Gareth Taylor's side struggled without striker Khadija Shaw but an outstanding display from another star forward led the league leaders to victory
Had Manchester City dropped points at Bristol City on Sunday, it could have been fatal in their quest to win the Women's Super League. For an hour, it looked a real possibility. The Robins, needing a victory to avoid relegation, stood firm and, when broken down, the Cityzens fluffed their lines. But cometh the hour, cometh the woman. Mary Fowler's sweet strike with 62 minutes on the clock broke the deadlock and her second of the day sealed an eventual 4-0 win that extended her side's lead at the top of the table to six points, while demoting the hosts to the Championship.
Chloe Kelly, Alanna Kennedy, Lauren Hemp and Laia Aleixandri all had chances to break that deadlock much earlier in the game, yet Shae Yanez in the Bristol City goal was rarely tested as the absence of star striker Khadija Shaw was sorely felt. The most significant goalkeeping intervention actually came at the other end when England teenager Khiara Keating bravely denied Amalie Thestrup and hurt herself in the process, though not to the extent that the visitors needed to give a debut to emergency loan signing Katie Startup.
As the clock continued to tick, it felt like Fowler would be the player to produce the magic, such was the frequency with which she continued to create chances for others. But with no one able to add that final, clinical touch, the Australia star took matters into her own hands when she sent a rocket of a strike into the top corner in the second half. A deserved second would follow from Hemp's curling cross, an own goal from Amy Rodgers made it three and Alex Greenwood's stoppage time header concluded the scoring, sending Bristol back down to the Championship while their opponents continue to hunt for a first WSL title in eight years.
GOAL rates Man City's players from Ashton Gate…
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Khiara Keating (7/10):
Incredibly brave goalkeeping to thwart Thestrup in the first half. All she had to do, really.
Laia Aleixandri (5/10):
Was a bit all over the place, which was unlike her. Moved into centre-back after the break and improved, but was one of those who missed a big chance when the Cityzens needed a goal.
Alanna Kennedy (5/10):
Could've broken the deadlock with a better header just before half-time. Off at half-time.
Alex Greenwood (6/10):
Solid at the back when Bristol asked questions, though lacked the incision in possession in the final third that City needed. Great header late on to make it four.
Leila Ouahabi (6/10):
Offered a good outlet when she got forward but it wasn't as often as usual.
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Yui Hasegawa (7/10):
Brought calm and quality to an under-par performance.
Laura Coombs (6/10):
Some nice touches to create chances but also could've done more in the final third.
Jess Park (5/10):
Decision making wasn't as sharp as usual.
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Mary Fowler (9/10):
Great movement on both flanks, a consistently wicked delivery and a superb strike to break the deadlock right when they needed it. Outstanding.
Chloe Kelly (6/10):
Did well to get involved in the build-up and also make sure she got into the box to be in those goal-scoring positions. Should've been more clinical with chances, though.
Lauren Hemp (6/10):
Lively and direct, often involved when City put a good move together and whipped in a great cross for Fowler's second. Guilty of missing some huge chances with the title on the line, though.
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Kerstin Casparij (6/10):
On at half time and offered a good outlet down the right, while also being solid on the other side of the ball.
Laura Blindkilde Brown (5/10):
On in the latter stages but the game was a bit flat at that point so she struggled to really make an impact.
Gareth Taylor (8/10):
Decisions at half-time to introduce Casparij and move Kelly to the right paid dividends but the most significant was one he made several weeks ago, in bringing Fowler back into the team. She's been given a platform to build on, showed superb form and it culminated in this outstanding, match-winning display.