Sunderland Ladies’ boss looking ahead to new Championship season
Sunderland Ladies head coach Mel Reay can’t wait for the new season to start after the FA Women’s Championship fixtures were announced on Friday morning.
The newly promoted Black Catswilltraveltothemidlands to face Coventry United on the openingday,beforeBlackburn Rovers make the trip to Wearside for the first home game.
Reay’s side will rack up the miles with trips to Crystal
Palace, Lewes, Bristol City, CharltonAthleticandWatford beforethewinterbreak,which could prove to be an advantage with less travelling in the New Year.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” Reay said.
“We’re on the road for the first game with a good fixture for us against Coventry United – we’ll do our research and prepare the team properly. That’s what we’re all working towards.
“Hopefully less travelling afterChristmaswillprovebeneficial for us, but it is what it is, and we’re used to the travel.
"We’llprepareproperlyand thoroughly for every game, home or away, and we’re very excited for some of the trips we’ve got to come.”
The 2021-22 campaign will alsoseethereturnoftheWearside derby for the first time in four years when Durham
Women make the trip down the A690 on 10 October, with the return fixture taking place 24 April at Maiden Castle.
Although both games will beeagerlyanticipated,Reayinsists her main focus is securingenoughpointstosecurethe club’s Championship status.
“Everyone likes a local derby, but there are other games in that league which are just as important. We’ll take the season one game at a time and look to earn as many points as possible.”
*Hege Riise praised Team GB’s unity after in-form striker Ellen White struck again to booktheirspotinthelasteight at the Olympics.
The Manchester City strikergrabbedherthirdgoalintwo games to seal a cagey 1-0 win over hosts Japan in Group E as they sit top of Group E. Team GB play Canada for the right to finish top in Kashima on Tuesday.Riisesaid:“Inthefirsthalf,
we didn’t look like ourselves, we didn’t have the speed of play we wanted. We came out as a different team with an attitude and togetherness and we all committed to the last 45 minutes.
“We are all happy, it puts us in a good position and we’re abletorestplayersandrecover well.Theconnectionsbetween the players will get better and better each game.”