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."

'The money in WSL 2 is frightening'

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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.

With two automatic promotion spots up for grabs, and third place banking a play-off against the WSL's bottom club, Charlton are in a good place.

"We haven't looked too far ahead but I'm ambitious, the players are ambitious and the club is ambitious," said Hills.

"Outside noise talks about [promotion], family and friends talk about it, so players probably feel it. There is a lot on social media and outsiders influence that.

"All of a sudden you start believing in it. It's about making sure that we don't get too high or too low, and just concentrate on the next game.

"We know it's a big challenge. The money that's in the WSL 2 is frightening and every single team now is fully professional. For me, it's been the best season."

Six teams can still earn promotion to the WSL with less than a month to go before the season concludes.

Charlton once had a nine-point lead but losses last month were costly. They were overtaken at the top by Birmingham and have work to do.

"There's always highs and lows within every season. We've had some unbelievable moments and going 27 games unbeaten is a milestone that any team would be happy with and proud of," said Hills, reflecting on the campaign so far.

"We've now got to a point in the season where it's the business end and every team can beat anyone on any given day. Everyone's fighting for everything.

"We are certainly fighting as well. It's just an incredible league, right? I think it will be very unpredictable right until the last game."

'No-one is bigger than the team'

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Amalie Thestrup scored four goals in 17 appearances for former club Liverpool

Striker Amalie Thestrup joined Charlton in the summer and said the club's unique "culture" is their "biggest strength" in the promotion race.

"No-one is bigger than the team. A lot of clubs want that because that makes you really strong. That's not just done, it's a culture that's built and maintained," Thestrup told BBC Sport.

"That's really something that stood out to me. Our biggest strength is our whole team, and I think we've shown this season how far that can take you.

"I feel like this season has been reaping the rewards of all the hard work that has been put in place for the past five seasons.

"Charlton is in a really good place and we'll do everything to end where we want to come 2 May. It's a really exciting time to be at the club to be honest."

Thestrup will face her former club Liverpool in Sunday's FA Cup tie and hopes facing WSL opposition will prepare the club for the future.

Hills has described their season as a marathon and this is the latest mile they need to overcome as they seek to reach the finish line.

But if Charlton do achieve their dreams, are they ready for the WSL?

"It's a good question and the answer is that there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make us WSL ready," added Hills.

"We have a goal and we have to work towards that. There probably will be a lot of work that has to happen in the off-season.

"I've done it before and that league is very different to what the WSL 2 is. You've got to pick the games and be realistic. The biggest thing is to be sustainable."

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed