The gulf in class between Manchester’s two clubs has been evident on the men’s side for some time. City are 16 points ahead of United in the Premier League and every season the gap only seems to get bigger. On the women’s side too, City have dominated. But last year the red half had overtaken their rivals for the first time. Marc Skinner’s side finished second and qualified for Europe while City finished fourth, missing out for the first time since 2014.
But United are starting to feel like a one-hit wonder. City, meanwhile, are back to their show-stopping best.
Two goals from Jess Park and one from Bunny Shaw, whose strike saw her become City’s all-time leading goalscorer, was enough to make it back-to-back derby wins for Gareth Taylor’s side.
An own goal from Kerstin Casparij proved to be little more than a consolation for the visitors. Park, who got the assist for Shaw’s goal, will no doubt have impressed on-looking England manager Sarina Wiegman.
For United, the reality is that they had come into this derby with little more than pride to play for. They were 12 points off top spot before Saturday’s game and that gap is now 15. Should Arsenal beat Aston Villa on Sunday, they will be nine points outside the European places. This has been a worrying season of decline for Marc Skinner and every week it feels more unlikely that he will still be here come the start of next.
Jess Park scored twice and assisted the other as Manchester City won the WSL derby 3-1
Bunny Shaw also scored as Gareth Taylor’s side won back-to-back derbies against Man United
The win takes Man City top of the WSL, and 15 points clear of Manchester United this season
As United often do in these big games, they started strongly before fading away. They had the first opportunity when Geyse drove down the right and cut-back for Nikita Parris, but Khiara Keating was alert to push the ball around the post.
Geyse then sent a volley wide when she should really have hit the target.
City started to get on top as the half progressed. Park forced Mary Earps into a fine save from long range before Yui Hasegawa sent a shot just wide of the post.
Their pressure then told in the 37th minute when Park finished off a fine team move. Yui Hasegawa played the ball into Shaw, who laid it off to Lauren Hemp. She then played in Leila Ouahabi in down the left and her cross picked out Park, who sent a first-time finish past Earps. Replays showed Shaw had been coming back from an offside position in the build-up, but with no VAR in use, the goal stood.
There was still time for City and Park to get a second just before half-time. Hasegawa’s cross into the box was headed on by Alanna Kennedy and an unmarked Park was there to hook the ball into the far corner.
United’s official X account had posted seconds after the restart that it was ‘time for a big push’. Thirty seconds later, City had a third. Park was involved again as she won the ball back from Katie Zelem and played a diagonal pass through to Shaw, who held off Maya Le Tissier to finish. It was Shaw’s 68th goal in her 82nd appearance for City, making her the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Man United got a consolation goal when Kerstin Casparij deflected a cross into her own net
This season of decline means it is increasingly unlikely Marc Skinner will still be here next term
United pulled one back in the 74th minute when Casparij deflected Hannah Blundell’s cross past Keating at her near post. That briefly gave the Reds some momentum but they failed to capitilise on a burst of pressure.
This win moves City back to the top of the WSL table, with United languishing in fourth. The gap of 15 points perhaps does not signify enough the gaping hole between these two teams.
