Despite falling a goal behind to Katie Zelem’s penalty midway through the first half, City fought back through goals from Jill Roord, Lauren Hemp and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw to earn a memorable 3-1 victory at Old Trafford.
We managed to grind out the result despite being reduced to ten players with 20 minutes still to play when Laia Aleixandri was shown a second yellow, dealing United their first WSL defeat of the season in the process.
For the boss, the manner in which we saw out the victory was testament to the incredible character he says City have shown across 2023/24.
“I’ve seen it this season, I’ve seen a steely determination where we’ll see it out,” the boss reflected after the win.
“Our goals against record from where it was last season to now after seven games has improved so much. That’s the work we put in on the training ground but also an attitude and application to it.
“Defending starts from the front. Most of the time we’re able to get the ball back but in high pressure situations from United’s back four but when they do get through, we’re probably not the City of old where we might feel up against it.
“We’ll still obviously suffer and United put good quality into the box, but the players were great.
“And when that happens and they’ve had to really roll their sleeves up tonight, it’s fantastic. It was really good.”
City were handed a boost by the return of Alex Greenwood to the side after recovering from a head injury sustained on England duty.
She was at the centre of a disciplined defensive performance, with Taylor’s side having to hold firm to weather a late United storm.
Understandably, Taylor was delighted with Greenwood’s performance, especially considering her reduced time back with the team due to the nature of her injury.
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He said: “I think it’s too easy just to put the two games that we lost down to her missing, but her experience, know-how and grit, she made really good decisions at the right time.
“To do that after only a few sessions as well, because we’ve been limited with what we can do with her.
“In fact, one of the first sessions back she took a big gash on the leg in a challenge, so she’s been in the wars!
“But the experience, quality and determination that she showed tonight was top class.”
