As the festive season approaches and the FA Women’s Championship prepares to pause for the Christmas break, Sunderland Women face a defining moment in their campaign.
Today, they welcome Ipswich Town Women to Eppleton CW for what could be a season-shaping fixture — not just the final game of the calendar year, but a “six-pointer” in the truest sense.
With Sunderland languishing in eleventh place and Ipswich rooted to the bottom, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
A battle at the bottom
The league table paints a stark picture.
After ten matches, Sunderland have managed just two wins and three draws, leaving them on nine points. Ipswich, meanwhile, have only one win and two draws to their name, sitting on five points with a goal difference of -20. The gulf between the top and bottom is wide — Charlton Athletic lead the pack with twenty four points but for Sunderland and Ipswich, the focus is survival.
This match is more than just a chance to end the year on a high: it’s a lifeline.
A win for Sunderland would create a seven-point cushion between themselves and Ipswich, offering breathing room heading into the second half of the season. It would also help the Lasses close up to rest of the pack, who could easily be drawn into a bottom-of-the-table fight.
A loss, however, would drag them deeper into the relegation mire and hand Ipswich a vital boost.
Sunderland’s form: Fight and fragility
Sunderland’s recent form has been patchy at best: LDLLLL.
That solitary draw — a 1–1 stalemate with Crystal Palace — offered hope, but it’s been surrounded by frustrating defeats. The team has struggled to find consistency, especially in front of goal. With fifteen goals scored and nineteen conceded, their goal difference of -4 is that of a side that can compete but often falls short.
The draw against Palace showed resilience but the loss to Bristol City exposed defensive frailties. Manager Mel Reay has spoken about the need for sharper finishing and tighter marking, and this match offers a chance to put those lessons into practice.
There are positives to build on.
Sunderland have shown flashes of attacking intent and their midfield, led by the industrious Katie Kitching and Keira Barry, have been the bright spots. However, lapses in concentration have cost them dearly and against Ipswich, they’ll need to be switched on from the first whistle.
Ipswich Town’s form: Defensive woes and missed opportunities
Ipswich’s form — LLLLLD — is even more concerning.
They’ve gone six games without a win and their defensive record is the worst in the league, with twenty eight goals conceded in ten matches. That’s nearly three goals per game, which highlights their vulnerability.
A recent 1–1 draw with Durham showed some fight but their inability to hold leads or shut down opposition attacks has plagued them all season. Manager Joe Sheehan has rotated his defence in search of stability, but the results have been elusive.
Offensively, Ipswich have struggled too. Just eight goals scored — the lowest tot’al in the league — points to a lack of cutting edge. Top scorer Rianna Dean has been isolated in recent matches, and the midfield has failed to provide consistent service.
Still, there’s a sense that Ipswich are due a breakthrough. They’ve been competitive in spells and if they can tighten up defensively, they have the tools to frustrate Sunderland.
A game that’s worth more than three points to the winner?
For Sunderland, this match is pivotal.
Currently sitting second-bottom, they’re four points clear of Ipswich, but that margin is precarious. A win would not only extend the gap but also boost morale heading into the break, allowing the team to reset, regroup, and approach the second half of the season with renewed confidence.
A loss, however, would be disastrous. It would cut the gap to a single point between the two sides at the bottom of table, yet the psychological blow of losing to the bottom side at home could linger, and the pressure would intensify.
Ipswich, meanwhile, see this as a chance to reignite their season.
A win would lift them closer to moving off the bottom and send a message to the rest of the league. It would also validate their recent improvements and give them momentum heading into January.
Areas to focus on
Sunderland will likely look to dominate possession and press high, using their midfield trio to control the tempo. Emily Scarr’s energy and vision will be key if she’s fit, and the wide players will need to stretch Ipswich’s vulnerable back line.
Defensively, Sunderland must stay compact. Ipswich have struggled to break down organised defences and if Sunderland can avoid conceding silly fouls and maintain their shape, they’ll frustrate the visitors.
Ipswich, on the other hand, may opt for a more cautious approach. Expect them to sit deeply and hit on the counter, using the pace of Sophie Peskett and the hold-up play of Natasha Thomas.
Set pieces could be their best chance to score, given Sunderland’s occasional lapses when marking.
Players to watch
For Sunderland, Kitching is the heartbeat of the team.
Her ability to drive forward, link play, and track back makes her indispensable. Up front, Emily Scarr will be tasked with converting chances — her movement and finishing will be crucial.
Ipswich will rely heavily on Thomas and Dean. They’re the visitors’ most experienced forwards and have the ability to score from half-chances. In midfield, Shauna Guyatt’s composure and passing range will be vital in transitioning from defence to attack.
Managerial pressure and mental edges
Both managers are under pressure — Reay knows that a loss could put her side in serious trouble, whereas Sheehan is desperate to avoid a winless run stretching into the new year.
The mental edge may lie with Sunderland. They’re at home and they’ve shown more attacking promise. But pressure can be a double-edged sword, and Ipswich will relish the chance to play spoiler.
This match won’t be a showcase of free-flowing football. It’ll be gritty, tense, and possibly cagey. Both teams know what’s at stake, and that could lead to a cautious start.
Expect Sunderland to push early, trying to unsettle Ipswich and grab an early lead. If they score first, they’ll likely control the game. The Lasses will need to hope they don’t concede shortly afterwards, but if Ipswich can weather the storm and grow into the match, they could snatch a result — particularly when most of their goals come between the forty-fifth and sixtieth minutes.
A draw wouldn’t be disastrous for Sunderland, but it would feel like a missed opportunity. For Ipswich, even a point would be progress, but they’ll be targeting all three.
A Christmas cracker with potential consequences?
As fans gather for the final match before Christmas, they’ll be hoping for a spirited performance and a result to warm the winter chill. For Sunderland, it’s a chance to climb out of the shadows and set the tone for 2026; for Ipswich, it’s a shot at redemption and a lifeline in a tough campaign.
Whatever the outcome, this match will shape the narrative of both teams’ seasons. It’s not just the last game of the year — it’s the beginning of the fight for survival.
