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Much like bad weather hit the northern region the previous evening, the home side blew United aside at the their home ground. It was a convincing three goal triumph for their manager's side due to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. It was a result that truly announced their title credentials as they reinforced their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Successive Setbacks for United

This result signalled back-to-back league defeats for Marc Skinner’s side for the maiden instance since last May, putting them seven points off the top team with their championship aspirations in serious doubt.

United’s ability to balance league and European football with a limited team has been a widely debated topic since they qualified for the European competition. Looking at the calendar, it always felt like this was the week that would fully examine this capability. Regrettably for the visitors, they seemed tired throughout, the memorable win against PSG clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

Skinner had attempted to rotate the squad with a a few adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all provided freshness, although the omission of the on-form Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

The hosts, in opposition, have no similar loading concerns. The City coach made a single alteration from the previous win over the Toffees with Hemp making her first start since returning from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The storm clouds started to build for Skinner and his squad from the opening minute. This was a show of the quality from City whose dynamic attack played with and pulled the visitors apart with a excellent opening period display that saw them net a trio in just over twenty minutes.

This placed City in a commanding position and had Manchester United all at sea. Before this encounter, the away side had allowed just six in this WSL season but they disintegrated in the presence of the hosts' attacking flair.

Opening Threats

The early indicators came soon when Miedema used her physicality to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to pull her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything from the start, taking advantage of the space left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her deliveries were causing problems and led to an attempt for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg cleared off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties forwards, their direct style giving them options in the wings but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. City, in the meantime, dominated the ball, taunting their opponents and trying to pull them out of their organization.

Goals Galore

They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Fujino won the home team a corner. A delivery to the far post was directed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to score. It was City’s 7th headed goal of the term.

They increased their cushion with two more goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was allowed to advance through the middle from central defence, the field opened up for the hosts. The prominent Casparij received possession on the wing before providing a pinpoint low cross for Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a additional score after a rapid turnover in the ball saw Lauren Hemp given the room to strike a shot home from distance.

After the Break

The primary adjustment came from the United manager at the break as Melvine Malard was introduced for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was futile to alter the outcome of the game. Ex- City player Jess Park came nearest, rattling the post, but the away team were offensively poor and did not manage to record a solitary shot on target.

The home side, in contrast, could have increased their advantage when a superb Vivianne Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fail to convert but it did not affect the result to the hosts. Having failed to overcome any opponent who placed above them the previous campaign, City's side now have successes against the Gunners and Manchester United to put them in a commanding position after nine games.