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Much like bad weather tore through the north-west the prior day, City blew the visitors aside at the their home ground. It was a convincing three-nil win for their manager's side owing to goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Hemp. It was a performance that firmly established their title credentials as they reinforced their place at the top of the table.

Successive Defeats for United

This scoreline represented successive Women's Super League setbacks for Skinner's side for the initial occasion since last May, putting them seven points off the league leaders with their trophy ambitions in serious doubt.

Manchester United's ability to balance domestic and European football with a small team has been a hotly discussed issue since they qualified for the European competition. Looking at the schedule, it always felt like this was the week that would truly test this ability. Sadly for the away side, they seemed tired all game, the memorable win against the French side clearly having had an impact.

Tactical Shifts

The United manager had tried to freshen things up with a a few adjustments. Toone, Elisabeth Terland, Janssen and Leah Galton all added energy, although the omission of the on-form Malard to the substitutes caused surprise.

The hosts, in opposition, have fewer workload issues. Jeglertz made one adjustment from the previous win over the Toffees with Lauren Hemp making her return to the lineup since recovering from a fitness issue.

Overpowering Start

The pressure started to gather for the United boss and his squad from the opening minute. This was a exhibition of the power from City whose potent forward line manipulated and dismantled the opposition with a sublime first half showing that saw them score three goals in just over twenty minutes.

This left the home team firmly in control and had Manchester United struggling. In advance of this fixture, the away side had let in just six in this league campaign but they fell apart in the face of Manchester City's creative prowess.

Opening Threats

The early indicators came quickly when Miedema used her physicality to muscle Julia Zigiotti off the ball, only to send her shot off target. Hemp was at the heart of everything early on, exploiting the gap left by Riviere down the visitors' right side. Her passes were causing problems and led to an chance for Yui Hasegawa that Anna Sandberg kicked off the line.

The Red Devils had several sorties forward, their direct style giving them options in the wide areas but they could not trouble Ayaka Yamashita. Manchester City, meanwhile, commanded the ball, probing their opposition and trying to lure them of their structure.

Scoring Spree

They converted their dominance with almost half an hour played when Aoba Fujino won the hosts a set-piece. A delivery to the back post was headed across goal by Bunny Shaw for Knaak to head in. It was Manchester City's 7th headed goal of the term.

They extended their cushion with an additional two goals just before the interval. When Jade Rose was allowed to advance through the midfield from the back, the field became spacious for the hosts. The prominent Casparij collected the pass on the wing before sending a pinpoint ground pass for Shaw to bundle home. Shortly later, they had a additional score after a quick shift in the ball saw Lauren Hemp allowed the opportunity to fire a attempt home from distance.

Second Half

The primary adjustment came from Skinner at the break as Melvine Malard came on for Elisabeth Terland but by this time it was ineffective to change the course of the match. Former Manchester City player Park came closest, rattling the upright, but the away team were creatively abject and did not manage to produce a single shot on target.

The home side, in contrast, could have increased their advantage when a excellent Vivianne Miedema pass sent Bunny Shaw away only for her to miss the chance but it mattered little to the hosts. After failing to beat any opponent who ended above them in the prior term, Jeglertz’s side now have victories against Arsenal and United to place them in a commanding position after the opening fixtures.