Another huge Wear-Tyne derby is scheduled for Sunday – Women’s Football Notebook
Oona Sevenius and Shania Hayles of Newcastle United celebrate victory over Sunderland in November
Newcastle United Women head to the Stadium of Light on Sunday knowing there is much more riding on the game than just local pride.
A quirk of the fixture list has meant that a clash against Sunderland comes exactly seven days after the men’s sides locked horns in their own Tyne-Wear derby clash.
If the men’s fixtures have gone the way of the Wearsiders in recent years, the women’s contests have seen black and white success. Sunderland head into the game determined to win their first derby at this level – Newcastle have come out on top on the last three occasions.
Sunderland manager Mel Reay insists she won’t be building up the game more than what is needed, but admits the squad will look to take inspiration from the exploits of the men’s team, after learning of Brian Brobbey’s winner just minutes before they took to the field last weekend themselves.
Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey celebrates their second goal(Image: Getty Images)
“It’s not something we think about,” she said when asked if the motivation was denying Newcastle promotion. “We know that three points will close the gap between us and them and that’s our target.
“By the time we kicked off last week against Portsmouth they [the men] had jus scored the last-minute winner and you have to take inspiration from that. We are a proud football club, we want to win games. The players can see how important it was for the city and for the fans. We want to replicate that.
“It’s just another game. Yes it’s important but we’re not doing any more just because it’s Newcastle. Our processes stay the same.
“Yes, it’s a huge game for the city and the football club – we’re aware of that. We’ve played in three derbies now against them and we are fully aware we haven’t won one yet so that’s at the forefront of our minds.
“We’re conscious we are going to be playing in front of the biggest crowd of the season at the Stadium of Light. We want to entertain the fans and make them proud of the result.
“There’s no hiding from the magnitude of the game, it’s a local derby and we are well aware that we haven’t won one yet so the team is fully focused and chomping at the bit to get going on Sunday.”
The game is arguably bigger for Newcastle who remain in the promotion hunt. Their quest took a small dent with a 0-0 draw at home against fellow-chasers Crystal Palace last week but they are still in with a shout of a top-three finish.
It will Tanya Oxtoby’s first taste of a North East derby but, with international and WSL experience behind her she is used to the big occasion. Her assistant, Claire Ditchburn, was in temporary charge for the 3-1 victory at St James’ Park.
Oxtoby told the club media last week that the squad had been strongly “challenged” in the past couple of weeks with changes to shape and squad rotation. They responded with two clean sheets against two promotion-rivals and four points against them and another point against Sheffield United. That will all stand them in good stead at what will be a tough place to play and another difficult challenge.
Sunderland come into it in the back of an away win against Portsmouth, through an early goal by Eleanor Dale. Having given away leads in two of the last three matches, Reay will be pleased to shake that recent regular occurrence off which, it could be argued, has cost them a chance of the play-offs. Performances have otherwise been good and they will have confidence.
Festivities start at 12.30, with lots of entertainment around the Stadium of Light before the 2pm kick-off. It should be a great occasion! Tickets are still available at time of writing.
Elsewhere, Durham travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest. After an entertaining 0-0 at home against a tricky Southampton side, Neil Redfern’s side look to continue their good form as they creep away from the relegation zone.
The interim manager should be pleased with what he saw at Maiden Castle but would have liked a bit more action in front of goal. Lucy Watson nearly got another late goal to win it but saw her effort spectacularly saved.