Manchester City Women provided proof of their title credentials with an impressive 2-0 win at champions Chelsea to open up a six-point gap over the Londoners.
With six wins, Cushing’s side have a 100% record in the WSL and are yet to concede a goal - but while many claim the title is now City’s to lose, the boss has warned against complacency.
“I think it is a statement of intent,” he declared. “Last year, we lost the FA Cup semi-final to Chelsea and were disappointed - just like this year - and then we went and drew against them.
“This year, we’ve beaten them and we’ve done a lot of new things we wanted to do. We’ve always said: let’s just keep winning and see where it gets us - we’ve won nothing yet.
“I’m very pleased with the performance against Chelsea. Defensively, we’ve been good but we’d spoken about tightening up in little areas.
“I thought we were solid as a rock. I never thought we’d lose. On 70-80 minutes, I really wanted the clean sheet and it shows the players have been working hard in training.
“That’s a side of the game people don’t see. We’re known as a very good offensive team but we’re also hard to beat defensively.
“Football is that game in that if we concede, the momentum swings but I felt even if we had conceded, we’d have stood strong.
“It might have even galvanised us to go and score again. We took our foot off the gas offensively to protect the lead and I was pleased we were able to manage the game in that way.”
Demi Stokes netted her first City goal in the clash and Jennifer Beattie doubled the lead. City, rampant in attack, now have goal-scorers all over the pitch - another fact which pleases Cushing.
“It’s always pleasing to have different scorers,” he added. “We just want to keep scoring goals and encouraging the fans to come - they are unbelievable.
“To have fans travel to Staines on a Thursday night is exceptional and we want to deliver performances they enjoy. I think they enjoyed that one!”
There was brighter news still as long-term absentees Izzy Christiansen and Megan Campbell returned to the bench after injury, providing a real boost to the Blues’ title charge.
“Having such a fantastic player back in Izzy brings so much to our team,” he declared. “When she came on, she showed her quality and we really enjoy having her in our team.
“To have had Megan on the bench was a real boost too and to have the squad in such good condition is pleasing.”
City travel to Liverpool on Wednesday looking to keep their points advantage at the top of the table, before the league season breaks in June.
Cushing asserts anything less than a victory in Widnes would render the win at Chelsea void.
“We’ve got to perform in that game,” he said. “If we lose, we’ve taken two steps backwards. We have to make sure we turn up, play well and win that game.”
