Durham Articles – Aug 2022 -

Durham vs Sunderland 21st Aug 2022 – Match Preview (Aug 20th 2022)

Well here we go, the new season is finally upon us.
It seems ages since we’ve seen any football which is strange as we’ve had a summer full of it.
We kick of our season this weekend full of excitement, hope and of course optimism.

First up is Sunderland, who have added to their squad in the close season including a few familiar faces to Durham fans.
Our opponents info…
Sunderland
Nickname: Black Cats
Ground: Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground
Last season: 9th
Captain: Keira Ramshaw
Manager: Melanie Reay

Their squad this season looks like this
1 GK Allison Cowling
13 GK Claudia Moan
4 DF Faye Mullen
5 DF Grace McCatty
6 DF Louise Griffiths
19 DF Megan Beer
24 DF Abby Holmes
27 DF Brianna Westrup
2 MF Neve Herron
11 MF Jessica Brown
14 MF Emma Kelly
15 MF Emily Hutchinson
16 MF Grace Ede
17 MF Abbey Joice
18 MF Libbi McInnes
21 MF Holly Manders
7 MF Keira Ramshaw
8 MF Emily Scarr
9 FW Nicki Gears
10 FW Danielle Brown
20 FW Tyler Dodds
25 FW Katy Watson

Our record until recently isnt the best against our local rivals
We have played 7 out of which we have only won 2 both home and away last season.
We have a draw and have lost the other 4 games.
We’ve managed to score 8 goals but have conceded 11 with an overal goal difference of -3

Our games last season against Sunderland both went in our favour with a 3-0 home win and a 0-2 win away including Mollie’s goal of the season.
Lets hope we can keep the current trend going and start our season as we hope to continue it.

Now for some stats…
Previous matches between Durham Women and Sunderland Women have averaged 2.2 goals while both teams scoring has happened 20% of the time.
Using last seasons stats, Sunderland whilst playing away conceded 1.5 goals per match and Durham playing at home conceded 1.4 goals per match – pretty even
Durham also scored 1.1 goals per match at home and Sunderland 1.3 goals per match away
Both Teams are equal in terms of Points Per Game 1.2

For this match the odds of both teams scoring is 45% and there is a 75% chance of being over 1.5 goals in the match.
There is also 70% of over 2.5 goals in the match
Sunderland’s player receiving the most cards last season was Neve Herron with 6, but to be fair, Neve also had the greatest assists with 3 and joint top scorer with 4 goals so she definately was involved in ther game which would increase her chances of receiving a card. Other players to watch out for is captain Keira Ramshaw and Emily Scarr who both scored 4 goals.

In Summary, the game will be pretty even.
According to the stats everything points to a draw – probably a scoring draw, 1-1.
However with the game being at home, and a sell-out crowd behind the team I see a home win.
Score: Durham 2 Sunderland 1 – Home Win

Durham vs Sunderland – My Team (Aug 20th 2022)

Saunders
Wilson Salicki Robert
Briggs Hepple Robson Christon
Clarke Noonan Lambert

Not what we were hoping for, but should have been expected.
All the stats pointed to a 1-1 draw before the game but we were hopeful that a capacity home crowd could have been the difference.
A goal by debutant Saoirse Noonan was equalized shortly after but should that equalizing goal have stood ?
If sitting on the goalkeeper to prevent her from reaching the ball is legal then yes, but by all accounts that goal should have been ruled out and Durham should have remained 1-0 up.
There’s no doubt Sunderland have put together a decent squad and they’ll be ok this season, but we didn’t play our normal football and mis-placed a lot of passes.
We played better in the second half but just couldn’t find the way to a second goal.
Still, we didn’t lose and have a point on the board, now hopefully we can get back to ‘business as usual’ and get our first win of the season next week.

SHEFFIELD UTD V DURHAM 27TH AUG 2022 – MATCH PREVIEW

First Away game of the season and we go to Sheffield, not too far away on a Saturday evening, its bit of a strange kick off time but looking forward to it.

We started our season off at home against Sunderland and could only manage a draw against a decent looking Sunderland team, although our play could have been a lot better.
I am hoping to put that down to nerves of a local derby, a new season and not wanting to lose the game.

A little bit on our opponents this weekend…
Nickname: The Blades
Ground: Bramall Lane
Last season: 7th
Captain: Sophie Barker
Manager: Neil Redfearn

Their squad this season
No. Pos. Player
1 GK Nina Wilson
2 DF Ellie Wilson
3 DF Charlotte Newsham
10 MF Alethea Paul
25 DF Sophie Bradley-Auckland
DF Marta Francis-Jones
8 MF Maddy Cusack
12 MF Rhema Lord-Mears
15 MF Tamara Wilcock
19 FW Charley Docherty
21 MF Rebecca Rayner
24 MF Ruby Clarke
27 MF Lara Miller
7 FW Courtney Sweetman-Kirk
14 FW Mia Enderby
FW Chene Muir
26 FW Georgia Walters

Our record against Sheffield Utd is pretty even, just the 1 win extra for Sheffield, with us up by 1 goal more scored
played 9 won 3 drawn 2 lost 4 scored 13 conceded 12 goal difference +1

Last season we only got a home drawn and conceded 3 goals playing at their place scoring only 1 in reply.
Lets hope history doesnt repeat itself this time round – home 1-1 and away 3-1

Now for some stats…
Previous matches between Sheffield United and Durham have averaged 2.78 goals per game while both teams scoring has happened 44% of the time.

Last seasons stats show Durham conceding 1.4 per match playing away from home whilst Sheffield Utd conceded 1.9 goals per match whilst playing at home.
Last seasons stats also show Durham scoring 1.1 goals per game playing Away from home and Sheffield Utd scoring 2 goals per game whilst playing at home.
In the full season, Sheff averaged 1.7 goals per game and dur 1.2 goals per game.

This season’s odds gives 50% for both teams to score, with an 80% chance of there being over 1.5 goals in the match and 75% chance of there being over 2.5 goals in the match

Last season Courtney Sweetman-Kirk top scored with 10 goals if we can keep her quiet it hill help in keeping a clean sheet. We need to watch Madeleine Cusack and Lucy Watson, both topped the assists for Sheffield with 5 each and Madeline also topped the cards table for Sheffield with 3 alongside Eloise Wilson.

In summary this will be a close game (as most in the Championship will be this season.) – According to the stats Durham are looking at an Away loss 2-1, however Sheffield did not get off to the best start to the season last week and the stats above reflect last seasons team and form.
Score – Sheffield 1 Durham 2 – Away Win

DURHAM VS SHEFFIELD– MY TEAM

Saunders
Wilson Salicki Robert
Ayre Hepple Robson Christon
Clarke Noonan Lambert

Bum Deal – Sunderland (H) 1-1 (Aug 21st 2022)

DURHAM VS SHEFFIELD– MY TEAM