How Bunny Shaw keeps scoring, and why it feels inevitable

A look beyond the numbers at the habits, timing and structure behind striker's 103 Manchester City goals

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw recently surpassed 100 goals for Manchester City. Credit: Getty Images

Reaching 103 goals for Manchester City across all competitions is a milestone that demands attention, but Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw’s numbers have always been a byproduct of something deeper. They are the natural consequence of a striker who turns presence into pressure, and pressure into goals.

This is not a story about longevity or volume, nor a retrospective of how Shaw arrived here. It’s about why she keeps getting there. Why, season after season, different game states, coaches and opponents lead to the same outcome: Shaw inside the box, one action ahead of the defence. Her scoring record feels predictable in the best possible way, and that predictability is exactly what makes Shaw one of the most effective forwards in the modern game.

The inevitability factor

Any attempt to understand Shaw’s effectiveness has to start with how her physical presence influences defenders long before the ball even arrives. Her strength playing with her back to goal, combined with explosive power over the first few metres, turns every direct duel into a calculated risk for defenders.

Engaging her aggressively often isn’t enough: shoulder-to-shoulder challenges rarely stop her cleanly, and half-measures tend to favour Shaw rather than slow her down. In a game that is increasingly physical but still short on true one-v-one dominant markers, especially at centre-back, Shaw often faces opponents who simply cannot match her combination of size, power and momentum. Stopping her usually requires a clear foul, and even that is difficult when she accelerates away before contact can be made.

Once on the move, she is hard to catch, and once she is set, she’s even harder to shift. Against high defensive lines, Shaw is able to alternate between two threats: she can drop short, pin a defender and open space behind for wide runners to attack, or she can stretch the line with a sudden run in behind, forcing the entire block to retreat and creating room for midfielders to arrive late. Either choice tilts the pitch. Either choice creates space somewhere else.