UNITED TOP OF TREE... ROB INS STUCK AT BOTTOM
It WAS always going to take something of a Christmas miracle for Bristol City to get a result against the table-toppers. Going into this clash, City had conceded 39 goals and scored just five. But for 25 minutes, the dream looked possible.
the hosts survived an early scare when Jemma Purfield’s long ball found ebony Salmon behind the defence. the former United striker scored the only goal when the Robins beat the Red Devils in January but was unable to repeat her heroics, dragging a shot wide.
United haven’t lost a league ue game since then and by halftime lfit was clear they wouldn’t ’t be giving into complacency y again. leah Galton opened the e scoring midway through the e first half, picking up the balll ball on the edge of the e box before turning to drive a powerful strike into the e top-left corner.
By the end, City y had conceded six. . Galton grabbed a brace, as did d tobin heath, while Millie turner and Jess Sigsworth also scored as Casey Stoney’s side went four points clear.
‘ Some of the goals were outstanding,’ said the United boss. ‘ it was a pleasure to watch. Most importantly we finish in a way that puts us in a really strong position for the rest of the season.’
Stoney had challenged her side to make more of attacking set-pieces and their work on the training ground was rewarded with two goals either side of half-time.
turner headed in from a Katie Zelem corner to make it 2-0 just before the break and Sigsworth added a third shortly after, this time from a heath delivery. ten minutes later it was four. Galton’s shot- cumcross from the left wing ended up in the back of the net. A smile on the forward’s face suggested the ball had been intended for ivana Fuso, who was waiting in the middle.
the Robins had got in behind United on a couple of occasions and it was a long ball over the top that gave them a consolation. Salmon broke free of Amy turner and managed to score at the second attempt after Mary earps had saved her initial shot. her tireless running deserved some reward but the goal came 70 minutes too late — and United hadn’t finished.
the women’s FiFA Best award may be with lucy Bronze on the other side of Manchester but United arguably have the WSl’s player of the season so far. heath showed why she was included in the FiFPRO World Xi when she capitalised on a mistake in the Bristol City defence to audaciously chip the ball over Sophie Baggaley from the edge of the area.
that goal was the pick of the bunch, but her second wasn’t bad, either.
the American picked up the ball on the right wing, skipped past Gemma evans in the penalty area and hit a shot into the far-right corner with her weaker foot.
it looks bleak for Bristol City who have managed just two points from their opening 10 games. it’s hard to see where they go from here after another thrashing at the hands of a top-four side, but boss tanya Oxtoby is still optimistic.
‘We’re one point off where we were last year and we’ve still got Brighton to play after the break,’ she said. ‘hopefully we’ll have players back. While the table doesn’t look good, we know we’re still in a position to be where we need to be at the end of the season.’
United are deservedly top of the tree at Christmas, the Robins deservedly bottom. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3): Earps 6.5; Battle 6 (Harris 75), A Turner 6, M Turner 6.5, Smith 6; Zelem 6.5 (Ross 63, 6), Groenen 6 (Ladd 63), Toone 6.5; HEATH 8, Galton 8 (Hanson 74), Sigsworth 7 (Fuso 53). Subs not used: Bentley, McManus, Okvist, Press. Booked: Ladd. BRISTOL CITY (4-1-4-1): Baggaley 6.5; Evans 5, Rafferty 6, Logarzo 6, Humphrey 6; Salmon 7; Daniels 6, Wellings 6, Palmer 6 (Harrison 45, 6), Allen 6; Purfield 6.5. Subs not used: Haaland, Bryson, Bissell, Collis, Wilson, Mastrantonio, Jones.
Lisa Benn 6.