MAN CITY WOMEN 1, MAN UNITED WOMEN 1
Derby spoils were shared by Manchester City and Manchester United in front of the second highest-ever Women’s Super League attendance.
A crowd of 44,259 – second only to 47,367 at the Arsenal versus Tottenham derby earlier this season – witnessed a hard-fought contest between two sides battling for a Champions League spot.
And it was a draw which best suited the Reds who remain three points clear of fourth-placed City in pursuit of a top-three place.
In terms of the title, though, it was a setback for both as by tonight United could be five points behind Chelsea and City could be eight adrift.
United, who had lost all three previous meetings at City in the WSL, ended that sequence.
They took the lead through Leah Galton in the opening half only for City to equalise in the second through Laura Coombs.
And in a last half hour, described by City manager Gareth Taylor as like a basketball match, both sides had chances to win the game.
Taylor, who believed a draw was a true reflection, said: “They edged the first half and we edged the second so it was a fair result.
“It was a bit too much like a basketball match at the end for my liking.”
Taylor added it was difficult to be critical for both teams as it was a different environment as the game was played at the Etihad.
“It was a bit of a one-off and like a cup final, and like a different game and not one in the WSL,” he said.
“There was some quality, and the game was played as a good level. I think it was a good advertisement for women’s football.”
United manager Marc Skinner, whose side still have not beaten City in six WSL games, believes this was a significant milestone.
He said: “It was a frustrating result, but not the performance. It was a mentality change as we came off at the end disappointed not to have won.
“It was a really great mentality shift, and the result was the only negative, but this will serve us well.
“We didn’t defend the cross for City’s goal but that can be fixed and addressed.”
Skinner added there is still lots of work to be done, but the experience of wins, draws and losses in the big games last season has served them well in the current campaign.
He continued: “We have showed so much growth in this half of the season and we are continuing to evolve.
“We adapted to Manchester City’s style which is a big indication as to where we are. The most pleasing thing was the way our players took on responsibility and showed personality.”
City made one change from their 3-1 win over Brighton last weekend.
It is a big one with Lioness Lauren Hemp returning from injury to replace Julie Blakstad on the left wing.
Hemp came off the bench in the League Cup win against Liverpool in the week, playing 20 minutes, but hadn’t featured in the league since November 6.
Unsurprisingly, considering their dominant performance, United were unchanged from their 5-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend.
It meant winger Nikita Parris was up against her former side. The 28-year-old played 127 games for City, scoring 62 goals.
After a low-key opening, in which both sides were involved in an arm wrestle, United took the lead in the 27th minute with the first on-target goal attempt of the game.
Galton exchanged passes with Ella Toone on the left before cutting inside and firing through the legs of Alex Greenwood and low past goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, a historic moment as it was United’s first-ever WSL goal at City.
It was also Galton’s fourth goal in her last eight appearances for the Reds and 22nd overall as she past Toone’s WSL record for the club.
It was also the seventh time this season United had gone ahead in WSL games, and they had won the lot. Similarly, City had fallen behind and lost both times.
City equalised just short of the hour when Coombs headed home from six yards from a Chloe Kelly cross, her fourth WSL goal of the season.
The goal sparked the game to life and set up a captivating final 30 minutes in which both sides had chances to take maximum points.
Alessia Russo pulled a shot narrowly wide from in front of goal and Martha Thomas had a header brilliantly kept out by Ellie Roebuck, United’s two chances of note.
City’s Bunny Shaw had two headers well kept out by Mary Earps as the spoils were shared.