City extend 100% home run with Leicester win | OneFootball

Manchester City extended our 100% Joie Stadium record in 2024/25 to nine straight matches with a superb and professional 4-0 triumph over Leicester.

Gareth Taylor’s side entered the meeting from the international break looking to return to winning ways in the league following our narrow defeat to Chelsea last time out in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s precise header inside two minutes ensured we made the perfect start to proceedings before the Jamaican powered home another ahead of the interval.

Second-half strikes from Jess Park and Mary Fowler then helped secure three points in Manchester.

It means we are yet to drop points or record anything other than a victory at home so far this term and keeps the pressure on first-place Chelsea.

WHAT HAPPENED

Sunday 8 December marked the 10th anniversary of the Club’s state-of-the-art City Football Academy training base opening – and it was the hosts who made a high-class start at the Joie Stadium.

The ball was fed into the path of Kerstin Casparij on the right-side of Leicester’s box who then crossed into the area where Bunny was able to rise high and plant a header into the bottom corner inside the second minute.

It was a deserved lead for Gareth Taylor’s side and the first example of us perhaps using the swirling, windy conditions to our advantage as Storm Darragh swept the United Kingdom this weekend.

Regardless of the harsh weather, we stuck to our principles of maintaining the ball while looking to carve out opportunities which almost paid dividends again when Mary Fowler saw a shot blocked from the edge of the area.

The Foxes entered the clash having only scored twice in the division, but also conceding just eight times – with Taylor noting their strong rearguard action in his pre-match sentiments.

And Leicester weathered City's storm well after our opener – limiting us to efforts from acute angles and from range as Casparij smashed the outside of the post from the touchline and Jess Park sent a stinging effort into the grateful gloves of Janina Leitzig.

Amanda Miquel’s side’s touch-tight marking meant chances were at a premium as time ticked past 25 minutes, but a slick City moved carved them open again which led to our second of the afternoon.

Aoba Fujino teed up Leila Ouahabi who darted past a defender before viciously whipping in a cross which was then met by a bullet Bunny header – sending the ball crashing into the net.

On the cusp of half-time, though, Leicester almost caught City cold at a corner when former Blues midfielder Ruby Mace’s goalbound nod struck her team-mate which sent the ball trickling just wide of the post.

Although the temperatures continued to plummet at the Joie Stadium, City’s intensity didn’t and we extended our lead shortly after the interval when Jill Roord slid the ball into Park’s path before the England international took a touch on the edge of the area and superbly fired past Leitzig.

That advantage was soon extended again when Ouahabi played a teasing ball into the box which was only half-cleared – allowing Fowler to meet it with a sweet volley – sending the ball flying into the top corner.

Following our fourth of the afternoon, Taylor made changes which saw Laia Aleixandri – who was making her first appearance since October - replaced by Alanna Kennedy as City manage the Spaniard’s return from injury.

There was also an outing for Laura Blindkilde Brown, coming on for Park, who made her senior England debut during the break – helping the Lionesses to a 1-0 win over Switzerland.

Ahead of the final whistle there was further positivity as Eve O'Carroll made her senior bow and Lily Murphy and Codie Thomas entered the field fresh from signing their first professional contracts.

The Academy trio then helped City preserve a clean sheet and collect three points as we won our first of four remaining matches before the winter break.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: YUI HASEGAWA

City's midfield metronome once again dictated the tempo against the Foxes and was at the heart of strong defensive and attacking play.

There often thwarting Leicester moves before igniting our own, Yui's impressive passing and tackling range was on show at the Joie Stadium.

HOW WE LINED UP

City were boosted by the return of Laia Aleixandri from an injury which had kept her out since October’s win over West Ham.

She played at centre back and completed a back four also containing Kerstin Casparij, Alex Greenwood and Leila Ouahabi – who protected Khiara Keating in net.

Yui Hasegawa was at the base of our midfield with Jill Roord and Jess Park completing our engine room lieutenants.

Our front line was spearheaded by Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw with Aoba Fujino operating on the left and Mary Fowler playing on the right.

City XI: Keating, Casparij, Aleixandri (Kennedy 59'), Greenwood (C), Ouahabi (Thomas 72'), Hasegawa (O’Carroll 72') , Roord, Park (Blindkilde Brown 59'), Fowler, Fujino, Shaw (Murphy 72').

Unused substitutes: Yamashita, Startup, Prior, Murphy.

Leicester XI: Leitzig, Bott, Cain (Rose 62'), Cayman (C) (Pelgander 70'), Goodwin (Las 70'), Howard, Mace, Momiki, Nevin (Thibaud 70'), Swaby, Takarada (Sherwood 82')

Unused substitutes: Kees, Kop.

WHAT IT MEANS

The win at the Joie Stadium keeps us second in the Barclays Women’s Super League table and moves us to 22 points after nine matches.

WHAT’S NEXT

City’s next assignment is the visit of St Polten in the Champions league on Thursday 12 December.

Kick-off at the Joie Stadium is scheduled for 20:00 (UK) and, as ever, there will be comprehensive coverage on mancity.com and our official app.