Opening Day Preview

18 long weeks after an Anna Soulsby penalty wrapped up a 0-4 win away at West Brom and Newcastle United Women bid farewell to the FA Women’s National League, the teams first season in the Barclays Women’s Championship finally gets underway tomorrow with an away trip down to London City Lionesses. 

It is a new start in English women’s football this season with the top two leagues no longer coming under the control of the FA. Tomorrow’s opposition have really taken this new era to heart - new ownership, new ground, new manager and nine new signings.

London City Lionesses acquired well respected French manager Jocelyn Prêcheur this summer. Following a three year stint in China, Prêcheur lead Paris Saint-Germain Women to last seasons Coupe de France, the French equivalent of the FA Cup.

Marquee signing for London City Lionesses this summer is undoubtedly Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani from AC Milan. Asllani brings significant experience to Hayes Lane having earned 187 caps for Sweden, won the Damallsvenskan title, Sweden’s WSL, with Linköpings in 2009 and 2017, the WSL title with Manchester City in 2016 and is the winner of the inaugural Women’s Golden Foot award in 2022.

In addition to Asllani, London City have acquired 18 year old midfielder Gesa Marashi from Arsenal’s devs squad, 25 year old midfielder and Cameroon international Charlène Meyong from French Première Ligue side Stade de Reims, 24 year old Serbian international forward Miljana Ivanović from Norwegian Toppserien club LSK Kvinner, Shen Mengyu, a 22 year old China international midfielder from reigning Scottish champions Celtic and 32 year old Swedish midfielder Julia Roddar from Damallsvenskan champions Hammarby IF.

On loan for the season are Teyah Goldie from Arsenal, an England u15 and u19 defender and Chelsea pair Cerys Brown, an England u19 defender and Emily Orman, goal keeper for England u17 and u19.

London City retained their top league goal scorer from last season Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah who won the 2017 Championship with Everton and has 6 seasons of WSL experience with Everton and Aston Villa.

London City Lionesses were not prolific at home last season, 4 wins 2 draws and 5 losses scoring 12 and conceding 15. Biggest home win was 3-2 against Watford and Lewes whilst their worst home loss was 0-2 to Charlton and Crystal Palace. They kept two home league clean sheets from the 11 matches.

Either fitness, lack of game management or a combination of the two was potentially an issue for London City Lionesses with a third of the home league goals they conceded last season coming between the 20 - 30 minute mark. Possibly something we can take advantage of with our fitness levels from last season? 3 of their 15 conceded goals came in second half injury time, the latest being in the 96th minute.

Two straight red cards for the Lionesses last season and three own goals are stats that Prêcheur will be looking to improve.

For our part, we aren’t entirely new to tomorrow’s opponent. Claudia Moan kept a clean sheet on opening day last season in a 0-0 draw at Sunderland, in the away fixture London City Lionesses won 1-0. 

Amy Andrews scored for Durham in both London City matches last season, a 1-0 home win for Durham, courtesy of an 96th minute Andrews goal and one goal in a 2-2 draw down South. Durham would’ve taken all 6 points if not for an own goal in the away match.

With all the new signings we have made I wouldn’t like to even try and predict a starting 11 for tomorrow. I expect a close game but ultimately with our full time season behind us last season and the quality of opposition we have played in pre-season I predict we edge it 1-2, an Asllani goal for the home team and Andrews and Beth Lumsden goals for the lasses. Games don’t come much bigger than opening day in the Championship, is a Kacie Elson 3rd goal too much to ask for?

Enjoy the match those who are attending, however you are making your way down. For those who aren’t the match will be shown live on the Barclays Women’s Championship YouTube channel.

A huge season begins tomorrow, howay the lasses.

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