BRADFORD City Women are back in action this weekend after a four-week break with a familiar face back in charge.

The Bantams’ last game was the disappointing 2-1 defeat away to Harrogate Town which saw them knocked out of the West Riding FA County Cup.

City should have taken more from the game, but were hampered by some controversial refereeing decisions, as well as hitting the woodwork four times in a match they dominated throughout.

That game proved to be Meg Lawson and Toni Butcher’s last in charge, as they took the decision to step down over Christmas to concentrate on their studies and Leeds Beckett LFC duties.

Jamie Grand has also left the club, leaving club chairperson Sally Thackray interviewing new managers for the second time this season.

In the days after Christmas the club were delighted to announce the return of former manager Steve Winterburn, who is back at the helm after two seasons with rivals Huddersfield Town.

He will be working closely with Under-18s coach Luke Norris, goalkeeping coach Dan Nicol and physio Rizzwana Khanom, who has come to the club as part of a new partnership with the University of Bradford

City’s first game of 2019 sees them back in league action with the long trip north to Sunderland.

The north-east side sit third in the division, three points behind Huddersfield but with a game in hand, and six points off top spot.

Sunderland finished the year with mixed results, crashing out of two cups on consecutive weekends to Blackburn Rovers and Fylde.

Their final league result of 2018 was a 5-2 win at home to Derby County.

The Bantams’ will be hoping to put 2018 firmly behind them as they look to pull themselves off the bottom of the division.

They sit nine points behind Doncaster, but with two games in hand, and only a further point off Sheffield LFC, who have played three games more than City.

The two sides have already met this season, with Sunderland taking home the points thanks to a 2-1 win in a tough, closely-fought game with City’s goal an Olivia Taylor penalty.