Yesterday’s Manchester derby was every bit as significant as those contested in previous years with points being so crucial in the battle for European qualification for next season.
With Manchester United looking much-improved this season, there is a real possibility that they can finally break the dominance of the usual ‘top three’ and when Leah Galton gave The Red Devils a 1-0 advantage in the first half yesterday, it looked like they’d finally get one over their city rivals.
Victory over the blue side of Manchester in the Barclays Women’s Super League is a scalp that has previously eluded Manchester United and thanks to Laura Coombs’ headed goal just before the hour mark at the Etihad Stadium, that milestone still remains just out of their reach.
Following the 1-1 draw, Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor felt that the result was an accurate reflection of the day’s proceedings.
“My immediate thoughts would be that maybe a draw was probably a fair result for both teams,” Taylor said when speaking in the post-match press conference. “I thought they edged it first half, I thought we edged it second half.
“We weren’t flawless but we were a lot better in the second half and that enabled us to get back into it and potentially have a chance of winning the game.”
The opportunities were there in the second 45 minutes for Manchester City to snatch the victory but the same could be said for their opponents. Both goalkeepers were forced into making some decent saves to keep the match in the balance with both Khadija Shaw and Martha Thomas being denied in the latter stages of the game. That level of end-to-end action hasn’t been commonplace in previous fixtures but both sides pushed hard for the victory and Taylor acknowledged the unique scenario of the occasion.
He said “It felt like a cup final and especially with the crowd, it felt like a different game and not a WSL game.
“It’s so difficult to be critical of both teams today because it’s a new environment. A lot of the United players won’t have played here previously and certainly, a lot of our girls haven’t.”
It was the first time in more than three years that a women’s fixture had been played at the Etihad Stadium since the first-ever Manchester derby in the Barclays Women’s Super League back in September 2019. It is therefore understandable if the occasion played a role in the performances on the pitch. Taylor himself stated that even from the touchline, it felt like an entirely unique environment.
“It just feels bigger,” he said. “Bigger stadium, bigger crowd, the spaces look massive for both teams. I believe if we’re able to use this as a venue more often, we’ll do amazing.”
One player who certainly didn’t seem overawed by the circumstances was midfielder Coombs. She kept her composure when Chloe Kelly’s cross evaded the Manchester United defence, producing a clinical finish to Taylor’s delight.
The Cityzens boss said “I think she’s a top, top person first off and I think she’s a really good player. I’m so pleased with her goal today that she was in there in the six-yard box. Normally, her goals are spectacular ones.
“Laura’s just enjoying her football. She’s got a wealth of experience, she’s played for a number of clubs and she feels settled here. She enjoys the group, she enjoys her role within the team, she’s a dream to work with.”
Coombs’ goal meant that honours were even between the Manchester rivals, a result which keeps Manchester City in touch of the top three and the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification places. Taylor isn’t putting a limit on his side’s ambitions this season.
He said “We’re looking further than that, we want to win the league. We’re not just looking at Champions League, we’ve put ourselves in a position to win the league. We know there’s a lot of hard work to do in the second half of the season but it’s the same for everyone and we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
It will certainly be a challenge for Taylor and his team as they face the biggest threat to their top three status in several seasons from Manchester United. However, they appear to have found form once again after their stuttering start to the season with an unbeaten run of 10 matches in all competitions. If The Cityzens do replicate that standard of form in the latter half of the season, Taylor may very well be vindicated in his claim of a title charge.
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