Birmingham City 0-4 Manchester City: Title chasers close in on WSL leaders Chelsea with eighth straight win

Manchester City moved within two points of the Women's Super League summit with a dominant win at Birmingham.

Chloe Kelly crossed for Sam Mewis to head in the opener to break the home resistance shortly before half-time.

Two quick goals put the game beyond doubt as Mewis netted at the second attempt from Alex Greenwood's corner and Lauren Hemp floated in a third.

Ellen White teed up Caroline Weir to tap in City's fourth before Rose Lavelle's late drive struck the bar.

• Relive Sunday's WSL action

An eighth straight WSL win in an 11-match unbeaten run brought City to within two points of leaders Chelsea and took them four clear of rivals Manchester United.

Gareth Taylor's side dominated throughout, but were made to work hard to create chances in the first half against the defensive-minded hosts.

White saw her downward header turned round the post by Birmingham goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and then sent a snapshot over the bar before United States midfielder Mewis marked her return from injury with the breakthrough goal thanks to Kelly's ninth assist of the season.

City, who have racked up 42 goals in their past 10 league matches, threatened to run riot as Mewis doubled the lead and Hemp added a fortunate third just 90 seconds later.

Weir made it six goals in as many matches as the visitors played out the game and turned their thoughts to the first leg of their Women's Champions League last-16 tie with Fiorentina on Wednesday.

Birmingham stayed ninth as their winless run stretched to five.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

B'ham City Women

Formation 5-4-1

1Hampton

3Scott16Brougham4Mace20Napier25Holloway

18Walker2Mayling12Littlejohn19Whipp

35Murphy

• 1Hampton
• 3Scott
• 16Brougham
• 4Mace
• 20Napier
• 25Holloway
• 18Walker
• 2Mayling
• 12LittlejohnBooked at 63minsSubstituted forGreenat 90'minutes
• 19WhippSubstituted forKellyat 75'minutes
• 35MurphySubstituted forMcCarronat 75'minutes

Substitutes

• 7McCarron
• 8Green
• 11Grant
• 14Kelly
• 24Whitehouse
• 30Lawley
• 37Hart

Man City Women

Formation 4-3-3

26Roebuck

20Bronze6Houghton27Greenwood14Morgan

7Coombs22Mewis19Weir

9Kelly18White15Hemp

• 26Roebuck
• 20Bronze
• 6HoughtonSubstituted forDahlkemperat 76'minutes
• 27Greenwood
• 14Morgan
• 7Coombs
• 22MewisSubstituted forStanwayat 64'minutes
• 19Weir
• 9KellySubstituted forMannionat 72'minutes
• 18WhiteSubstituted forDaviesat 77'minutes
• 15HempSubstituted forLavelleat 72'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Mannion
• 10Stanway
• 13Dahlkemper
• 21Lavelle
• 34Benameur
• 35Keating
• 39Davies

Referee:

Helen Conley

Match Stats

Home TeamB'ham City WomenAway TeamMan City Women

Possession

Home18%

Away82%

Shots

Home1

Away22

Shots on Target

Home1

Away12

Corners

Home2

Away10

Fouls

Home4

Away3

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Birmingham City Women 0, Manchester City Women 4.

2. 90'+5'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Birmingham City Women 0, Manchester City Women 4.

3. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Attempt saved. Caroline Weir (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner.

4. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Ruby Mace.

5. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Attempt blocked. Rose Lavelle (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Greenwood.

6. 90'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Birmingham City Women. Mollie Green replaces Ruesha Littlejohn.

7. 90'

   Post update

   Offside, Manchester City Women. Lucy Bronze tries a through ball, but Rose Lavelle is caught offside.

8. 87'

   Post update

   Foul by Esme Morgan (Manchester City Women).

9. 87'

   Post update

   Emma Kelly (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

10. 82'

    Post update

    Foul by Millie Davies (Manchester City Women).

11. 82'

    Post update

    Ruby Mace (Birmingham City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

12. 77'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City Women. Millie Davies replaces Ellen White.

13. 76'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City Women. Abby Dahlkemper replaces Stephanie Houghton.

14. 75'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Birmingham City Women. Emma Kelly replaces Lucy Whipp.

15. 75'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Birmingham City Women. Chloe McCarron replaces Emily Murphy.

16. 72'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City Women. Rose Lavelle replaces Lauren Hemp.

17. 72'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City Women. Aoife Mannion replaces Chloe Kelly.

18. 71'

    Post update

    Attempt saved. Alex Greenwood (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Georgia Stanway.

19. 70'

    Post update

    Corner, Manchester City Women. Conceded by Hannah Hampton.

20. 70'

    Post update

    Attempt saved. Stephanie Houghton (Manchester City Women) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

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