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Man City women's player ratings vs Man Utd: Lauren Hemp's back with a bang! Lioness lashes home …

The hosts exerted their control from the off and almost took the lead in the opening minutes when Yui Hasegawa's shot was cleared off the line.

United grew into the game, counteracting City's high line with balls over the top that turned the league leader's defenders at times. However, the course of the game was turned when City took the lead in the 26th minute. A Lauren Hemp inswinger to the back post was nodded back across goal by Shaw. The ball landed squarely on Knaak's head and the centre half guided the ball back across goal past Safia Middleton-Patel.

Still United pushed forward, with Ella Toone and Jess Park linking up neatly without creating a clear chance. City were far more ruthless, doubling their lead in the 43rd minute when Kerstin Casparij's cross was met by a sliding Shaw before Middleton-Patel could gather. Hemp capped off a brilliant first half, both for herself and her team, with a thunderous third. The England star was given far too touch time at the edge of the United box, allowing her to power a left-footed effort into the near top corner.

Rather than sit back and accept the defeat, Mark Skinner introduced United's top scorer Melvine Malard at halftime. Her threatening runs in behind pushed City back in the early knockings of the second half. Jade Rose and Knaak were up to the task, denying the French star any clear sights on goal.

Knaak was lucky to avoid a second yellow in the 70th minute, when Leila Ouahabi failed to deal with a diagonal pass, nodding the ball into Malard's path. A lunging tackle from the centre back went unpunished, as the ball skewed into the path of Jess Park, whose effort clipped the outside of Ayaka Yamashita's goal.

After that slight scare, the Sky Blues effectively killed the game, controlling the pace of the game. Miedema dropped into a defensive midfield role, winning the ball with a spectacular tackle before releasing Shaw with a slide rule pass. A collision with Middleton-Patel saw the Jamaican bang her head on the ground, ending a destructive display. The game ended with another worrying head injury, as Rose clashed heads with United's Simi Awujo after a goal line clearance.

City's victory keeps them atop the WSL table, with a one point lead over reigning champions Chelsea.

GOAL rates Manchester City''s players from the Etihad Stadium.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Ayaka Yamashita (6/10):

Commanded her box well from set pieces, but had little to do otherwise.

Kerstin Casparij (7/10):

Her inviting cross set up Shaw for the second. Bombed up and down the right flank throughout.

Jade Rose (7/10):

Rebuffed United's advances after the introduction of Melvine Malard in the second half. Strong in the tackle. Put her head on the line to clear a late goalmouth scramble.

Rebecca Knaak (7/10):

Took the opener brilliantly, powering her header back across goal giving a scrambling Middleton-Patel no chance. Lucky to avoid a second yellow when her lunging tackle on Malard went unpunished with the referee playing advantage.

Leila Ouahabi (5/10):

A touch indecisive on the ball at times. Her failure to deal with a long ball could have set up a United goal, or got Knaak sent off.

Midfield

Yiu Hasegawa (6/10):

Denied an early goal when her effort was cleared off the line. Screened her back four with minimal fuss.

Laura Blindkilde Brown (7/10):

A perfectly neat and composed performance. Serina Wiegman will want to giver a competitive cap as soon as possible.

Vivianne Miedema (8/10):

An early effort clipped the outside of the United post. Linked up well with Hemp and showed flashes of her brilliance on the ball. Dropped into a holding midfield role in the final 15 minutes and looked just as comfortable. Pure class.

Attack

Aoba Fujino (6/10):

So strong in possession, her low centre of gravity making it impossible for United's defenders to win the ball.

Lauren Hemp (9/10):

Back in the side for the first time since September. Provided attacking impetus down the left and on set pieces. Her thunderous strike from the edge of the box killed the contest.

Khadija Shaw (8/10):

A constant aerial threat and a willing runner in behind. Her decision to nod back into the box set up Knaak's opener. Slid in with authority to double the lead shortly before the half. Took a bang to the head that ended her afternoon.

Subs & Manager

Iman Beney (6/10):

Came on in the 74th minute, winning a corner almost instantly with her direct dribbling. An exciting prospect.

Sydney Lohmann (5/10):

Helped to ice the game in the middle of the park.

Grace Clinton (N/A):

Introduced for Shaw in the 82nd minute. Little time, or need, to affect proceedings.

Andree Jeglertz (7/10):

Clearly saw no need to make any major changes. He will be thrilled with his side's tenacity in keeping a clean sheet.

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