How WSL 2 side Charlton are defying odds in league and cup
Hardly anyone was talking about Charlton Athletic being title contenders before the Women's Super League 2 season began. So it is no surprise manager Karen Hills feels it would be "one of the greatest achievements of her career" if they were to gain promotion. With two games remaining, her side sit in second place, level on points with leaders Birmingham City and separated by goal difference.
Charlton led the way for the majority of the campaign, only dropping off recently after three defeats in their past four matches. But with one of the lowest budgets in the league, competing against big spenders Newcastle United and Birmingham, as well as Premier League-owned Crystal Palace, it has already been a remarkable campaign for the Addicks. Attention turns this week to the Women's FA Cup, as Charlton face WSL side Liverpool for a place in the semi-finals on Sunday (14:30 GMT), and it is easy to see why the second-tier side are full of confidence.
"If you'd have told me in pre-season this is where we would be at this point, I'd have bitten your hand off," Hills told BBC Sport. "These players deserve to be where they are. The amount of work that they've put in, the way that they've played and the way that they've executed everything we've asked of them, they deserve all the accolades and the achievements.
"If we were to be promoted then I believe it's probably one of the greatest achievements in my career. "Just in terms of where the league is at this moment, what other teams have spent and the calibre of players. I think it would be an unbelievable achievement.
" Charlton manager Karen Hills was previously at Tottenham in the WSL Hills has done it before when she guided Tottenham to the WSL for the first time in their history in 2019, alongside coach Juan Carlos Amoros. Former defender Hills' Charlton side have been built on strong foundations, consistency and a formidable defensive record. They have conceded the league's fewest goals (17), kept the most clean sheets (eight) and had a 27-game unbeaten run, which ended in March.