Citizens Cruise Past Lionesses - Manchester City v London City - Highlights - Barclays WSL 25-26

Out come the two teams at the Joyce Stadium. It's Manchester City against London City Lionesses, the team who came up from what was the championship last season with such great effect. When we look at the two team lineups this afternoon, it's two changes for both, actually. Andre Jägler, the Man City boss, brings in Grace Clinton for her first start since that transfer move from Manchester United. She replaces the injured Lauren Hemp. Also a change between the sticks, Ayaka Yamashita replacing Kiara Keating. And it's two changes as well for London City. Keris Brown and world record transfer signing Grace Galloro replace Yana Fernandes and Rafia Imran. Good in possession. That's a nice turn inside from Clinton. Clinton being pulled back, surely, by Asalani, but on she goes. Clinton to Bunnyshaw. Has Miedema. And Fugino there as well. The pace of the break just slowed down. Kasperai to Miedema. First goal in the 11th minute for Man City. Best move of the match so far, with Grace Clinton starting it all with a superb run from inside her own half. The referee plays advantage really well. Lays out Bunnyshaw there. I think that ball was meant to go out wide for Kasperai, but just really good interlocking play. Sorry, Fugino. And just a lovely chip from Kasperai. Lays it on a plate for Miedema. She just heads it into that net. The keeper has no chance, but really basic, but quick move by this Manchester City side. 1-0 up inside the first 12 minutes. And having had two heavy defeats already this season in the WSL, London City just need to keep their heads for a few moments here. But here's Grace Clinton again with the ball at her feet. She's got Uwabi charging down the left-hand side. Pass just behind her, but the cross still comes in. And it's shepherded behind for a corner. Man City putting on the pressure here. The left foot swings it in, and Kerala's a really good defender. Left-footed cross from a slightly different angle. It's going to go out for a corner on the far side. It's going to go for another in-swinger from the other side with Hasegawa. Hasegawa, Man City's Player of the Year last season. Goes short to Miedema. And again, the cross will come in from a different angle into the area, falls to Greenwood. Now Blinkelder-Brown through a sea of legs, and in it goes. And in the space of four minutes, Manchester City are suddenly 2-0 ahead. It's pure defending from London City, Lionesses, again, that you can see here. Really good from Kerala's spot. Not quick enough to get out to Brown, but Blinkelder-Brown is well in there. She just has a free shot on the edge of the area. You can see it goes in between the keeper and Lanari. The London City boss, what can you be saying to your team? They've suffered two heavy defeats already and a 2-0 down in the first 15 here. Yeah, they've got to get hold of the ball. They've got plenty of experienced players on that pitch, the likes of Kumagai, Gayora, Nikita Parris. They've got to be leading this team now, getting hold of the ball. They just can't get it out of their half at the moment. And this is ominous for London City. Uwabi into Blinkelder-Brown. London City are a big project. They want to try and become a force in the capital city for women's football. They've spent a lot of money. Deary me. Well, that could have gone anywhere. Lanari, her attempted clearance coming off Bunny Shaw and out for a goal kick, but that could so easily have been a third. To Paris. Goodwin trying to make a run. Paris turns inside. That's lovely. From Nikita Parris to Gayora. That's quick work from Grace Clinton, who has started this match really well. Her first start in the WSL for Man City. And will she stride away again here? Gayora doing good defensive work to get back. Exciting, isn't it? When you hear the crowd, as soon as Grace Clinton gets on the ball, they're expectant. And why wouldn't you be with, you know, the last couple of seasons, how she's played, she's broken into that England team and she's such a young player, so lots of potential. London City run from Asalani. Man City dealing with everything that London City throw at them at the moment. Although Goodwin doing really well to nick the ball off Pryor. Will it fall to Nikita Parris again? She steps inside and she's pulled one back. Well, a classy finish from Nikita Parris. And what a match we've got on here. Out of nothing, really. Fantastic. Nikita Parris, for me, has looked very lively. She's the one who wins this ball back for London Lionesses, and it's quick one-two play. What a finish from Nikita Parris. She just picks it here nicely. That touch out of her feet swings it to the far corner. That's a loose pass from Kumagai. Blink killed a brown now, space to come forward. Bunny Shaw will give her an option, I'm sure. Through to Bunny Shaw. You know what this means normally. Oh, just wide. Goodness me, she did all the hard work. Really good. Amazing run through that centre midfield from Blinkil Brown. There, she just cuts it back. Here's Bunny Shaw. And up to Goodwin. And Goodwin turns Greenwood. Brilliant from Goodwin. Goes for the long shot. My goodness me. What an ambitious effort. Here comes Asalani to Parris. First time. Oh, it's just going to creep past the post. Well, how significant would that have been if they could have got back on terms at 2-2? Corner comes in. Shaw was attacking it, but again, London City. Strong defensively, but they haven't got the ball away completely. It's going to be a Man City throw in on that far side. Taken quickly. Kasperai dinks it in towards Miedema. Off the back of her head. What a one-handed save that is. Vivian Miedema looks like it's just going to float into that top corner, but let her get strong fingertips to it. Keeps them going into the back of the net. Miedema across to Fugino. Miedema will get on the end of that. Shaw in the centre. In it comes to Bunny Shaw. Is there a hand in there? Referee says penalty. You can see her arm just comes across sort of the chest of her body. It's Shaw against Lete. And in it goes. Sends the keeper the wrong way. You can see here, cool, calm penalty. Sends Lete the wrong way. Bunny Shaw comes forward for Man City, looking to make it four. Lovely turn. Pulled back, was she, by Sangari? Surely. Well, Shaw is going to get up and have an opportunity to make it two for her this afternoon and four for Man City. Disappointed in the fact that there's bodies coming back in recovery for London City. She doesn't need to pull Bunny Shaw back. Action replay. Lete went the right way this time, but too much power and placement on the penalty from Bunny Shaw. It's two for Shaw from the spot. The play continues with Jana Fernandes to Rodda. It's all over, a convincing win for Manchester City over London City, the newly promoted side, who have had a tough introduction to the top flight. London City, they came out and they wanted to press us high, but we have the quality to go in behind as well. So I think the type of players that we have and how the different variety of players that we can play. So I think we just watch what the team does and try to do the opposite, and it's working at the minute. They go 2-0 up. We started the game really slow. Then we get back into a 2-1. And in all honesty, I think the referee decided the game with the penalty for their third goal. Unless you're 100% sure, which I don't think she did, she was, you can't give that penalty. We trust each other and that's the important part. And building the relationships, a lot of it's down to us and me trusting Bun and Bun trusting me to put the balls in the box. And I think that's important.