Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor believes his side still have a chance of winning the Women's Super League following their 2-1 victory over Everton.
City came into Saturday's game having won all 12 of their previous WSL meetings against the Toffees; the best 100% record one team has against another in the competition's history. While Taylor's side travelled to Merseyside looking to extend that record and pick up a fifth consecutive WSL win, the hosts took to the field at Walton Hall Park in the hopes of avoiding a third straight home defeat, following disappointing outings against Chelsea and Manchester United.
It was almost a perfect start for the visitors, with top-scorer Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw charging down the left and sliding an inviting ball into the path of Chloe Kelly, who was thwarted by the on-rushing Emily Ramsey. The visitors made their early dominance count inside 32 minutes; Shaw drawing in Ramsey and squaring the ball to Julie Blakstad who coolly rolled the ball into the empty net.
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Just minutes later, a rare venture forward from Everton secured a corner for Sorensen's side, and Rikke Sevecke bundled the ball home to level things up before half-time. But Taylor's team restored their advantage shortly after the break; Laura Coombs' long-range effort careering off the post and into the path of Shaw, who slotted the ball home to hand City the win.
"It was a game of two halves," Taylor told the MEN after the game. "I think it was a really good performance from us in the first half, especially coming off the back of an international break - you’re never really too sure how much rhythm you’re going to see but I thought against a really aggressive Everton press we handled that really well.
"We mixed our game up and it allowed us to get through a lot. Really disappointed obviously with the goal we conceded - thought the ref was a bit harsh in a couple of decisions down in that far corner but, look, it happens and it was a good test of character for us coming in at half time 1-1 after playing so well."
Shaw's second-half strike was her eighth goal of the season, with the Jamaican now having scored in five consecutive league games. And Taylor was full of praise for his number 21.
“She does so much more than score goals for us, Bunny," Taylor said. "I think the way she takes hits at the top end of the pitch, the way she gives the hits out, she’s very strong, she’s looking a lot fitter, she has the rhythm of playing knowing that she’s the real focal point and I thought a lot of her play today was a very high standard.
He added: "She probably could have had a hat-trick today it’s great that she scored but we’re always about a challenge and how do we support the players to achieve more. Knowing Bunny she’s probably happy with the goal and the performance and the win but she’s probably thinks, 'I could have had the match ball'.”
City currently sit fourth in the WSL table, just a place behind title rivals Manchester United. Reflecting on where he thinks City can finish up at the end of the season, Taylor said: "We believe we can win it still. We just want to tick off the games one by one.
"We tend not to look too far ahead of ourselves. When the players returned off international duty we concentrate on this game, next Sunday’s game against Sunderland and then Brighton at home the following week and then we deal with after that."
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