Parris and Miyazawa break down Bristol City as Man Utd return to winning ways
Hinata Miyazawa and Nikita Parris revived Manchester United's title charge with a 2-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Bristol City on Sunday afternoon.
Two second-half goals in quick succession eventually undid a resolute and stubborn defensive performance from the hosts.
City’s defence, despite impressive showings, had leaked five goals in the opening half hour of their last six matches going into Sunday, and an attack of Leah Galton, Hinata Miyazawa, Nikita Parris and Geyse Ferreira looked hellbent on exploiting the bad habit themselves as early as possible as City keeper Clark was forced into an impressive save seven minutes in to deny Parris from close-range following good work from Geyse on the right.
But United, simultaneously dangerous and frenetic, continued in their season-long toil to tease out a balanced amalgam amid their individual quality. The visitors looked to be handed a boost in doing so as City defender Brooke Aspin was stretchered off shortly before the half-hour mark. Chloe Mustaki replaced the 18-year-old, on loan from Chelsea, who has displayed a defensive nous and strength that belies her years.
A burning sense of hard knocks seemed to sear through the City squad following the unforeseen departure of their defender, and the hosts brazenly committed themselves forward and soon offered a response of their own as Abi Harrison's cross was met by Amy Rodgers, forcing Mary Earps to smartly deny the zipping header.
Earps reacts to FIFA Best nomination and on season so far with Man Utd
City manager Lauren Smith would no doubt be thrilled with the verve and reply from her side, but it was United who found the means of breaking the deadlock after the interval, with Hinata Miyazawa's strike from 25-yards taking a wicked deflection of Mustaki and finding the back of the net. Less than four minutes later, City's woes were exacerbated as Parris nodded home Ella Toone's cross to double the visitor's advantage.
United thought they'd added a third after the hour mark but the flag for offside went up as Toone's smashed strike was celebrated vociferously by the travelling support. Another offside flag would deny a second for Parris, who was forced off after smashing into the back post in an effort to tap home.
City continued to put forth a credible account of themselves, fighting until the end to fashion themselves a goal and putting pressure on Earps. The determination earned them tremendous ovations from the record home crowd, if not three points.
Below are the talking points.
Hinata Miyazawa celebrates scoring the opener against Bristol City (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)1. Man Utd continue bounce back after City humbling
Perhaps this is the all-elusive winning formula for Marc Skinner's side: drop important points, respond with vengeance, repeat.
After Paris Saint-Germain ground their first taste of Europe to a pulp, the Red Devils cobbled together a five-goal evisceration of Everton. Held to a 2-2 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion? Seven past the Toffees will do this time.
Unsurprisingly then, after another bout of adversity—this time a 3-1 home humiliation by their fiercest rivals Manchester City—United have put forth a typical riposte: beating Liverpool in the Conti Cup, followed up by a 2-0 victory at Ashton Gate.
The scoreline is arguably flattering, though a lacklustre first-half was spared too much scrutiny with positive signs to glean from the second-half, not to mention United's place back in the top three (contingent on City's result against Tottenham later this evening).
The character to bounce back after adversity is laudable and a sign of a team capable of vying for silverware. The all-important caveat here is that, for a team bidding to altogether eclipse last season’s historic second-place finish by displacing perennial winners Chelsea at the head of the table, such a formula (dropping points, responding emphatically, repeat) risks feeling ultimately restrictive in its end product.
2. On-loan Chelsea defender stretchered off in blow to City
It threatened to be a nightmarish start for City as defender Brooke Aspin crumbled to the ground following an attempted tackle on Galton down the left flank inside the opening three minutes.
Man Utd boss Skinner sends firm message to Arsenal over Russo contract saga
The 18-year-old, who missed a large chunk of last season’s promotion with City due to sepsis, eventually returned to the competitive fold, putting in a few crucial challenges, before she went down again shortly before the half-hour mark and was stretchered off after receiving treatment.
Aspin, on loan from Chelsea but having spent her formative years in City’s academy before her departure at the start of this season, has cut herself a standout performer in Smith’s defence alongside the veteran Megan Connolly and fellow defensive starlet Naomi Layzell. The potential long-term loss of Aspin not only marks a major blow to Smith's defensive ranks, but to the development of a notably exciting young defensive talent for the Blues.
BRISTOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Leah Galton of Manchester United is tackled by Brooke Aspin of Bristol City during the Barclays Women´s Super League match between Bristol City and Manchester United at Ashton Gate Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)3. United attack eventually finds joy but not fully convincing
At Ashton Gate, United predictably relished the lion's share of possession and chances, though throughout first-half struggled to cut themselves anything extraordinarily dangerous. Instead, a chaotic and disjointed undertone pulsed below their salvos and as the game progression, frustration gurgled at City's resilience.
City's low block has vexed even the wiliest and ruthless of top WSL attacks this season, but there was precious little flow and cohesion about United. Geyse barrelled down the left and toiled to pick out a pass, while the threat promised on paper never seemed to reach its potential on the grass.
That United's opener arrived via a deflection was more of an indictment on United's attack then City's defence, though Toone's sweet cross met smartly by Parris offered something in the way of evidence that things could be clicking.
Consistency, along with patience, are what Skinner has cried out for all season. An attack unfamiliar with each other and the rigours of the English top-flight, was always going to require time.
But after just eight league games, United have dropped 9 points, one less point than they dropped all season as they pushed Chelsea to the brink. Margins rarely abide by time.
Leah Galton of Manchester United Women (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)4. Clark keeps United at bay
The question became one of quantity swiftly: just how many big saves was the 22-year-old Clark going to tally up before the end of the 90? By the 23rd minute, Clark’s tally sat at three, first denying Parris from close range, before a finger-tip save to thwart Galton and another diving effort to palm away Millie Turner’s searing effort.
It was the sort of catalogue generally garnered after an array of matches, not a half hour, but such is life at City with opposition attacks arriving thick and fast. Clark has duly added to the argument that she can hang dispel much of the chaos.
She was quick off her line and in constant communication with her defenders, saliently so after the departure of Aspin. There was little she could do for the opening goal, though Clark will feel she could've done more for the second despite Parris' intelligent placement. Clark denied Toone for a third shortly after.
Smith has yet to field a consistent No 1, but Clark's performance certainly warrants an argument for her to remain between the sticks.
Olivia Clark of Bristol City (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)5. City relish another home record crowd
Having already set a new club record crowd when Arsenal strolled into town, City did one better this weekend by enticing more than 14,138to Ashton Gate on Sunday, setting a new record in the space of a month.
City sit bottom of the WSL table with four points to their name, but their potentially precarious place in the table has done little to deter the swelling support thrumming around the team’s return to top-flight life.
In spite of any eye-rolling naysayers scoffing at another celebratory post about another record crowd in the women’s game, there is plenty to admire here beyond the naked numbers: here is a club steadfast in its dedication to market and support the women’s team with as much vigour as their senior men’s side to satiate and foster the community’s appetite for women’s football.
Bristol is a viable, ripe catchment area. City are trying to make the most of that.
6. Parris continues sharp form to offer bright spark
Parris' header in the second-half was not only smartly placed but augmented the 29-year-old's goal tally to three goals in her last four matches across all competitions. Parris arguably should've had more had the offside flag not been so eager. But once again it's sharp form from Parris, who relished her starting role and more than proved her worth when given the responsibility.
Given the attacking flair rife within United's squad, there's something to be said that veterans Parris and Rachel Williams continue to be the most reliable suppliers in Skinner's ranks. In a match that was calling out for some semblance of composure and incisiveness, Parris performed the role.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
