By Fran Lever 17/3/24
Above: Lucia Garcia for Manchester United. Photo: Manchester United.
A scrappy game saw Manchester United hold onto their top four spot – but Liverpool are not far behind them.
It was box office viewing at Leigh Sports Village as fourth placed Manchester United struggled at times against bottom of the table Bristol City. They found a way through with a brace from Lisa Naalsund. She found the back of the net in the ninth minute with the keeper Shae Yáñez unable to do anything. She scored again in extra time after a set piece from Katie Zelem.
The game was scrappy from both sides which led to a sending off for Bristol’s Jamie Lee Napier who was already on a yellow card.
Bristol shown potential at times they would find a way of scoring but could not finish the job. There were chances including one from Megan Connolly but was cleaned away by Millie Turner.
Before Napier’s sending off, Manchester had 11 fouls called against them. Bristol’s frustrations showed at times but even after they were down to ten players, the defence shown promise but Naaland was undeniable with her goals.
Where the game had drama, it was lacklustre in parts as both teams struggled to find their rhythm at times but it was the Reds who had the most possession.
Manchester fans will be happy to see Geyse back in action and made an instant impact off the pitch to the attack. It will be relief ahead of the Manchester derby next weekend. The reds will travel to the Etihad stadium against second place Manchester City.
They now sit fourth place – on goal difference as Liverpool are now on 28 points – the same as them. The team will be happy with the win but the performance was far from the Manchester United that dominated the league last season and came close to winning it.
Meanwhile Bristol remain at the bottom of the table and will host sixth place Tottenham Hotspur at home. They currently are six points behind 11th place West Ham. The team will be hoping for the breakthrough they need to stay in the league.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1)
Earps, Riviere, Le Tissier, Turner , Blundell ; Zelem, Naalsund ; García, Toone, Malard ; Parris
Substitutes: Geyse, Williams,
BRISTOL CITY (5-4-1)
Yáñez, Powell, Aspin, Connolly, Struck, Napier ; Morgan, Rodgers, Syme, Hayles ; Thestrup
Substitutes: Stratigakis, Harrison, Evans
Scorers: Naalsund 9’, 90+5’
Referee: Elizabeth Simms
Attendance: 2,054
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