Ahead of Wednesday’s 19:30 (UK) clash at Brisbane Road, City have conceded just 15 times in 18 matches in all competitions.
We also boast the best defensive record in the Barclays Women’s Super League, with our latest shutout against Leicester already our sixth of 2023/24, matching last season’s tally across the entire campaign.
For Taylor, those impressive numbers are the result of a collective defensive effort.
“I think you have to give credit, not just to the defenders and the goalkeeper, [because] our defending starts from the front,” the boss said in his pre-match press conference.
“We create so many attacking opportunities and we try to control so many areas of the game. That’s when you can be your weakest, when attacking.
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“That’s when the players that play in those positions, Yui reads the game really well, Alex is always on the front foot, Laia is really aggressive, Leila was very good yesterday in the defensive clinches and Kerstin I thought was exceptional, especially the second half.
“What Kerstin gives you is that pace at the back to help you in those situations.
“When you have that pace and also the aggressive manner, you’ll more often than not gain clean sheets.
“That’s what we’re seeing at the moment and it’s pleasing, we always speak of our ambitions and the top end is the top end, you have to put the ball in the back of the net, and we saw that yesterday.
“It took a wonderful goal from Lauren for us to build from. But none of it happens unless you’re solid defensively and I think we’ve been really good.”
Hear Gareth’s thoughts in full via the video above…
