Barclays WSL2 Matchday 15 Preview

A busy weekend of BWSL2 action begins on Friday night as Sunderland host Sheffield United, with six more fixtures across Sunday as the BWSL2 season heads towards the run-in. Charlton arrive at the top of the table after a strong start to the season, but the promotion race is finely balanced and results this weekend could tighten the picture further.

For those chasing automatic promotion, the focus is on consistency and converting strong performances into points, while sides in the mid-and lower reaches are seeking momentum to ease pressure and build confidence at a crucial stage of the campaign. Below we take a look ahead to the fixtures across the division this weekend.

Sunderland v Sheffield United

Friday 6th February, Stadium of Light, 7:00pm

Sunderland head into Friday’s north-east meeting eighth in the BWSL2 table on 15 points and with a game in hand on their visitors, but recent form has been mixed, most recently a 3–0 defeat to third-placed Bristol City, and the Black Cats will be keen to steady a campaign that has yielded inconsistent returns. Sheffield United sit 10th on 13 points and are embroiled in a relegation scrap, three points clear of 14th-placed Portsmouth and six above bottom side Ipswich, who have a game in hand, meaning a positive result here would be important for their survival hopes.

This fixture has already produced contrasting results this season, underlining its unpredictability. The two sides opened their league campaign with Sunderland winning 4–0 on Wearside, yet in October, Sheffield United edged the pair in the League Cup when Amy Andrews’ first-half header settled a 1–0 victory. Sunderland had entered that cup tie unbeaten in five against United, with four wins and one draw, but the Blades will be hoping that win can kickstart an upturn in performances against Sunderland.

January’s loan business gives both managers fresh options. Sunderland added wide threat and depth with Welsh international Mared Griffiths, on loan from Manchester United, and Caragh Hamilton from Nottingham Forest, signings designed to sharpen the attack and offer greater rotation. United have bolstered their midfield with Simone Sherwood arriving on loan from Leicester City, a nod towards more variety in their central play as they search for a first league victory since beating Crystal Palace on November 9.

On the touchline, Sheffield United are also adapting to new leadership after appointing Stephen Healy as head coach last month. His brief tenure has included a defeat to Nottingham Forest and last Sunday’s morale-boosting 1–1 draw with league leaders Charlton. Selection decisions around the new loanees and how quickly Healy’s methods bed in could be decisive: Sunderland will hope home advantage and greater squad depth give them the edge, while United will look to convert recent confidence into three much-needed league points.

Durham vs Birmingham City

Sunday 8th February, Maiden Castle, 12:00pm

When Durham welcome Birmingham on Sunday it pairs two clubs on very different runs and with contrasting objectives. Durham occupy ninth place in the BWSL2 on 13 points, level with Sheffield United and three clear of Portsmouth, and will hope last weekend’s morale-boosting 2–1 win over Portsmouth, which was their first league victory since mid-October, provides a platform to push further clear of trouble. After going behind, Beth Hepple levelled and Lucy Watson’s late penalty clinched the points at Maiden Castle. Hepple remains central to Durham’s attacking threat, as their top scorer this term.

Birmingham arrive in a bullish mood. The Blues are second in the table, three points behind leaders Charlton and two clear of Bristol City with a game in hand, having followed up an impressive run of results with an emphatic 5–1 victory over Nottingham Forest last Sunday. Veatriki Sarri, Birmingham’s top scorer, leads the BWSL2 goalscoring charts with seven goals and was instrumental in the reverse fixture against Durham in December, when her long-range free-kick in the final seconds of the first half set up a 3–0 win. Historically Birmingham have the upper hand in this tie, having won six of the nine meetings between the clubs to Durham’s three.

Both clubs were active in January, with fresh faces added to the squad. Durham signed Republic of Ireland international Lily Agg on loan from opponents Birmingham and secured midfielder Dee Bradley on loan from Burnley, while Birmingham’s headline business included record signing Wilma Leidhammar joining from Swedish side  IFK Norrköping. Other permanent arrivals included Asato Miyagawa, Shanade Hopcroft and Michaela Kovacs; while Lotta Lindström and Hannah Silcock joined on loan for the remainder of the season – a statement of the Blues’ intent to reach the BWSL. Adam Furness and Amy Merricks now have fresh personnel to call upon, with the new additions likely to deepen both sides’ rotation and tactical choices as the campaign reaches its crucial phase.

The match promises a straightforward test of contrasts: Durham’s recent resilience against Birmingham’s attacking depth and momentum as they press for automatic promotion.

Crystal Palace vs Bristol City

Sunday 8th February, VBS Community Stadium, 2:00pm

A meeting of third versus fourth gives this fixture added significance in the BWSL2 promotion race. Bristol City arrive in third place, just two points behind second-placed Birmingham, while Crystal Palace sit four points further back and know a positive result would close the gap on the teams above them as the season moves towards its decisive phase. With both sides firmly established at the top end of the table, this contest carries clear implications for the automatic promotion picture.

Historically the fixture has favoured Bristol, who have won five of the six meetings between the sides, yet December’s reverse league clash provided a notable shift in the narrative. Palace claimed their first-ever victory over the Robins with a dramatic 3–2 win at Ashton Gate in their final game of 2025. Bristol twice fought back through a Rio Hardy penalty and an Emily Syme strike, but goals from Elise Hughes, Kirsty Howat and Abbie Larkin ultimately handed the Eagles all three points in a statement performance.

Bristol have responded well since that defeat, winning three of their four league games, including a commanding 3–0 home victory over Sunderland last weekend. Palace’s form has been more uneven, with two wins and three defeats across all competitions, though context matters, with cup exits coming against BWSL giants Arsenal and Chelsea. In the league, Palace were beaten 3–1 away at fifth-placed Southampton last time out, with Ashleigh Weerden finding the net.

