Sunderland Women 1-0 Sheffield United Women: Paxton strike seals narrow win at Eppleton
Sunderland Women made it back-to-back WSL Players Cup wins with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sheffield United Women at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground on Sunday afternoon. It was a tight, scrappy affair but the Black Cats found a way through to collect another three points in Group A.
The only goal of the game came on 65 minutes when defender Chloe Paxton got herself on the scoresheet to put Sunderland in front. It proved enough to see the home side over the line, with Sheffield United unable to find a way back into the contest despite a late push.
Sheffield United's Jess Reavill was shown a yellow card on 54 minutes, and Sunderland's Kassandra Missipo picked up a caution of her own late on in the 84th minute, but neither side had anyone sent off as both managers rang the changes in search of a response. Sunderland made a triple substitution shortly after their goal, bringing on Atlanta Primus, Kassandra Missipo and Emily Scarr just after the hour mark, while Sheffield United also freshened things up with a double change on 77 minutes and another substitute introduced in stoppage time.
The win moves Sunderland up to third in Group A with six points from three games, continuing a decent run in this competition. Their last three Women's League Cup games now read LWW, with wins over Newcastle United away from home and now Sheffield United at Eppleton sandwiching a defeat to Liverpool. Sheffield United, by contrast, remain without a win in the competition, their last three outings reading LDL as they sit bottom of the group on two points.
A crowd of 330 was at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground to see the Black Cats grind out another result, with goalkeeper Noa Schumacher not required to make a save as Sunderland kept a clean sheet. It continues a mixed spell for Sunderland in all competitions, with their last five outings reading WWLLW, including cup wins over Derby County and Newcastle sandwiched around cup exits.
For Sheffield United, it is a fourth defeat in their last five Women's League Cup games, a run that has seen them struggle for both goals and results in this season's competition. They will need to find an upturn in form quickly if they are to climb away from the bottom of Group A.
Sunderland will take plenty of confidence from another clean sheet and a second straight win in the competition, with Paxton's decisive intervention from the back proving the difference between the two sides on a tight afternoon in Sunderland.
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