Manchester City are beginning to look like champions elect after going nine points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League with nine games to play, striking late to claim a precious victory at London City Lionesses.
Khadija Shaw was the calmest person in the ground as she slotted in a low finish in the 86th minute after a goalmouth scramble, before leaping in delight in front of the travelling supporters as they celebrated her winner and avoided what had looked set to be a rare slip-up in Bromley.
It gave the leaders their 12th consecutive WSL victory, maintaining their formidable run since their defeat at Chelsea on the season’s opening night, and a huge psychological boost before next weekend’s game with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium, where they will effectively have a chance to all-but win the title at the start of February.
Without a WSL trophy in a decade since their sole title under Nick Cushing in 2016, Andrée Jeglertz’s side now have the destiny of the title firmly in their hands and, even in a tricky test on a cold January day in south London, they were determined not to let it out of their grasp.
They could have opened the scoring through Shaw when she appeared to lose her footing and knocked an effort wide from close range, after being picked out at the back post by Kerolin’s hooked cross, in a first half the visitors dominated.
