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Just as Storm Claudia hit the northwest the night before, Manchester City overwhelmed the visitors aside at the Etihad. It was a statement three-nil victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side thanks to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that truly announced their championship potential as they strengthened their position at the WSL pinnacle.

Consecutive Defeats for Manchester United

This scoreline marked consecutive Women's Super League setbacks for Skinner's side for the first time since last May, placing them a sizable gap off the league leaders with their championship aspirations in serious doubt.

Manchester United's capacity to juggle league and continental football with a small team has been a widely debated issue since they secured entry to the Champions League. Looking at the fixture list, it always appeared this was the period that would fully examine this fortitude. Sadly for the away side, they looked tired all game, the historic win against PSG clearly having left its mark.

Team Changes

Skinner had tried to make changes with a a few adjustments. Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Galton all added energy, although the omission of the on-form Melvine Malard to the sidelines raised a few eyebrows.

Manchester City, in contrast, have no such fitness issues. Jeglertz made a single alteration from last week’s win over the Toffees with Hemp making her return to the lineup since returning from injury.

Commanding Opening Period

The storm clouds started to accumulate for Skinner and his side from the first whistle. This was a exhibition of the strength from City whose energetic forward line controlled and pulled the visitors apart with a superb initial 45 minutes display that saw them score three goals in under half an hour.

This left the home team completely dominant and had Manchester United disorganized. Before this fixture, United had conceded just few in this league campaign but they fell apart in the face of Manchester City's offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The omens came soon when Vivianne Miedema used her physicality to push Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot off target. Lauren Hemp was at the center of everything in the beginning, using the space left by Riviere down United’s wing. Her crosses were creating danger and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg cleared off the line.

United had several attacks forwards, their direct style giving them options in the flanks but they could not test Yamashita. City, on the other hand, commanded possession, taunting their rivals and trying to draw them out of their defensive shape.

Goals Galore

They turned chances into goals with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a corner. A delivery to the back post was directed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Rebecca Knaak to nod home. It was City’s 7th headed goal of the season.

They added to their advantage with another pair of goals just before the break. When Jade Rose was allowed to maraud through the center from the back, the field widened for City. The key Kerstin Casparij picked the ball up on the right before delivering a precise low cross for Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a additional score after a quick shift in possession saw Hemp allowed the space to strike a shot home from distance.

After the Break

The most obvious change came from Skinner at the half-time as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the game. Former City player Jess Park came most likely to score, rattling the upright, but the visitors were creatively abject and did not manage to record a solitary shot on goal.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have added to their cushion when a delightful Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to fluff her lines but it did not affect the result to the winning team. After failing to overcome any side who ended above them in the prior term, the manager's side now have victories against Arsenal and United to put them in a favorable position after nine games.