Championship round-up: Birmingham hold on to top spot, Sunderland bank huge win | OneFootball

The Championship continues to bring us quality, drama and a promotion battle to savour. The second tier kicked off again at the weekend and it did not disappoint. Birmingham City keep their place at the top of the Championship table with their latest win, but London City are piling on the pressure.

With eight points separating the top eight, it’s set to be another thrilling second half of the season. Here’s a roundup of the latest action in England’s second tier…

Portsmouth 1-3 Birmingham City

Birmingham stay top of the Championship after coming home from Portsmouth with all three points. Lily Dent had an early chance for the league’s bottom club but Lucy Thomas made a good save in the Birmingham goal.

The hosts were made to pay for that missed chance when Ava Baker charged down goalkeeper Hannah Poulter and the ball deflected in. City made it two with ten minutes of the second half played. Ellie Mason finished well after the ball was put into her path by the home side failing to clear a corner.

Sophie Quirk got one back for Portsmouth with a fine strike from just inside the area but the hope wouldn’t last long. Just 90 seconds later, Martha Harris crossed for Cho So-hyun to finish and restore the two goal lead. The win keeps Birmingham a point clear at the top of the Championship table while Pompey remain bottom.

Bristol City 0-1 London City Lionesses

London City moved above their hosts Bristol City in the promotion race with a tight win at Ashton Gate. In a cagey first half, Jess Simpson came close to opening the scoring for the home side but her scrambled effort went over.

Lexi Lloyd-Smith almost caught out goalkeeper Emily Ornam as she chased her down but the deflection went wide. The second half began in much of the same manner but it would be the visitors who would come away with the vital win.

Megan Campbell showed composure in the area and slotted home for the only goal of the game just after the hour mark. Bristol City threw everything at their opponents for the final ten minutes but they couldn’t find a breakthrough. London City now sit second in the Championship, one point behind Birmingham.

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Southampton 0-2 Sunderland

In a battle between two of the chasing pack, Sunderland picked up a huge win on the road. In front of a club record attendance for a Championship game at St. Mary’s, Eleanor Dale and Katie Kitching both had efforts saved by Fran Stenson but went on to find the net in the second half. Dale struck shortly after half-time, receiving the ball in the area and smartly finishing to continue her fantastic form.

With 15 minutes to go, Kitching raced through to make it two, having been sent clear on goal. Southampton attempted to get back into the game but Sunderland stood tall to take three points from a promotion rival. The Lasses move up to fourth, with Southampton dropping to eighth.

Durham 1-2 Charlton Athletic

Charlton were another side to win away from home against another in the promotion chasing group of teams. Aimee Claypole came close to giving Durham the dream start after 30 seconds when she had a shot blocked before Ellie Brazil had a chance at the other end. Charlton took the lead just before half-time when Kayleigh Barton lobbed Durham goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders.

A potential game-changing moment was denied at 1-0 when a Durham header was diverted onto the post by the hand of Charlton defender Charlotte Newsham. A video taken from behind the goal showed that Newsham had cleared the ball with her hands and Durham will reflect on a huge call going against them.

Charlton then made it two with 15 minutes to go. Atlanta Primus found herself in the right place at the right time to put them clear. Becky Salicki got one back in stoppage time for Durham but it was too late to have an impact and Charlton went home with all three points.

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Sheffield United 1-1 Newcastle United

Struggling Sheffield United came agonisingly close to a rare victory over Newcastle but had to settle for a point at Bramall Lane. Jasmine McQuade almost gave her side the perfect start early on but saw her shots blocked before ​​Satara Murray headed over.

Newcastle top scorer Shania Hayles saw a shot well saved by Sian Rogers, and Maria Farrugia produced a sumptuous volley that was brilliantly pushed over by Claudia Moan.

Sheffield United took the lead in bizarre circumstances as Newcastle’s new signing Charlotte Wardlaw, previously on loan with the Blades, passed the ball back to Moan but it squirmed under her goalkeeper’s foot.

Newcastle looked to be out of ideas but Rachel Furness produced an injury time leveller as she headed home. Sheffield United still go three points clear of Portsmouth at the bottom of the table while Newcastle are in seventh.

What’s next?

There’s Saturday evening football next weekend as Sunderland travel to Blackburn, in Rovers’ first game of 2025. On Sunday, Southampton make the long trip to Durham while promotion contenders Birmingham and Bristol City clash. Sheffield United go to Charlton while Newcastle host Portsmouth.

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