Despite going behind within a minute of play, Gareth Taylor's Manchester City side buried Reading 4-1 at the Academy Stadium on Sunday, with Chloe Kelly, Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp and Steph Houghton finding the back of the net in typical City fashion.
Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen's early goal stunned the 3,000-strong crowd but City boss Taylor wasn't worried. “I thought the way we responded was great, we were a bit sloppy at the beginning," he said. "We didn't deal with the situation very well but I felt once we got back to 1-1 then we would win the game, I was really confident.”
Kelly Chambers’ side fought for their lives as they sit bottom of the top tier. Chambers said of the loss: “City haven't lost here in 17, so when the goal went in, we were like 'okay, this is an interesting start'. I think everybody would have been a bit like 'oh, what's happening here'.”
Hemp, the third goalscorer of the afternoon, was pleased with City's reaction to going 1-0 down, adding: “We were unfortunate to go 1-0 in the first minute but it showed great character.
“I think, for us, it's about sticking to the same process and the goals will come and sometimes it clicks and I think you've seen that today. Obviously apart from the first minute.
“We're privileged to be in a pressure situation like this because there's so much up for grabs. The title is still in contention, anyone can go out and win it.”
The win keeps City in the top two of the Women's Super League standings, with the WSL title race hotting up. Manchester United sit top, with City second and trailing them by three points. Chelsea are third, four points behind with three games in hand, followed by Arsenal in fourth on 38 points.
“You don't want to be, at this stage of the season, not playing for anything and I think you know three games left was great for us to win games now and one at home. So I think we're in a good space,” added Taylor.
City have two away games next in the WSL, with Liverpool next up before facing local rivals United at Leigh Sports Village. They will end the season at the Academy Stadium against Everton on May 27.
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