How Manchester United pulled off a legendary derby win
Conner Roberts breaks down a historic night to remember for the red half of Manchester.

Derby Day Delight
On Sunday, Manchester United won away at Manchester City for the first time since the women’s team reformed in 2018. A hat-trick from Ella Toone and a goal from Leah Galton gave United fans much to cheer about. Unusual territory for United Women team fans who have followed the team away to City over the last few years.
Before Sunday night, Toone had never scored against City in nine previous WSL Manchester Derby appearances. City was the club she had faced the most without scoring, but she quickly changed that, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in this fixture after 46 minutes.
High Press
Marc Skinner spoke in the pre-match press conference about the importance of the high press. “What I’m expecting from our team is high energy, all in, to defend as well as we’ve been defending,” Skinner said last week. In the first half, in particular, United pressed City from the front, similar to what we saw from this United side at the start of the season.
The best example of the press working well was United’s third goal which forced City into another mistake in the backline.
In this instance, Toone initiated the press. Most importantly, the positions of the other United players in City’s final third cut off the passing lanes into midfield and put pressure on the full-backs should the pass go out wide. Hinata Miyazawa and Dominique Janssen covered the midfield ground very well, always cutting off that option to City’s Yui Hasegawa in the midfield.
United’s defensive ability this season hasn’t been under question whereas the attacking output has.
To initiate a high press is one thing, to be together as a unit is another. Then comes the final piece, which is actually taking those opportunities earned by successfully forcing the opposition into an error. United only had five shots on target (six big chances) in this game, and they scored four. Job done successfully from that point of view.
Ella Toone comeback
Toone’s ability has never been in question for fans who have watched her over the years. However, there is no doubt her form in the last 18 months has been up and down, with fans starting to question if she needs time away from football to reset after tournament summers with England, and full seasons with United.
Toone has come back from her injury with four goals in two appearances and is once again starting to look like the player we all knew was in there. In the last two games, she has looked like a different player than the one we saw at the start of the season.
After Sunday’s derby win, Toone told Sky Sports that her injury was a “blessing in disguise” adding that “I needed it - not just physically but mentally as well.”
You can really see the difference on the pitch. Toone is not only scoring goals again, but the more important thing is that she is looking like she is enjoying her football once again.
It has obviously been an incredibly tough time for her mentally, after the passing of her father back in September. But the time away from the spotlight to reset looks like it has been the best for her and United. To have a rejuvenated Ella Toone back in the squad is a massive boost.
Jayde Riviere
Jayde Riviere ended a big week with a magnificent performance against Man City, just a few days after signing a new contract with United until 2028.
Riviere’s United career has been halted a few times with injuries. She also had big shoes to fill after fan favourite Ona Batlle deaparted in the summer of 2023. But Sunday was another performance showing the wider women’s football world why United fans have been singing her praises since she signed for the club two years ago.
In this game, City attacked using the width but had very little joy down the right-side where Riviere was putting in block after block. This forced City to swap wingers Mary Fowler and Aoba Fujino around, but neither had opportunities to get past Riviere.
The Canadian’s ability to shut down City's attack down United’s right-side was a huge part of United sealing a momentous victory. She also offered attacking output for United by pressing high with Celin Bizet, who was playing just in front of her. That combination (shown below) helped United push out from the back rather than just sitting deep inviting all of the pressure.
With this new long term contract, it is clear United plan to have her as that starting right-back for years to come and with her performance in this game, and others we’ve seen this season, you can see why.
For me, Riviere’s potential is enormous. I fully believe if she can stay fit, United will have one of the best full-backs not only in the WSL but in the world.
Final word
The WSL table is looking good for United, sitting in third place and level on points with second place Arsenal. There is no margin for error in this league, especially with the next league game being Brighton at home on Sunday — a team United previously drew 1-1 with earlier in the season. Anything less than a win at home will certainly take the shine off this Manchester Derby win. This result has to be a huge boost in confidence that United can challenge amongst the top three and really kick on from here.
Arsenal's next 2 league games makes for hopeful reading for Utd fans. Points to be dropped all over the place. Get our job done and our position improves whatever the results of Chelsea v Arsenal and city Arsenal