This Week's Opposition: Newcastle United Women

Sunday's Barclays Women's Championship opponents for Pompey at Westleigh Park, Newcastle United are the latest team to be investigated by Kirsty Roxanne.

The Blues have now suffered 3 consecutive league defeats so far this campaign following a 4-0 loss away at Birmingham City last weekend.

Jay Sadler’s side have not netted a single goal so far this season, leading them into matchday 4 with a -10 goal difference and sitting bottom of the table.

The challenges don’t get any easier as the side head back down South to take on also newly-promoted side Newcastle United at Westleigh Park.

MANAGER

The Magpies are managed by Becky Langley.

Having coached since the age of 14, Langley pursued her coaching career alongside studying Sports and Exercise Science at Loughborough University, from which she graduated in 2016.

In the summer of 2022, Langley was handed her first full-time contract as permanent manager of Newcastle United Women.

Newcastle became the first and only professional team in the Women’s National League last season following the club's Saudi takeover.

In 2023/24, Langley secured her team promotion to the Barclays Championship with an incredible 59 points from 22 games, procured as a result of 19 wins, 2 draws and only 1 league defeat all season.

The Magpies also made it to the final of the FAWNL Cup after beating Portsmouth on at St. James’ Park in the Semis, however the club missed out on the trophy after being defeated 2-1 by Hashtag United at Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch is someone who Blues fans could very well be familiar with, Beth Lumsden.

She progressed through the ranks at Arsenal and went on to spend time with Chelsea, Millwall Lionesses, Charlton, Oxford, Southampton and also Portsmouth before moving to Tyneside.

The attacker joined Newcastle from Portsmouth in January this year and she arrived with plenty of goalscoring pedigree, having netted 27 times in 33 appearances for Oxford in the 2021/22 season.

The 25-year-old moved to Newcastle after playing her part to help Portsmouth top the FA Women’s National League - South Premier Division in the first half of last term.

Come the end of the campaign, Lumsden had won promotion to the Barclays Women’s Championship with Newcastle with her direct wing-play and ability to create, as well as score goals, which made the difference in tight games.

This means Lumsden played a part in both Pompey and The Magpies getting promotion last season. She wears the number 26 in black and white.

TOP SCORER

Forward Shania Hayles is the current top goalscorer for Newcastle.

She started her career with Birmingham City in 2017 after progressing through the youth setup at rivals Aston Villa.

After 2 seasons, she returned to Villa Park and earned international honours in her final season with them before making the switch to Bristol City in July 2022.

During her first season with The Robins, she finished as the team’s top goalscorer to help them secure promotion to the top flight, something Hayles also experienced during her time with Villa.

Hayles then joined The Magpies in July 2023 for an undisclosed fee from Bristol City.

The number 7 has netted 2 goals so far this season, scoring in both league games played up to this stage.

CURRENT FORM

Becky Langley’s team secured back-to-back promotions after winning the FA Women’s National League - Northern Premier Division title last campaign.

The Magpies currently sit 6th in the Barclays Women’s Championship, 5 places ahead of bottom of the table Pompey in 11th.

Newcastle have only played 2 games this season, 1 less than the Blues, as a result of Reading’s withdrawal from the division.

The side have so far accumulated 4 points thanks to a 1-1 draw on the opening day with London City Lionesses and a recent 2-0 win over Sheffield United at Kingston Park last weekend.

The last time these teams met was at the beginning of this year at St James’ Park, where the Blues missed out on reaching the FAWNL Cup Final due to Georgia Gibson’s 90th minute winner for The Magpies.

Can the Blues get back to winning ways and secure their first points in the Barclays Women's Championship?

Kick-off at Westleigh Park on Sunday (September 29th) is 2pm and the match is being streamed for free on the official Barclays Women's Championship YouTube channel.