much tougher test as they head to a Manchester City side who haven’t failed to win a league fixture since April. Brighton are one of 5 WSL sides who have failed to keep a clean sheet so far this season – a concern against the league’s top scorers (with an average of 3.2 goals per game), but they can take some confidence in knowing that the last time City failed to win a league game, in that April fixture, they were the opponents – albeit with home advantage on that occasion.
With a big weekend in Tier 3 last weekend, and the WSL back in action after the international break, we’ve tried to find the biggest numbers, but we’d love to hear from you if you think there’s a big number we’ve missed. Equally let us know if there’s a number we need to be taking a look at next weekend when WSL and WSL2 clubs will be in action. Get in touch by dropping us a mention via @WOSODataUK on X or Instagram!
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