Manchester City emerged triumphant from a thrilling derby as they came from behind to beat Manchester United 3-1 in the first Women’s Super League clash between the sides to take place at Old Trafford.

The first half saw United go in front through skipper Katie Zelem’s 21st-minute penalty and have a Geyse effort disallowed before strikes in quick succession from Jill Roord and Lauren Hemp turned things around.

City scored a third early in the second half as Mary Earps’ kick bounced off Khadija Shaw and in, then were reduced to 10 players when Laia Aleixandri received a second booking.

That was with 18 minutes of normal time to go, and there was 11 minutes of stoppage time added at the end, but United were unable to capitalise on the player advantage as the visitors saw out the win in front of a crowd of 43,615.

The result marked a return to winning ways for Gareth Taylor’s City after they had suffered defeats to Arsenal and Brighton in their last two league games, while it was the first WSL loss of the campaign for Marc Skinner’s United.

City leapfrog United in the table, moving up to third, six points behind leaders Chelsea, while United are a point worse off in fourth.

A bright start to the game by City saw headers from Alanna Kennedy and Shaw dealt with by Earps and another from Alex Greenwood find the roof of the net.

There was also a Hemp shot straight at Earps, and the United goalkeeper made a good save to deny Shaw.

Two minutes later United were awarded a penalty when Melvine Malard hit the ball against Greenwood’s arm, and the spot-kick was converted in fine style by Zelem, Khiara Keating going the right way but unable to keep the firm strike out.

United thought they had a second just past the half-hour as Geyse tried to pass to Nikita Parris in the box, Kennedy’s block sent the ball back to the Brazil forward and she put it in, only for the flag to go up and the effort be chalked off, it seemed for the ball having gone out of play.

Within a few moments, United were then behind, with City scoring twice in two minutes. Roord drilled a 34th-minute equaliser past Earps following good work down the left by Chloe Kelly, and seconds after that, Zelem was dispossessed and Shaw, having had an effort blocked, laid the ball to Hemp, who hit a superb shot in off the bar.

Kelly had a chance to add another in the 41st minute but saw Earps pull off another impressive stop.

City’s lead then was extended in bizarre circumstances 10 minutes into the second half as Maya Le Tissier misjudged things as she sent a pass back towards Earps, the keeper attempted to clear under pressure from Shaw, and her kick cannoned off the Jamaica striker and into the net.

Taylor’s side suffered a setback in the 72nd minute when Aleixandri was dismissed after putting her hand on United substitute Lucia Garcia as she burst forward.

Garcia subsequently brought a save out of Keating with a shot from distance, and during the lengthy period of added time, there were further attempts by Jayde Riviere, another substitute, and Zelem that Keating was equal to as City hung on to their lead.