Championship round-up: Birmingham and Charlton battle to draw, Bristol City go level at the top | OneFootball

The Championship returned for a final round before the winter break, featuring four games that saw the top of the table tighten up even more. While Newcastle saw their game at home to Blackburn fall foul of the weather, there was plenty of action to get stuck into.

Here’s our latest results round-up as we reach the halfway mark of the season.

Bristol City 5-0 Durham

Bristol City went level on points with Birmingham City at the top of the table as they hammered Durham at Ashton Gate. The visitors have had an excellent first half of the season but were caught cold by City once they’d fallen behind just before half-time.

Fran Bentley did well to keep out Lily Crosthwaite’s effort just before the opening goal for the hosts. Ffion Morgan played a nice ball for Emily Syme to calmly slot home into corner and that proved to be a vital moment in the game.

After the break, Bristol City took control and Syme made it two just eight minutes into the second half with another fine finish. Lexi Lloyd-Smith, one of the standout performers in the division so far, added a third when she produced a stunning curling effort from distance. Substitute Tianna Taisar got the fourth, and her first for the club, when she was quickest to react to a defensive mixup and dinked the ball over Durham keeper Tatiana Saunders. The scoring was rounded off when Amalie Thestrup saw Saunders off her line and launched one over her from the halfway line!

It was a bad day at the office for Durham but Bristol City are coming right into form with five wins from their last six Championship games.

Birmingham City 0-0 Charlton Athletic

Top club Birmingham were held at home by Charlton Athletic in a tight contest at St. Andrew’s. Birmingham were on top in the first half but couldn’t find the breakthrough against a strong and together Charlton defence.

Cho So-hyun and Simone Magill had efforts saved by Sophie Whitehouse in the Charlton goal in the only real openings. After the break, Charlton started showing some attacking intent of their own. It took until stoppage time for them to create a chance on goal as Ellie Brazil shot wide and then had another half chance but the game ended in a stalemate.

Charlton will be the happier with the point but Birmingham top the Championship table for Christmas.

London City Lionesses 3-1 Southampton

London City rose to third in the table after seeing off Southampton. After an even first half, the home side scored three times in seven minutes to seal a big win.

Lucia Kendall’s effort and Megan Collett’s follow up saw Southampton come close but London City then powered into an unassailable lead. Kosovare Asllani got the first as she picked up the ball on the left and slammed it home. The second came just a couple of minutes later when Isobel Goodwin broke away and chipped Fran Stenson in the visitors’ goal. The third, two minutes later, arrived when Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah beat two defenders and curled the ball home. Southampton kept battling and got a small reward when substitute Emma Thompson got a consolation in stoppage time.

But it was London City who will go into the Christmas break with all three points as they plot a New Year promotion push. Southampton are in sixth but are still just five points off the top of the table.

Sunderland 2-2 Portsmouth

Portsmouth picked up just their second point of the season as they battled to a draw at Sunderland. The long journey was made worthwhile as Pompey fought hard to keep in touch with Sheffield United and Blackburn at the bottom of the Championship.

Portsmouth took the lead on 16 minutes when Sophie Quirk got on the end of a Sophie Barker through ball to stun the home fans. It didn’t take long for Sunderland to level things, though, as Eleanor Dale picked up on a defensive error to smash home the equaliser. After the Lasses had penalty shouts turned down, Libbi McInnes denied Portsmouth with a well timed block.

Sunderland took the lead in first half stoppage time with Katy Watson getting on the end of a cross from Dale for 2-1. From there, the odds would be on the side of the hosts but the bottom club fought back. In the first minute of the second half, Megan Hornby did well to set up Lily Dent to score at the near post and it was game on again.

Jenna Dear and Dale went close to a winner but it ended up being a frustrating afternoon for their team. For Pompey, it’s an excellent point in the battle to stay in the league.

What’s next?

The Championship takes a winter break now with the next league games set for January 19th. There’s a big top of the table clash to look forward to then with Bristol City hosting London City Lionesses, meanwhile it’s bottom versus top as Portsmouth host Birmingham City. Durham host Charlton, struggling Sheffield United face Newcastle United and Sunderland make the long trip to Southampton.

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