WHAT HAPPENED
We were beaten 5-2 by Manchester City on Saturday, with Emma Mitchell and Heather O’Reilly scoring either side of half-time in an eventful Women’s Super League tie.
The hosts gave us a scare just moments into the game when Nikita Parris capitalised on a loose pass from Leah Williamson, but saw her shot saved by Sari van Veenendaal.
Soon after, Lisa Evans was briefly forced off to be treated for a cut around her eye after being caught in the face by Parris’ studs, who was lucky not to see red.
On the half-hour mark Jodie Taylor had her first opportunity of the match, when she attempted a lob from a difficult angle, but her effort fell just wide of the far post.
Five minutes before the break, City took the lead when Jane Ross met Abbie McManus’ cross at the near post to deftly flick the ball past Sari van Veenendaal.
Shortly after, later we drew level through Mitchell, who rose up at a corner to head the ball home before the interval.
The hosts regained the lead moments later through former Gunner Steph Houghton, who volleyed the ball in from close range after van Veenendaal had palmed the ball into her path.
The goals kept flowing, with O’Reilly this time drawing us level with a header after City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck mistimed a clearance.
We continued our strong start to the second half, when Jordan Nobbs went close with a curling effort that struck the crossbar.
Despite us having had the better of the game at this point, City once again took the lead when Jill Scott played the ball through to Georgia Stanway, who slid the ball under Van Veenendaal.
A few minutes later, the hosts stretched their lead to two goals with Isobel Christiansen this time netting from close range, having capitalised on a slip from Nobbs.
Scott soon added a fifth and final goal for the Citizens, when the midfielder fired in a half-volley across goal past Van Veenendaal.
WHAT IT MEANS
Defeat means that we remain in fourth place, with fifth-placed Sunderland set to play Chelsea later on today with the chance to leapfrog us if they win.
WHAT’S NEXT
We host Bristol City in our next fixture at Meadow Park. The last time we met, we were 5-0 winners, with Louise Quinn, Nobbs, Chloe Kelly, Danielle van de Donk and Beth Mead all getting on the scoresheet.
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