22 May 2023 , 12:56
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Marc Skinner says belief that his Manchester United side "can win any game" has pushed them onto new heights this season.
United kept the WSL title race alive with a first ever Manchester derby win on Sunday night over Manchester City courtesy of a dramatic late winner from substitute Lucia Garcia. It ensured that Skinner's team have not not only finished above their local rivals for the first time in history, but also that they can still catch table toppers Chelsea on the final day next weekend.
United will need the Blues to slip up away at Reading, while also beating Matt Beard's Liverpool at Prenton Park. They have consistently won crucial games in the dying stages throughout the season, having also struck late to win at Arsenal and Aston Villa to push for the title, and did so again to down City.
"It’s the first time we have painted Manchester red," said Skinner. "For us to beat Manchester City in front of all of these fans is amazing.
"It was about building on experiences we have learnt throughout the season and from last season. We have something special here which is a belief we can win the game at any point. They deserve to be happy tonight.
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"It’s a testament to this league as to how tight it is. It’s about making sure we can perform again at that level and our girls should go into the game making sure they want to break the points tally again and be hungry again.
Lucia Garcia celebrates after scoring a dramatic late winner"We have been wonderful this season, it’s all going down to the very last night and you can’t ask for better than that."
United were fast out of the traps against City and lead through a stunning Hayley Ladd strike, just two minutes into the contest, before Nikita Parris was fouled when clean through on goal by goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, who was dismissed. But their ten-player opponents gradually scraped their way back into the game.
The Leigh Sports Village was then stunned into silence when Filippa Angeldahl's cross flew over Mary Earps and into the net. Garcia's dramatic late intervention ensured it wasn't fatal to their title chase, but Skinner admitted after the win he was disappointed with the second half display.
"We didn’t play very well in the second half,” said Skinner. "We have to be more streetwise. There was a frustration from us. We switched off and we were lazy in moments and we will be addressing that tomorrow.
"I was disappointed in us, I was actually quite angry. The way we performed second half was actually quite immature at times.
"We needed to calm ourselves and we didn’t do that. Manchester City were good but we allowed them to be. We didn’t press on the ball."
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