But the Addicks, who took over the leadership from Everton last week, will be entertaining a Leeds side showing far greater confidence after recovering from their dreadful start to the campaign and looking for their third successive League win.

After taking just one point from their first four games - and conceding a total of 17 goals in the process - they have hit the net 12 times in their last two outings and moved up to fourth place in the table.

United’s England winger Sue Smith, looking ahead to Sunday’s meeting with Charlton, said: "We know we’ll be up against a quality team but we’ll be going down there thinking we can take something from the game.

"We’ve got our season on track now after a disastrous start - we went into the season feeling we’d do well, but we got battered 8-0 by Everton in our first game and that was a massive shock that really hit our confidence.

"When Charlton came to our place we played quite well in the first half but didn’t take our chances, then Charlton got on top and scored all five of their goals in the second half - that was a disgrace on our part and we knew it.

"We’ve turned things round since then, though. Signing Karen Burke was a major boost and she’s helped us play as a team, which we weren’t really doing before, and we’ve seen the benefits in terms of goals as well as wins.

"So I think we’ll be better prepared for Charlton than we were when they came up to us a few weeks ago. They’ll have home advantage and it’s going to be tough for us, but I think we can get a result."

While Charlton will be looking for three points to stay top, second in the table Everton - who have played one game fewer than the Addicks – will be aiming to maintain the top flight’s only 100 per cent record by beating Birmingham City.

The Toffees won 3-2 at Birmingham last month but will not underestimate Marcus Bignot’s team, who trailed 3-0 at one stage in that first encounter but came back well and went close to forcing a draw.

Third-placed Bristol Rovers head for Doncaster Rovers Belles in search of a double which would keep up the pressure at the top of the table while adding to third from bottom Donny’s problems at the other end.

When the teams met at Bristol in early September the Gas Girls conclusively won 5-0, but the Belles have improved of late and last week recorded their first win of the season, a 1-0 home success against Fulham.

That left Fulham ahead of the Belles only on goal difference, but on Sunday the Cottagers will fancy themselves to make a return to winning ways when they visit bottom of the table and still pointless Bristol City.

The team immediately above Bristol City, Liverpool, face a tough task against an Arsenal side looking to make ground on the pacesetters as they step into their first League game since beating the Reds 4-0 on Merseyside four weeks ago.

UEFA Cup duties and international calls have since prevented the Gunners from playing a League game, but they will be anxious to start picking up points in their pursuit of a second successive League title.

Northern Division

Match of the day in the Northern Division is undoubtedly the clash between leaders Sunderland and second-placed Blackburn Rovers, who have made a tremendous start to life in the Premier League after being promoted from the Northern Combination.

They won 3-2 at Sunderland a month ago and last Sunday, when the Black Cats were without a game, they moved to within a point of the top team with a thumping 7-1 win at fellow new girls Coventry City, promoted from the Midland Combination.

Third in the table Aston Villa travel to Middlesbrough a week after losing their unbeaten record to fourth-placed Stockport County, who are set for another key battle when they entertain an Oldham Curzon side lying just one place below them.

Bottom club Manchester City will be looking to improve their position by securing a second successive home victory while their opponents, Wolves, will be out for their first away win of the season.

Southern Division

Southern Division leaders Chelsea entertain third in the table Portsmouth on Sunday with Pompey looking to avenge their only League defeat of the season to date, a 2-0 reversal on the south coast on 05 September.

Second-placed Crystal Palace, who like Blackburn in the Northern Division have made a great entry into the Premier League following promotion, will be out to complete the double over struggling bottom club Southampton Saints.

After four games the Saints have no points whatsoever, but second-from-bottom Ipswich Town are hardly any better off as they prepare to face fourth-placed Langford - the Tractor Girls have one point to their name but have played seven matches.

FA Nationwide Women’s Premier League, 03 October 2004

National Division

Arsenal v Liverpool
Bristol City v Fulham
Charlton Athletic v Leeds United
Doncaster Rovers Belles v Bristol Rovers
Everton v Birmingham City

Northern Division

Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland
Coventry City v Sheffield Wednesday
Lincoln City v Tranmere Rovers
Manchester City v Wolves
Middlesbrough v Aston Villa
Stockport County v Oldham Curzon

Southern Division

AFC Wimbledon v Millwall Lionesses
Chelsea v Portsmouth
Crystal Palace v Southampton Saints
Enfield Town v Watford
Langford v Ipswich Town

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