Tottenham 0-2 Manchester City: Shaw on target again

Khadija Shaw scored again to help Manchester City make it six Women’s Super League wins in a row with a 2-0 victory at Tottenham.

City had won this fixture by a seven-goal margin in November and while Spurs proved sterner opposition this time, Jamaica star Shaw still made her mark.

An own-goal from Tottenham defender Amy Turner put Gareth Taylor’s side in the ascendancy after nine minutes and Shaw wrapped up the points at the start of the second half with her 10th WSL goal from her last five matches.

It keeps second-placed City three points behind leaders Chelsea, while Spurs stay sixth after Robert Vilahamn saw his team’s four-match winning run end despite a solid display at Brisbane Road.

The visitors entered this fixture in fine form but had been rocked by news of Jill Roord becoming the latest women’s player to suffer anterior cruciate ligament damage.

It failed to initially affect the visitors with Alex Greenwood going close with a 25-yard free-kick which Spurs goalkeeper Barbora Votikova clawed away before the deadlock was broken in the ninth minute.

Lauren Hemp tried to pick out Shaw from the left-hand side and although the City forward could not apply the finishing touch, behind her Tottenham centre-back Turner could only divert into her own net.

Hemp held up a shirt with Noord’s name on in celebration, but the hosts could have been forgiven for fearing a repeat of November’s 7-0 thrashing at City. Instead, they produced a strong response.

Martha Thomas fired over after excellent work by Grace Clinton in the 19th minute before Thomas should have sent Bethany England away, but failed to make the decisive pass.

Laura Coombs had squandered a good opportunity by this point after a Chloe Kelly cross and yet City’s early dominance had been replaced by a more even contest in the capital.

Spurs thought they had equalised on the half an hour mark when Eveliina Summanen played in Thomas, who fired into the bottom corner but it was ruled out for offside.

It ensured the score remained 1-0 at the break but Shaw only needed six second-half minutes to continue her remarkable form.

England defender Greenwood was key with her interception from Clinton’s pass allowing Hemp the opportunity to run at the Tottenham back four and she slipped in Shaw, who finished with aplomb for her 13th WSL goal this term.

Vilahamn sent on Wang Shuang and Jess Naz in the 63rd minute and while England tested Khiara Keating late on, City were able to close out the match in a professional manner.

It keeps City within touching distance of Chelsea after a seventh consecutive win in all competitions, while Shaw remains one goal ahead of Lauren James in the WSL scoring charts.