The individual quality on display underlines this fixture’s importance. Bristol’s Hardy leads the division’s scoring charts, while Palace share goals across Larkin and Howat, both on five BWSL2 strikes. Creativity has also been central to both sides’ success: Bristol’s Syme and Palace’s Weerden are among the league’s leading providers. January additions on both sides have further strengthened depth: Palace adding experience and youth in Hayley Ladd, Kelly Brady and Lucy Newell, while Bristol reinforced with Oliwia Wos, Lauren Brzyycky, Jessie Gale and Katie Robinson, setting the stage for a finely balanced contest between two genuine promotion contenders.

Nottingham Forest vs Charlton Athletic

Sunday 8th February, The City Ground, 2:00pm

Nottingham Forest host league leaders Charlton in a match that pits mid-table comfort against an unbeaten title bid. Forest sit seventh on 19 points and arrive searching for form after a heavy 5–1 reverse to Birmingham and just one win in five across all competitions. Charlton, by contrast, top the table on 31 points, three clear of second-placed Birmingham, and remain unbeaten in the league as they press for promotion to the BWSL.

The only competitive meeting between the sides, this season’s reverse fixture, provided drama: Forest took the lead through Aimee Claypole, but Charlton turned it on its head in the second half when Karin Muya levelled and Emma Bissell struck deep into stoppage time to seal a late winner.

Individually, Forest will look to Ghana international Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah for cutting edge; she is the club’s top scorer in the league with five strikes. Charlton’s Jodie Hutton matches that tally for the visitors, and the consistency of their attacking options has been central to Charlton’s campaign.

In the January window, Charlton secured the signing of Lizzie Waldie from Hearts and Katie Lockwood from Glasgow City, while Forest strengthened depth with a raft of signings: Olivia Johnson, Alana Murphy, Cerys Brown, Leanne Kiernan, Rebekah Dowsett and Libby Smith, moves designed to refresh options as the season enters its decisive phase.

Carly Davies’ Forest must stay solid defensively while finding greater cutting power in the final third if they are to upset Karen Hill’s title challengers. Charlton will be wary of complacency after last weekend’s disappointing draw but will see this as an opportunity to reassert control at the top.

Portsmouth vs Ipswich Town

Sunday 8th February, Westleigh Park, 2:00pm

This one has the feel of a relegation six-pointer. Ipswich sit rock bottom of the BWSL2 and head to Westleigh Park three points adrift of 11th-placed Portsmouth, meaning a result here would have immediate consequences for both clubs as the season enters a decisive phase.

The reverse fixture in September was a dramatic, closely fought encounter, with Ipswich edging a 3–2 win at the JobServe Community Stadium. That victory remains Town’s only league success of the season and highlighted just how fine the margins are between the two sides.

Form since has offered contrasting narratives. Portsmouth arrive off the back of a 2–1 loss at Durham and are without a league win in six, their last league success coming against Sunderland in November. They will be desperate to end that run at home.

Ipswich, by contrast, have shown resilience in recent weeks, picking up a point against Newcastle last Sunday to make it consecutive draws in the league, although their last competitive victory came in the FA Cup in December. The small points gap between the sides means momentum, and the ability to close out tight matches, will be at a premium.

Individual threats and January recruitment add further texture. Meg Hornby leads Portsmouth’s league tally with five goals, while former England Youth International Rianna Dean is Ipswich’s top scorer on four. Jay Sadler’s Pompey have bolstered their options with a trio of loan signings in January: Lucy Shepherd, Niamh Peacock and Evie Milner, intended to freshen the squad. Ipswich’s January window, however, was transformative. The club added nine players, including the experienced Kit Graham and a raft of attacking and midfield options, a clear statement of intent from interim manager David Wright as he fights to steady the ship.

At its best this fixture produces drama and late twists. On Sunday both sides will be acutely aware that the result could reshape the relegation battle and give the winners breathing room as the campaign moves into its closing stages.

Southampton vs Newcastle United

Sunday 8th February, St Mary's Stadium, 2:00pm

A tight mid-table collision with upward ambitions: fifth-placed Southampton host Newcastle United, who sit one point behind in sixth but hold a game in hand. Both sides have their sights set on challenging at the top end of the BWSL2 and this fixture offers a clear opportunity to tighten the gap on the promotion contenders.

The head-to-head record between the sides is slim but telling: three previous meetings have produced two draws and one Newcastle win, and the Saints are still seeking their first triumph over the visitors. December’s reverse fixture was settled by Jordan Nobbs, whose close-range finish secured a 1–0 win for Newcastle and remains fresh in the memory of both camps.

Form gives Southampton a slight edge in momentum. Simon Parker’s side have won three of their last four league outings, most recently a 3–1 victory at Crystal Palace, and the Saints arrive with confidence in their attacking options. Ellie Brazil leads the club’s league scoring with five goals and arrives in fine form off the back of netting a hat-trick against the Eagles last weekend. Newcastle, meanwhile, were held 1–1 by Ipswich last weekend and last tasted league victory before Christmas at Portsmouth; their campaign has been one of fine margins and narrow results. Emily Murphy is Newcastle’s top scorer with four league goals, while BWSL record appearance holder Nobbs has contributed heavily from midfield, registering four league assists.

In January Simon Parkers’ side brought in reinforcements, Tegan McGowan from Birmingham City and Alice Griffiths from Durham, aimed at adding competition and flexibility. Newcastle recruited heavily, signing defender Kaitlyn Torpey, forward Emilia Larsson and midfielder Ashanti Akpan, and later bringing in Simone Charley on a short-term deal. Selection choices around those new faces, and which side can convert their chances, are likely to decide what promises to be a close, competitive contest.