'an Incredible League' - Inside Wsl 2 Promotion Race

Blues had been playing catch-up for astir of this run pinch Charlton starring nan measurement until caller weeks - but Birmingham person won 3 consecutive games to lead nan Addicks connected extremity quality pinch conscionable 2 fixtures left.

However, it looks group to spell down to nan ligament again fixed Birmingham recreation to Charlton connected nan last time (2 May, 15:00 BST).

But has missing retired past play accrued nan unit connected Merricks' side?

"External sound is outer noise. We're successful that position because we did truthful good past play and we person existent ambition," she said.

"If you travel to Birmingham, you person to judge that. We look for that ambition successful players erstwhile we enlistee because that's what we're astir and nan guidance we're moving in.

"We're fighting for thing and that's wherever we want to be. We've said there's nary limits here. You want to triumph again and again.

"What that intends is WSL football, past nan Champions League and past you spell again. It should beryllium that successful elite sports. You want to beryllium nan best, don't you?"

Birmingham person had immense finance successful caller seasons pinch NFL fable Tom Brady becoming a number owner, while US-based Shelby Companies Limited purchased nan women's squad successful February, pinch ex-England and Blues prima Karen Carney portion of respective independent investors progressive successful nan deal.

Blues collapsed their nine grounds transportation successful January to motion midfielder Wilma Leidhammar, will complete nan building of a caller gym astatine nan training crushed this period and Merricks says they are "WSL ready".

In contrast, rivals Charlton person 1 of nan lowest budgets successful WSL 2 and person relied connected shrewd signings, arsenic good arsenic a beardown protect record.

They person conceded nan league's fewest goals (17), kept nan astir cleanable sheets (eight) and had a 27-game unbeaten run, which ended successful March.

Charlton had opened up a nine-point lead, but 3 defeats successful their past 4 matches intends they still person activity to do to unafraid promotion.

"Everyone's fighting for everything. We are surely fighting arsenic well. You look astatine each nan points, you look really tight it is astatine nan apical and astatine nan bottom," head Karen Hills told BBC Sport.

"It's conscionable an unthinkable league. If you'd person told maine successful pre-season this is wherever we would beryllium astatine this constituent successful nan play I'd person bitten your manus off.

"But these players merit to beryllium wherever they are. If we were to beryllium promoted past I judge it's astir apt 1 of nan top achievements successful my career."