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Much like bad weather hit the northern region the night before, Manchester City overwhelmed United aside at the Etihad Stadium. It was a convincing three goal win for their manager's side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that firmly established their leadership claims as they reinforced their place at the league summit.

Back-to-Back Setbacks for United

This scoreline signalled consecutive league setbacks for Skinner's side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them seven points off the top team with their trophy ambitions hanging by a thread.

United’s capability to balance domestic and European football with a small team has been a hotly discussed topic since they secured entry to the Champions League. Considering the fixture list, it always felt like this was the week that would truly test this fortitude. Unfortunately for the opposition, they seemed fatigued all game, the landmark win against Paris Saint-Germain clearly having taken a toll.

Lineup Adjustments

The United manager had attempted to rotate the squad with a handful of changes. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all brought freshness, although the exclusion of the on-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines caused surprise.

City, in comparison, have fewer loading issues. Jeglertz made a single alteration from their most recent win over Everton with Lauren Hemp making her initial starting appearance since recovering from injury.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to build for Skinner and his squad from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the strength from City whose potent forward line played with and pulled the visitors apart with a sublime initial 45 minutes display that saw them put three past the keeper in just over twenty minutes.

This put the hosts in a commanding position and saw the visitors struggling. Before this fixture, the away side had let in just few in this WSL season but they collapsed in the presence of the hosts' attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The omens came soon when Miedema used her strength to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot wide. Lauren Hemp was at the core of everything in the beginning, taking advantage of the space left by Riviere down the visitors' right flank. Her passes were creating danger and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had a number of sorties ahead, their long-ball tactic giving them alternatives in the flanks but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. City, meanwhile, commanded the ball, probing their opponents and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Triple Strike

They made their pressure count with almost half an hour played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A delivery to the far post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to score. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the term.

They added to their advantage with two more goals just before the interval. When Rose was permitted to drive through the middle from the back, the pitch became spacious for the hosts. The key Casparij received possession on the right before delivering a accurate ground pass for Bunny Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a additional score after a rapid shift in possession saw Hemp afforded the opportunity to drive a attempt home from distance.

Final Period

The most obvious change came from the United manager at the break as Melvine Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was too late to change the course of the game. Former Manchester City player Jess Park came closest, rattling the post, but the away team were offensively poor and did not manage to register a one shot on target.

The hosts, in contrast, could have extended their lead when a superb Miedema long ball sent Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it was insignificant to the hosts. After failing to beat any team who finished above them the previous campaign, Jeglertz’s side now have successes against the Gunners and Manchester United to place them in a strong standing after nine games.