Manchester City 3-0 Manchester United: Thumping derby win takes WSL leaders four points clearShareSaturday's derby in the Women's Super League went the way of Manchester City, who thrashed Manchester United to go four points clear.Manchester City moved four points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Women's Super League with a comprehensive 3-0 derby win over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.City were the first team other than Chelsea to start a WSL matchday top of the table this far into a season since the end of 2023-24, when they themselves finished as runners-up to the Blues on goal difference.And with Chelsea not in action until Sunday, when they visit Liverpool, Andree Jeglertz's team had a golden opportunity to open a buffer to their title rivals on Saturday.They did exactly that as Rebecca Knaak, Khadija Shaw and Lauren Hemp all scored in the first half, dealing United their second WSL defeat in a row.Yui Hasegawa forced Anna Sandberg into a last-ditch clearance and Vivianne Miedema almost turned Shaw's centre home before Knaak scored the opener in the 26th minute, nodding into the top-left corner after Shaw headed a deep corner back across the box.United showed some bright touches without testing Ayaka Yamashita in the City goal, but it was 2-0 in the 43rd minute as Shaw slid Kerstin Casparij's right-wing cross home.City captain Casparij had another assist to her name in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, though the hosts' third goal was all about Hemp as she fired into the top-left corner following a simple offload on the edge of the area.Jess Park struck the woodwork against her former club as United pushed forward in the second half, with Maya Le Tissier and Hannah Blundell also squandering good chances as they failed to find a consolation goal.Data Debrief: Flying first half enough for CityThis was just the fourth time that United had conceded three or more goals before half-time in the WSL, in 133 matches in the competition. They previously did so against Chelsea on two occasions, in September 2021 and May 2024, and against Arsenal in February 2024.It is also the first time the Red Devils have lost back-to-back WSL games since May 2024, while City have won as many as eight of their opening nine matches of a campaign for only the second time (also in 2017-18).The hosts were certainly deserved victors as they racked up 14 shots on United's nine, hitting the target five times while the Red Devils failed to do so once. City also won the expected goals (xG) battle comfortably, by 2.31 to 0.58.Manchester City 3-0 Manchester United: Thumping derby win takes WSL leaders four points clearSaturday's derby in the Women's Super League went the way of Manchester City, who thrashed Manchester United to go four points clear.Manchester City moved four points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Women's Super League with a comprehensive 3-0 derby win over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.City were the first team other than Chelsea to start a WSL matchday top of the table this far into a season since the end of 2023-24, when they themselves finished as runners-up to the Blues on goal difference.And with Chelsea not in action until Sunday, when they visit Liverpool, Andree Jeglertz's team had a golden opportunity to open a buffer to their title rivals on Saturday.They did exactly that as Rebecca Knaak, Khadija Shaw and Lauren Hemp all scored in the first half, dealing United their second WSL defeat in a row.Yui Hasegawa forced Anna Sandberg into a last-ditch clearance and Vivianne Miedema almost turned Shaw's centre home before Knaak scored the opener in the 26th minute, nodding into the top-left corner after Shaw headed a deep corner back across the box.United showed some bright touches without testing Ayaka Yamashita in the City goal, but it was 2-0 in the 43rd minute as Shaw slid Kerstin Casparij's right-wing cross home.City captain Casparij had another assist to her name in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, though the hosts' third goal was all about Hemp as she fired into the top-left corner following a simple offload on the edge of the area.Jess Park struck the woodwork against her former club as United pushed forward in the second half, with Maya Le Tissier and Hannah Blundell also squandering good chances as they failed to find a consolation goal.Data Debrief: Flying first half enough for CityThis was just the fourth time that United had conceded three or more goals before half-time in the WSL, in 133 matches in the competition. They previously did so against Chelsea on two occasions, in September 2021 and May 2024, and against Arsenal in February 2024.It is also the first time the Red Devils have lost back-to-back WSL games since May 2024, while City have won as many as eight of their opening nine matches of a campaign for only the second time (also in 2017-18).The hosts were certainly deserved victors as they racked up 14 shots on United's nine, hitting the target five times while the Red Devils failed to do so once. City also won the expected goals (xG) battle comfortably, by 2.31 to 0.58.