Looking to put last weekend’s controversial draw with Chelsea behind them, Manchester City welcomed Bristol City to Joie Stadium on Sunday – with the Robins lingering at the bottom of the Barclays Women’s Super League table after losing their opening two matches.
MCI: Keating; Aleixandri, Greenwood, Kennedy, Morgan; Roord, Hasegawa, Angeldahl; Kelly, Shaw, Fowler
BCI: Marckese; Layzell, Struck, Aspin, Napier; Mustaki, Connolly; Thestrup, Rodgers, Furness; Jones
Many queried whether Jill Roord would be enough to guide Manchester City back into European contention when the transfer window slammed shut and she was confirmed as Gareth Taylor’s sole signing. The Dutch international has certainly proved her influence though, netting the opener with a close-range header after just nine minutes.
Embed from Getty ImagesKhadija Shaw thought she had doubled the lead soon after, finding the back of the net but being denied her first goal of the season by the offside flag. It wouldn’t change the course of the afternoon too much for Gareth Taylor’s side though, with Laia Aleixandri adding their second with a glancing header – moments before Shaw would finally get her goal as she nodded Mary Fowler’s cross into the bottom corner.
Fowler would register her second assist before the break though, with Roord arriving to net her second goal of the afternoon with another header – and Shaw completed her brace too, heading Chloe Kelly’s cross past Kaylan Marckese just before the referee’s whistle blew.
Bristol City did well not to concede throughout the second half, but remain winless and it would be fair to say that their return to the top flight has failed to live up to expectations after a promising transfer window. The task will get tougher for Lauren Smith and her side next weekend, as they welcome Arsenal to Ashton Gate.
