Sunderland currently sit atop the Women's Championship table, with Crystal Palace second, Southampton third, and Charlton Athletic fourth. Sunderland are leading with 34 points, and the three clubs below are all on 33 points. With the season coming to a close, the title battle is heating up. Only a single point separates the top four, and just four games remain.
Sunderland
Sunderland's final four matches this season are against Durham, Watford, Charlton and Crystal Palace.
Although Sunderland currently sit first in the league table, Crystal Palace in second have a game in hand over the Lasses.
Durham and Watford are two clubs that have been inconsistent this season, with Watford likely to get relegated from the Championship, and Durham sitting only 4 points clear of the relegation zone. Sunderland should easily take all 6 points from these two fixtures, keeping them in the running for promotion.
However, in Sunderland's most recent game, they lost to London City, who sat barely outside of the relegation zone at the time of the match, questioning their consistency and capability to win against the teams lower in the table when it matters most.
With the Lasses having to face fellow title contenders Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace as their last two games of the season, they are forced to face tough opposition in their final stretch to hopefully lift the Championship trophy.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have five games left of their season, with their match with Birmingham City having been moved from earlier in the season, giving them a game in hand over Sunderland.
The five games left to play for Crystal Palace are against Watford, Durham, Birmingham City, Lewes and Sunderland.
Watford and Lewes are looking to likely be the two sides relegated from the Championship this season, meaning Palace should be able to take an easy 6 points from these two games.
Durham are currently 8th in the league, on inconsistent form, with Crystal Palace also likely to take the 3 points from this fixture. However, mid-table side Durham have proved they can beat top teams, having defeated Southampton and Sunderland in the league and cup respectively, putting pressure on Crystal Palace to perform to take maximum points.
Birmingham City will be a difficult opponent to face, with the Blues 6 points behind Charlton with a game in hand. They are unlikely to catch-up to the top four and fight to achieve promotion to the WSL, but they are 'best of the rest', and will definitely prove a challenge for Crystal Palace on their strive for the Championship title.
With Palace having a game in hand over league leaders Sunderland, and only trailing them by a point, their final game of the season could prove crucial, as Palace host Sunderland. The clash could be the final decider for who wins the title and promotion to the WSL.
Southampton
Southampton's remaining four fixtures of the season are against Blackburn Rovers, Lewes, London City and Charlton.
Blackburn Rovers and London City are both mid-table clubs that are capable of stopping Southampton from taking the full 3 points in their fixtures. However, The Saints should emerge victorious from both fixtures, and will likely need to do so in order to fight for the Championship title.
Lewes are currently bottom of the league, with only 12 points from 17 games, so Southampton are expected to easily take the 3 points from this fixture.
Southampton's final game of the league season sees them travel away to Charlton Athletic. The two sides are currently only separated by goal difference, but Charlton have a game in hand over the Saints, with the two sitting third and fourth in the table currently.
This final title clash, alongside the Palace vs Sunderland fixture, will likely prove to be crucial in deciding who takes home the Championship trophy.
Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic sit fourth in the Championship, but with a game in hand over third place Southampton. Their five remaining fixtures of the season are against London City, Birmingham City, Watford, Sunderland and Southampton.
Charlton have what seems to be the toughest remaining fixtures out of the top four teams competing for the Championship title.
London City are a tough opponent on their good days, but have been inconsistent with quite a few poor performances this season, making them a difficult team to face with no knowing how they will perform on the day.
Watford are the easiest opponent Charlton have left to face, with the Golden Girls sitting at the bottom of the league table, 6 points off safety. Charlton are expected to easily take all 3 points from this fixture, which could put the Addicks top of the table.
Birmingham City, Sunderland and Southampton will all be tough fixtures for Charlton, who must do well in this nightmare run of games if they hope to achieve promotion to the WSL.
Charlton must beat the best to be the best. They have the opportunity to shatter the hopes and dreams of two of their three title rivals, and prove they deserve to finish the season in the top spot.
The final match-day of the season will likely provide one of the most intense Championship title fights since it's inception in 2014.
Charlton Athletic host Southampton, as Crystal Palace host Sunderland, meaning the clubs currently in first and second will face one another, and third and fourth will also clash.
These two fixtures on the final day of the season will inevitably decide who wins the Championship and thus promotion to the WSL.
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