Marc Skinner hailed Manchester United’s new attacking mindset after they clinched another important victory in the Women's Super League.
Leah Galton scored the only goal of the game to separate the two sides. The win gives United a three-point gap over rivals Manchester City in the race for the final Champions League spot, although their neighbours have a game in hand.
And Skinner was thrilled with their approach, even if he thinks they should have won by more. “We had to find a way to win it. If Ella [Toone] had gone through and scored that. She created a wonderful bit of movement,” he said.
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“We often create the moment and then we have to keep taking the moment. I feel we should’ve been in a much more comfortable position than we were but I’m really pleased that at times we dug in.
“I also think we were the team that wanted to go on and win the game. From the off, we were trying to win it. In the past, we’ve not done that and we’ve learnt from it. Today we’ve taken the points and learnt from it.”
The hosts enjoyed a bright start to the game and after just 14 minutes Toone had a golden chance when she was through on goal but her effort was blocked. United had a shout for a penalty shortly before half-time when Victoria Williams appeared to bring a United forward down but the appeals were waved away by the referee.
United finally took the lead midway through the second-half when Jackie Groenen played an excellent ball through to Galton and she slotted it beyond Katie Startup. Skinner’s side almost doubled their lead on 82 minutes when Martha Thomas was on the receiving end of a good ball forward but her strike was pushed onto the post by Startup.
Thomas had another effort parried away on 90 minutes after a good ball in from Toone and Williams then cleared off the line. United held on despite a late spell of pressure, with a corner badly defended but eventually cleared away and Kayleigh Green’s header well saved by Mary Earps in the final minute of added time.
“It’s a game-playing model,” Skinner said. "They do have really attacking players. I was slightly surprised about the four forwards on the bench but I get it. Hope is always justified in what she does.
“She frustrated us obviously and then they were going to hit us on the counter-attack by bringing their forwards up late. Hope has a clear way in why she wanted to do that and it almost worked so I’ve got nothing but credit for her too.”
To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com
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