Lasses Preview: Can Sunderland get their season up and running against London City?
Today at 01:00 AM
The Lasses take on the Lionesses today, seeking their first goal and their first points of the 2024/2025 season. Ollie Burns previews the game
Right, so it's been a pig of a start to the season.
Yes, we lost the league's best goalkeeper to Newcastle United over the summer. Yes, her replacement has shipped lots of goals and yes, our talismanic centre back is out with a fractured fibula.
However, to quote Henry V on the eve of Agincourt, where valiant English longbowmen slew overwhelming French forces in shining armour, muddied and bloodied by a seemingly weaker foe, 'the fewer men, the greater share of honour!'
This Sunday, Sunderland Women host London City Lionesses.
A strutting peacock of an outfit, without history or honour, imbued and injected with American money in order to recruit international players who are playing a role that's beneath them.
It's like watching George Best advertise motor oil, whereas on the banks of the Wear, or more accurately the Hetton Burn, an outfit of hard grafting, locally sourced players; a band of sisters, will take to the field in a game that promises to be one of nervous anticipation for those of us sheltered underneath the stands.
London City have started this season strongly, and their opening day match against Newcastle showcased a side that's highly dependent on recent recruit Kosovare Asllani.
Asllani, who can play across the front of goal but can also sit in front of the midfield, is as exciting and intimidating as your new Ikea wardrobe. There's a reliable performance there that's guaranteed to frustrate as soon as you're faced with the task of assembling a defence around her.
The visitors currently sit third in the table and will be looking for a top three finish this season.
They've gained seven points so far, drawing against Newcastle United and picking up wins against Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City. This is a side that's much stronger than their previous iteration, after signing a host of international players such as Maria Perez (Spain), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden), Julia Roddar (Sweden), Shen Mengyu (China) and Miljana Ivanovic (Serbia)
We can expect these 'false Lionesses' to canter down our wings with a rapid counter-attacking strategy which can be adapted as needed to suit their opposition. Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, who's scored twice in her last two games, will be one to watch.
Sunderland, in contrast, will need to adapt their defence to meet this challenge.
After just two games, the Lasses have conceded eight goals and were last seen two weeks ago having lost 0-3 to Southampton in a display that wasn't without merit, but which certainly lacked the grit and unity of past performances.
In her pre-match press conference, Mel Reay stressed that the team has 'not hit the panic button' and that they've used the two-week break to prepare, 'determined to get points on the board'.
With Brianna Westrup sidelined until January at the earliest and Grace McCatty no longer at the club, central defenders are thin on the ground and a rethink is needed.
Jessie Stapleton can cover in the meantime, although it'll require Amy Goddard to step up and lead the backline.
A commanding presence who was strong in defence and unfortunate not to be on the goal-scorers' list last season, Goddard has underperformed in our opening games. However, two matches is a poor sample size on which to base opinions and her experience will no doubt see us through today's game.
With Louise Griffiths and Grace Ede both available on the left, as well as the ever-dependable Jess Brown on our right, today will provide evidence of the preparation of the last two weeks.
Sunderland have yet to score their first goal of this season, and with Eleanor Dale having shown glimpses of promise against Birmingham and Southampton, it'll be interesting to see whether she'll be favoured to start or if Emily Scarr will take the striker's role for kick off.
Mary McAteer, Katie Kitching and Jenna Dear will also be eyeing the opportunity to build on their scoring records for the Lasses, and they've all demonstrated the ability to keep cool heads and to score under pressure.
Haway the Lasses!
