Man Utd 2-2 Man City: Dramatic derby ends in draw despite Stanway red card for City

Manchester City overcame the sending off of Georgia Stanway to claim a point against Manchester United in a pulsating Women's Super League derby.

Substitute Ellen White poked in the equaliser late on, after Jess Park's long-range stunner was tipped onto the bar, to peg back United who had scored two goals in three minutes to lead.

City were down to 10 players following Stanway's straight red card for an ugly challenge on Leah Galton in the 35th minute.

And while Gareth Taylor's side responded superbly to take the lead through Khadija Shaw's header, United's quickfire double meant City had to fight back to earn a much-needed draw.

It was a frantic second half in particular and one which encapsulates a topsy-turvy season for City, but some pressure on manager Taylor will have been relieved with this battling draw away from home.

In contrast, it felt like a missed opportunity for United and manager Marc Skinner, taking charge of his first derby, and they remain without a win over City in four meetings in the WSL.

Rollercoaster for Taylor and chance missed for Skinner

City, runners-up last season, came into this match off the back of a third successive league defeat - their longest losing run in the WSL.

Taylor had been forced to answer questions on his future, while he urged his players to "remain positive" before what would be a crucial derby.

He went through all the emotions on the touchline - arguing with the officials despite Stanway's challenge meriting a red card, three minutes before celebrating summer signing Shaw's header from an unmarked position in the box.

That 1-0 lead for City lasted 34 minutes but United, who carried far more of an attacking threat in the second half, dealt a double blow when substitute Lucy Staniforth - who may have been offside - flicked in Ella Toone's cross, before Alessia Russo brilliantly rolled in a second from 12 yards.

The tide looked to have turned in United's favour but City responded again.

Teenager Park, only on the pitch for three minutes, saw her strike stunningly fingertipped onto the underside of the crossbar by Mary Earps, but White was quickest to react, tapping in the loose ball with just over 10 minutes remaining.

City fans celebrated wildly at full-time - a sign of their struggles so far this season - while United fans were more subdued, perhaps sensing their best opportunity to get one over their biggest rivals had passed them by.

Former Manchester United and England keeper Siobhan Chamberlain on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It had everything - excitement, drama, red card, goals, goal-line clearances and brilliant saves. What more could you ask for? I feel like I need to take a breather.

"United will be pleased they managed to pull it back from 1-0 down but disappointed they didn't see it out. They should have done so with the extra player.

"There are more positives to take for Manchester City. The second half, they performed so well with a player fewer. You wouldn't have realised they were down to 10."

Player of the match

HempLauren Hemp

Manchester United Women

Squad number37Player nameStaniforth

Squad number23Player nameRusso

Squad number27Player nameEarps

Squad number7Player nameToone

Squad number14Player nameGroenen

Squad number6Player nameBlundell

Squad number12Player nameLadd

Squad number11Player nameGalton

Squad number18Player nameHanson

Squad number17Player nameBatlle

Squad number10Player nameZelem

Squad number3Player nameThorisdottir

Squad number5Player nameMannion

Manchester City Women

Squad number15Player nameHemp

Squad number18Player nameWhite

Squad number5Player nameGreenwood

Squad number21Player nameShaw

Squad number3Player nameStokes

Squad number11Player nameBeckie

Squad number8Player nameScott

Squad number34Player nameBenameur

Squad number24Player nameWalsh

Squad number12Player nameAngeldal

Squad number16Player namePark

Squad number19Player nameWeir

Squad number7Player nameCoombs

Squad number10Player nameStanway

Line-ups

Man Utd Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

27Earps

6Blundell5Mannion3Thorisdottir17Batlle

14Groenen10Zelem

18Hanson7Toone11Galton

23Russo

Substitutes

Man City Women

Formation 4-3-3

34Benameur

10Stanway8Scott5Greenwood3Stokes

12Angeldal24Walsh19Weir

11Beckie21Shaw15Hemp

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Manchester United Women 2, Manchester City Women 2.

Second Half ends, Manchester United Women 2, Manchester City Women 2.

Attempt missed. Leah Galton (Manchester United Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Katie Zelem with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Keira Walsh.

Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Lauren Hemp.

Janine Beckie (Manchester City Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Lucy Staniforth (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Janine Beckie (Manchester City Women).

Hayley Ladd (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Laura Coombs (Manchester City Women).

Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Demi Stokes.

Corner, Manchester United Women. Conceded by Jill Scott.

Substitution, Manchester City Women. Laura Coombs replaces Caroline Weir.

Hannah Blundell (Manchester United Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Jessica Park (Manchester City Women).

Offside, Manchester United Women. Ella Toone tries a through ball, but Alessia Russo is caught offside.

Substitution, Manchester United Women. Hayley Ladd replaces Jackie Groenen.

Attempt missed. Ellen White (Manchester City Women) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Lauren Hemp with a cross.

Foul by Alessia Russo (Manchester United Women).

Jill Scott (Manchester City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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