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Just as bad weather swept through the north-west the prior day, Manchester City blew Manchester United aside at the their home ground. It was a convincing 3-0 victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s side due to goals from Knaak, Shaw and Hemp. It was a display that firmly established their leadership claims as they strengthened their place at the top of the table.

Successive Setbacks for Manchester United

This scoreline signalled consecutive WSL losses for Marc Skinner’s side for the first time since last May, placing them a significant margin off the top team with their title hopes in serious doubt.

Manchester United's ability to manage league and continental football with a limited team has been a frequently analyzed issue since they earned a place in the Champions League. Reviewing the schedule, it always appeared this was the week that would seriously challenge this ability. Regrettably for the visitors, they seemed weary all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

Marc Skinner had attempted to rotate the squad with a several alterations. Toone, Terland, Dominique Janssen and Leah Galton all added vigor, although the dropping of the on-form Melvine Malard to the substitutes was questioned.

The hosts, in contrast, have no such loading worries. Jeglertz made one change from their most recent win over Everton with Hemp making her initial starting appearance since recovering from a physical setback.

Overpowering Start

The trouble started to gather for Skinner and his squad from the kickoff. This was a exhibition of the power from City whose potent offense played with and tore United open with a superb first half display that saw them put three past the keeper in 21 minutes.

This placed City in a commanding position and saw the visitors disorganized. In advance of this fixture, United had allowed just six in this domestic competition but they collapsed in the face of Manchester City's offensive ingenuity.

Initial Opportunities

The early indicators came early when Miedema used her strength to bundle Zigiotti off the ball, only to drag her shot past the post. Lauren Hemp was at the heart of everything in the beginning, using the room left by Jayde Riviere down United’s right side. Her passes were creating danger and led to an opportunity for Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg scrambled off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties ahead, their direct style giving them options in the wide areas but they could not test Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, commanded the ball, teasing their opposition and trying to draw them out of their organization.

Triple Strike

They turned chances into goals with almost the first period played when Aoba Fujino won the home team a corner. A ball to the back post was headed across goal by Shaw for Knaak to nod home. It was City’s seventh headed goal of the season.

They added to their advantage with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Rose was permitted to drive through the center from central defence, the pitch became spacious for the hosts. The prominent Kerstin Casparij received possession on the wing before sending a accurate driven ball for Shaw to bundle home. A short time later, they had a additional score after a swift change in the ball saw Hemp given the space to fire a shot home from distance.

After the Break

The primary adjustment came from the United manager at the half-time as Malard entered for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to shift the momentum of the match. Former City player Park came most likely to score, rattling the woodwork, but the away team were offensively poor and did not manage to produce a single shot on target.

The hosts, meanwhile, could have added to their lead when a excellent Vivianne Miedema long ball sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to beat any team who placed above them last season, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against the Gunners and United to position them in a strong situation after nine games.