Manchester City Women were a class above Leicester City as Gareth Taylor's side claimed their first win of the Women's Super League season.
Goals from Lauren Hemp, Yui Hasegawa and a brace from Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw earned City a comfortable 4-0 win, an encouraging response to the defeats at Aston Villa and Chelsea that opened the campaign.
City largely dominated proceedings, enjoying over 75 per cent possession as they were content to pull Leicester this way and that through endless, tidy passing sequences.
It took just six minutes for City to register their first attempt of the afternoon. Hemp gave an early indication of the kind of game she was going to have when she drove at Leicester right-back Erin Simon, beat her with ease and stood up a cross towards the back post.
Deyna Castellanos had made a run from midfield and was lying in wait, but her effort on the slide was saved well by Kirstie Levell. Hemp proved to be a menace down the left wing all afternoon as Chloe Kelly did on the right, the two Lionesses showing the kind of quality that their opponents just did not have.
Kelly went agonisingly close to opening the scoring after 14 minutes when she smacked the crossbar with an effort from the edge of the penalty area. The hero of England's Euro 2022 triumph was set up by a potential future national team star, Esme Morgan.
The 21-year-old left-back came into the starting XI in place of Leila Ouahabi and showed just why manager Taylor tipped her to be a future England captain during his pre-match press conference. Morgan effortlessly played her way out of Leicester's press by playing a one-two with Alex Greenwood, before surging into midfield and spreading the ball out to Kelly, who had half of the pitch to run into. Only the bar denied her.
By the midway point of the half it was clear City were on top, and the 2,553-strong crowd didn't have to wait long for the Blues to break the deadlock.
Some great interplay on the left between Hemp and Laura Coombs resulted in Hemp clipping in a cross, and Shaw rose highest to send a looping header into the far corner of the net. This is a big season for Shaw; following the retirement of Ellen White she is City's main striker now, but if her performances so far this season are anything to go by then she is more than capable of making the role her own.
City could have added to their lead before half-time - Kelly smashed a close-range effort over the bar before it was Castellanos' turn to hit the woodwork - but their dominance didn't stop Leicester from creating a few opportunities of their own.
The visitors would have drawn level were it not for a superb Morgan block, the youngster in the right place to clear Aileen Whelan's goal-bound volley shortly before the interval.
The second half played out much the same as the first; City dominated possession and largely pinned Leicester in their own half, although Taylor's side didn't manage to fashion many clear-cut chances.
Laia Aleixandri probably should have at least tested the goalkeeper when she headed over from a corner before Shaw saw another header drift wide.
After some huffing and puffing the second did eventually come - Kelly sent a superb cross to the back post and in steamed Hemp, stealing a march on her marker and diving to plant a header into the roof of the net.
Seven minutes later and City made sure of the three points with their third. Shaw found space in the box and was dispossessed, but she managed to nick the ball back and was tripped up for her troubles. Greenwood stepped up and saw her tame spot-kick pushed away by Levell, but Shaw was on hand to tap the rebound into the corner for her second goal of the afternoon.
The scoring wasn't finished there, as there was still time for Hasegawa to mark her City debut with a fine goal. The Japan international announced herself to her new fans by riffling into the bottom corner from the edge of the area, capping a fine first outing in sky blue.
Despite a tough start to the campaign, there was a positive mood around the Academy Stadium. That was reflected in the stands as jubilant supporters started their own version of the Icelandic Thunder Clap.
Ahead of the game under-pressure boss Taylor said: "We always feel like we can score goals." The Blues have now scored four or more goals in each of their last five home league games. No team in WSL history has ever done that before.
City player ratings: Roebuck 7, Casparij 7, Aleixandri 7, Greenwood 7, Morgan 8, Hasegawa 8, Coombs 7, Castellanos 7, Kelly 8, Shaw 8, Hemp 8
Teams:
Manchester City: Roebuck, Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood (C), Morgan, Hasegawa, Castellanos, Coombs, Kelly, Shaw, Hemp.
Substitutions: Hayley Raso (for Kelly), Angeldahl (For Castellanos), Ouahabi (for Aleixandri), Blakstad (for Hemp), Houghton (for Greenwood)
Bookings: Greenwood
Leicester City: Levell, Tierney, Bott, Whelan, Simon, Green, Howard, Jones, Plumptre, Purfield, O'Brien.
Substitutions: Pike (for Purfield), Goodwin (for Jones), Flint (for Green)
Bookings: O'Brien
