“An exciting game for the neutrals”: Why Charlton’s defensive issues cost them in Championship thriller against London City Lionesses – tactical analysis

It might be a week and a half until the WSL returns to action, but other tiers of the English women’s football pyramid are already underway. One division worth watching this year is the Women’s Championship, which could play host to a closely contested fight for promotion, and two teams fancied to be in the mix are Charlton Athletic Women and London City Lionesses (last season’s runners-up), who met at The Oakwood (Charlton’s home stadium) on Sunday. Both sides needed the win, but for different reasons, with the hosts hoping to build on last weekend’s win whilst the visitors were aiming to kickstart their campaign into life after a disappointing home loss last time out.

This tactical analysis will look in detail at this London derby clash, which ended up being “an exciting game for the neutrals”, as Charlton manager Karen Hills put it afterwards. The analysis will show how Charlton were let down by their defensive problems and will explain how their system didn’t match their tactics, as well as why London City’s offensive threat helped them to edge their hosts and take all three points.

Lineups

After their win at league newcomers Southampton Women, Charlton Athletic Women opted not to make changes to their starting eleven, hoping that continuity would lead to a second win of the campaign. On-loan Aston Villa Women stopper Sian Rogers, therefore, kept her place between the nets, with Kiera Skeels and the former Tottenham Hotspur Women defender Hannah Godfrey once again pairing up in central defence. Bethan Roe and Sophie O’Rourke started either side of them, whilst captain Emily Simpkins offered a protective presence in the hole.

Ex-Tottenham winger Angela Addison joined Mia Ross, Emma Follis and Heidi Logan in the four ahead of her, whilst Melissa Johnson, who joined after leaving league rivals Bristol City Women last season, once again led the line.