Man Utd battle past stubborn Bristol City

Hinata Miyazawa and Nikita Parris were on target for Manchester United as they overcame a resilient Bristol City in the Women's Super League.

Miyazawa's long-range strike took a big deflection off Chloe Mustaki to wrong-foot Olivia Clark in the City goal for the opener.

Five minutes later, Parris was left unmarked, six yards out, to head home from Ella Toone's left-wing cross and seal the win for United.

The result means the home side stay bottom of the table but, in front of a record crowd of 14,138, there was plenty in the performance to encourage manager Lauren Smith and her side.

United dominated possession early with the game played almost exclusively in the City half, and they should have gone in front in the seventh minute after good work from Geyse down the right.

The Brazilian forward cut the ball back for Parris but her left-foot shot was superbly saved by Clark, who also denied Leah Galton after the winger had been picked out in the box by Katie Zelem.

The home side grew in confidence as the half went on and had the chance to go in front when Abi Harrison's cross was met by Amy Rodgers but Mary Earps got down quickly to push the header away.

Marc Skinner's side kept pushing, though, and found the breakthrough when Miyazawa tried her luck from 25 yards and was rewarded with her first United goal.

Parris' goal made sure of the win and takes the away side back into the top three before Manchester City's game against Tottenham on Sunday (18:45 GMT).

"We have the quality, system and style but we just did not take our chances in the first half," Skinner told BBC Sport. "In the second half they did everything we wanted to do and deserved the win."

"Today there were moments where I am really happy and I can see what the future is like for us."

Bristol City manager Smith told BBC Sport: "We've learnt a lot since the start [of the season], taking on the top four teams. I think we've shown now that we can turn that around and teams have to work really hard if they want to come here and get goals."

After the disappointment of the 3-1 defeat by Manchester City at Old Trafford last weekend, this was a welcome victory for United.

That loss made it just two wins in six games for Skinner's side, a far cry from the form that saw them push Chelsea all the way in the race for the WSL title last season.

But the quality that put them in that position was evident early on as they kept the hosts penned inside their own penalty area for long spells and gave them no way out.

When the goal did not come, though, frustrations and signs of doubt began to emerge.

However, United were composed in the second half and while there was an element of good fortune in the first goal, they moved the ball nicely to work the space for Miyazawa's shot.

There was then a ruthlessness in the way they immediately pushed for the second to put the game beyond doubt and maintained the pressure as they went in search of the third.

Clear chances at the other end were few and far between and, while forcing themselves into another title challenge already seems a big ask, this was a step in the right direction.