Can Man Metropolis depend on Bunny’s brilliance?
There are two methods you’ll be able to have a look at Man Metropolis’s win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Firstly, good groups know how one can win ugly – Bunny Shaw stated precisely that after being named Participant of the Match by Sky Sports activities‘ Courtney Sweetman-Kirk. If you may get a outcome with out delivering a efficiency of the very best high quality once in a while, you’re clearly heading in the right direction.
Metropolis beat Barcelona within the Champions League 4 days in the past and so got here into this sport with far much less preparation than Liverpool, who had not performed since final Sunday. The Reds gave them a run for his or her cash, however they bought the job carried out.
Or possibly that ought to learn: Bunny Shaw bought the job carried out.
The Jamaica worldwide continued her lethal begin to the season, along with her third and fourth objectives in 5 video games in all competitions. The second was one thing else; Niamh Fahey used all of her power to try to bully the striker off the ball, however Shaw barely even flinched earlier than thundering a shot previous Rachael Legal guidelines.
Gareth Taylor’s facet bettered their hosts in virtually each main metric; that they had over 75 per cent possession, 22 extra touches within the opposition field and made virtually 500 extra passes than Liverpool. However although they tried 14 pictures, they scored with the one two they hit the goal with.
On one other day, Shaw won’t have been there to spare their blushes, to see them punished for being wasteful. Luckily for them that day was not immediately.
Dan Lengthy
‘Good’ Smith offers Reds lots to cheer about regardless of late loss
Liverpool’s Olivia Smith had probably the most carries of any participant within the WSL coming into Sunday’s conflict with Man Metropolis and the Canadian produced one other eye-catching show at Anfield.
Smith gave the Reds the lead simply earlier than half-time after a superb run and shot from distance and it was no coincidence the house facet began to lose their method after she was compelled off with damage within the interval.
Even so, the 20-year-old’s spectacular first-half exhibiting will give each the membership’s followers, in addition to supervisor Matt Beard – absent from the house dugout in opposition to Metropolis attributable to sickness – lots to be inspired about going ahead.
“She was sensible and her purpose epitomised what she is about, what this league can anticipate from her and the influence she has had on Liverpool,” stated Sky Sports activities pundit Izzy Christiansen after the sport.
“I beloved the way in which she took that shot on [for her goal], she had nothing else on her thoughts than to let fly.”
And Steph Houghton was equally impressed, saying: “She prompted Man Metropolis an actual drawback along with her runs immediately – it was clear Liverpool’s intention was to get the ball to her, whether or not that was in behind, or in them pockets.
“Her strengths had been actually getting the ball, driving and taking pictures from distance.”
Richard Morgan
Terland off the mark for Man Utd in fashion
Elisabeth Terland has been main the road for Man Utd initially of this season since her summer time transfer from Brighton, however although Marc Skinner’s facet have been making mild work of every opponent, of their first three video games in all competitions, the Norwegian was not among the many objectives or the assists.
She’d hit solely 5 pictures in her first two league video games, with three failing to seek out the goal. That modified on Sunday.
Her first at Leigh Sports activities Village was a factor of magnificence. Celin Bizet swung in a cross from the correct, Terland discovered her method in entrance of Spurs defender Molly Bartrip and crashed in a volley off the underside of the bar. The 2 mixed once more inside 5 minutes, with Terland discovering the web with a deft header.
She might have accomplished her hat-trick early within the second half, however a well timed Becky Spencer save prevented that.
Terland won’t have the No 9 on her again – Melvine Malard has had privilege bestowed upon her – however final season’s joint-second highest scorer within the WSL is exhibiting indicators she is greater than able to main the road and selecting up the place she left off in 2023/24.
Dan Lengthy
Defensively suspect & profligate in entrance of purpose – a lot to work on for Vilahamn’s Spurs
Tottenham did quite a lot of issues proper in opposition to Man Utd on Sunday lunchtime and but they nonetheless left the Leigh Sports activities Village with a 3-0 defeat to their identify after passing up quite a few first-half openings.
The guests began a lot the higher of the 2 sides as Martha Thomas compelled a superb early cease from Phallon Tullis-Joyce, whereas Clare Hunt and Bethany England additionally each went shut, earlier than an more and more busy United No 1 denied Drew Spence as half-time approached.
At that stage of the competition, Robert Vilahamn’s workforce had had seven efforts on purpose, with a mixed xG worth of 0.9, in stark distinction to a shot-shy United.
And but, Spurs did not take any of these presentable openings and had been quickly punished because the hosts confirmed their comparatively lethal facet to strike twice in fast succession on the cusp of half-time.
Jayne Ludlow highlighted Tottenham’s poor “last ball” on commentary, however Vilahamn can even be alarmed at how simply his workforce collapsed after going behind, with the north London facet having now let in eight objectives of their final three video games, the second most within the WSL.
So there’s tons to work on then because the Swede seems to match final season’s sixth-placed league end.
Richard Morgan