When and where
Our first away league Derby will take place on Saturday 14 November in a 12:30 (UK) kick-off.
In the UK, the game will be shown live via BT Sport.
As part of Women’s Football Weekend, the game will be free to air on the BT Sport app, btsport.com and their YouTube channel.
Elsewhere around the world, you can tune in via the FA Player or the channels below:
You can also follow the action via our Matchday Centre our dedicated matchday Twitter account: @ManCityWomen
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RULES
For safety reasons in the wake of the pandemic, the fixture will be played behind-closed-doors.
In line with current protocols, additional balls will be placed at intervals around the pitch.
TEAM NEWS
Gareth Taylor has no new injury concerns ahead of the clash.
Aoife Mannion, Megan Campbell and Lauren Hemp remain long-term absentees.
Manager’s preview: Gareth Taylor
“It’s a great occasion and one I’m really looking forward to.
“We’re feeling good and confident. It’s going to be a great weekend with the games being staggered at different times and shown live to celebrate Women’s Football Weekend.
“Our game is one of the picks of the ties so it’s something we’re geared up for. I was fortunate to play in Derbies at various clubs and coaching-wise, you want to be involved in games with city rivals.
“It’s a good game for us – they’re currently top of the table but there are no medals awarded in November as far as I’m aware!
“It’s a great opportunity for us to go within two points of them. They’ve made a good start to the season in the FA WSL and they’ve had some good results.”
CHECK OUT OUR 2020/21 WOMEN’S TRAINING RANGE
Opposition preview: Katie Zelem
“We all know how much it means to us, the supporters and our fans.
“It is a game we always want to win. We want to come out on top and make sure Manchester is red.
“We know there’s a lot of external media saying maybe we are favourites. Obviously we are going into it top, but for us that doesn’t mean anything.
“We attack the game like we would any other. We always want to win the Manchester derbies and this one will mean the same and so much to us.”
Last time out
City capped an unforgettable week in emphatic fashion, storming to a wonderful 8-1 win over Bristol City.
A late first-half blitz saw the FA Cup Winners sail into a 4-1 half-time lead and Gareth Taylor’s side continued where we left off with a ruthless second half display to return to winning ways in the FA Women’s Super League in style, breaking our all-time record league victory in the process.
City boasted seven different scorers at the Academy Stadium, including Robins goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley whose own-goal broke the deadlock.
Lucy Bronze struck her first goal in her second spell at the Club, while Laura Coombs netted her second in as many games and Keira Walsh claimed her first of the season with a well-taken effort from range.
Wembley heroines Georgia Stanway and Janine Beckie were also on the scoresheet, and Ellen White bagged a brace to net her 50th FA WSL goal, as the hosts marked our first game back on home soil on a joyful note to issue a statement of intent to the early league pace-setters and boost our goal difference.
WATCH: FA WSL highlights: City 8-1 Bristol City
Last meeting
City and United last met in January en route to City’s 2019/20 Women’s FA Cup success.
Ellen White continued her excellent goalscoring streak to seal City’s progression to the fifth round with a thrilling 3-2 win at Leigh Sports Village.
The striker bagged her seventh and eighth goals in 14 appearances to clinch victory in her first Manchester Derby, while Jill Scott netted her first of the season, to extend our sensational start to the year.
Lauren James had halved the deficit midway through the second half and a Lauren Hemp own-goal made for a nervy final few minutes, but Nick Cushing’s side killed the game to restore the local bragging rights in City’s favour.
WATCH: FA Women’s Cup highlights: United 2-3 City
Stats
🔹 This will only be the second Manchester Derby in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League, and the first to be held at the home of the Red Devils. The previous meeting last season ended in a 1- 0 win for the Blue half of the city, thanks to a Caroline Weir winner.
🔹 Manchester United, who moved top of the table thanks to their 1-0 victory over Arsenal last time out, are on the current longest ongoing winning run in the Barclays FA WSL, taking maximum points from their last five games.
🔹 Only City (117) have had more attempts than Man Utd (115) in the league this season, with the Blue half of Manchester (16) netting one more goal than their rivals (15). Indeed, City are converting at a rate of 13.7%, just slightly ahead of the Red Devils on 13%.
🔹 United’s Ella Toone has scored three goals this season, with all of them credited as the winning goal. Only Vivianne Miedema has more (4), including netting the only goal of the game against Arsenal in her sides last WSL match.
🔹 During City’s 8-1 win last week, Ellen White had a direct hand in four goals (2 goals, 2 assists), her most ever in a single WSL match, also becoming the second player in the competition’s history to net 50 times, alongside Miedema.
