Stoney pleased by ‘professional’ United’s return to the summit
2-0
Manchester United returned to the top of the Women’s Super League as they overcame a resilient Birmingham City defence.
United’s win came while close rivals Chelsea’s match away at Bristol City was one of three WSL games to fall victim to the snow.
“It was a thoroughly professional performance. We needed to bounce back and we did that very well today,” manager Casey Stoney said, a week after her side lost 2-1 at Chelsea.
Chelsea, with two games in hand against the bottom two sides, are favourites to retain the WSL title, but Stoney’s team showed they would fight all the way as they dominated against Birmingham.
The hosts’ Leah Galton almost gave them the lead shortly before half-time as she met Katie Zelem’s clever through ball, only to see her strike palmed away by Birmingham goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
But Galton opened the scoring 40 seconds into the second half, poking home from close range, and Ella Toone made it 2-0 with nine minutes remaining.
Injured forward Tobin Heath was missing and Stoney revealed she would be out “for a while”.
Birmingham manager Carla Ward said: “We’re disappointed, but to be disappointed at being beaten by one of the top teams in the country says a lot about where we’re at.”
Manchester United (4-2-3-1) Earps; Harris (Smith 32), Turner, A Turner, Batlle; Groenen, Ladd; Toone, Zelem (Hanson 75), Galton; James (Fuso, 63). Bentley (g), Thorisdottir, Sigsworth, Ross, Press. Harris, A Turner, Toone.
Birmingham City (4-5-1) Hampton; Scott, Brougham, Lawley (Green 65), Holloway; Walker, Mayling, Whipp (Kelly 85), Littlejohn (Mccarron 85), Napier; Murphy. Subs Cowie, Hart. Booked Littlejohn, Murphy.
Referee Stacey Pearson (Somerset).