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Coming off what was one of the most resounding victories for the club this season, the Lionesses are back on the road to take on an ambitious Sunderland AFC side.
With its win last Sunday at Butts Park Arena, London City moved into second in the Championship table with 10 points and a +8 goal differential to lead the league.
The Lionesses have collected three consecutive clean sheets in the league behind one of the most consistent backlines in the league, allowing just four goals through five contests which is second-best in the Championship, behind only the leaders, Bristol City in that category.
Sunderland sits in tenth in the table, but its most recent results tell a story of a team on the rise, shutting out a tough Crystal Palace side on the road in its last fixture.
The Black Cats played the league leaders in a one-goal game and fought Liverpool in the opening match of the Conti Cup in a contest that was decided by a set-piece in the opening 25 minutes.
Sunderland even had a lead twice against Charlton, but a red card within the final 10 minutes prevented the Black Cats from securing a result out of the match.
Leading-scorer, Emily Scarr has netted a goal in two out of the last three games, scoring both the Black Cats’ opening goals in the last two league fixtures.
London City has emerged victorious in the last two contests against Sunderland, including a 2-0 win for the Lionesses away from Princes Park.
Sarah Ewens has continued to dazzle leading the attack for the Lionesses, scoring her first hat trick of the season against Coventry, bringing her league total to four, leading the team in that category by two.
In a match like this, the table can sometimes be deceiving. Sunderland aims to snatch its second win of the season and continue its run of form while London City intends to keep pressure on the leader, with the separation only three points.
Grace Neville
Speaking on her last outing against Coventry in the league, she stated:
“It's definitely gonna be one to remember,” said Neville, “it’s always great to come away with a goal and an assist to take home along with the three points.
“As a collective, we've been working really hard in training, trying to get in the final third a little bit more and finding ways to break down a team like Coventry, and I think we did that really well..”
Having connected with Sarah Ewens on multiple occasions recently, she spoke on the connection she has with the Scottish striker, stating:
“Sarah and I seemed to have a real link up going on but it’s a credit to her for getting on the end of them and being in the right place. Her movement in the box is unbelievable.”
Neville spoke on the match ahead of the Lionesses, on the road to Sunderland, stating:
“They're going to be a strong team to break down, but like I said it's just making sure that we're doing the right things and not straying too far away from our identity.
“It will be a tough game but we're looking forward to it and focusing all our energy on the weekend now because every point matters in this league. It's going to be a good test.”
Head Coach, Melissa Phillips
“Sunderland are a very organized side who have made every game competitive in the first 5 matches. We know they are tough to break down and equally potent in their attacking transitions.
“It will be a game where we need to bring as much quality as the previous performance while increasing our off-ball movement and focus on both sides.
“We come into the game with a lot of momentum from our recent performances but know our preparation is key for the task on the weekend.”
Remember LCL fans, tickets are available for the home match against Blackburn next weekend.
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