Man City Women 2-4 Man Utd Women: Ella Toone nets hat-trick as sloppy errors punished in entertaining WSL derby

Ella Toone scored a hat-trick on her return to WSL action as Manchester United Women punished sloppy errors from Manchester City Women by winning 4-2 in a pulsating Manchester derby.

Toone missed games in November and December with a calf injury, and continued her scoring return to form with a remarkable hat-trick at the Etihad Stadium.

"I've been through a lot, and when I got injured, it was a blessing in disguise," Toone told Zone Sporty VIP after the game.

"Looking back now, I needed it, not just physically but mentally as well. I've used my time wisely to get back fitter and stronger, but more importantly, look after myself.

"I was letting the girls know - 'girls, I've never scored in a Manchester derby, never scored against City', and for a girl who supports Manchester United, I know what these derbies mean. I want to come into every game making something happen on the pitch and putting in a shift for the girls.

"But today, I wanted a goal and managed to get three, so a special day for me and I couldn't have done it without the players and staff."

Man Utd were sharper from the start and Toone made it count with her 14th-minute opener. Elisabeth Terland miscued her strike, but the England midfielder was lurking to tuck home. Leah Galton (21) then doubled the lead soon after, turning home from close range as Man City failed to clear a corner.

Gareth Taylor's side continued to struggle, with a poorly placed pass out from the back - coming mere seconds after another had seen Terland almost score - allowed Toone to net her second (36). She latched on to a loose pass before simply tapping home past England team-mate Khiara Keating.

But it looked like the recovery was on at the end of the first half as Man City struck twice to bring the scoreline back to 3-2. Vivianne Miedema (40) - herself returning to league action from injury - nodded home from a Mary Fowler cross, before Rebecca Knaak (45+3) scored her first WSL goal since joining the club a few weeks ago.

However, 10 seconds after the restart, another moment to forget for Keating allowed Toone to complete her hat-trick. The goalkeeper lingered too long on the ball from the kick-off, with a deflection landing in Toone's path. She won the footrace against Keating and slotted into an open net.

For all of their errors at one end, Man City racked up the shots and chances in a dominant second half. However, some inspired moments from Phallon Tullis-Joyce kept them from mounting a true comeback.

It is Man Utd's first away win in the Manchester derby, and it sends them above Man City into third place in the WSL table. Taylor's side - who have now lost back-to-back games in the WSL - drop into fourth place, two points from the Champions League places.

Zone Sporty VIP' Laura Hunter:

Is this the moment Manchester United enter the title race? A statement win in a derby, to all but end City's hopes of a second WSL crown will have made it all the sweeter.

Gareth Taylor's side started the day in second and ended it fourth. The numerous mistakes they made were completely out of character, but equally reflective of Man United's brazen approach.

Fortune favours the brave.

They pressed high from minute one, forcing errors, and capitalised on every City stumble.

Marc Skinner's side smothered their hosts, and yet, it was City who enjoyed 74 per cent of the ball. The fact United scored four goals having such a stingy possession share makes the result even more remarkable.

All too often City have relied on their ability to overpower opponents by passing them into submission and in the absence of any Plan B, were beaten by the savvier game plan.

Man Utd goalscorer Ella Toone to Zone Sporty VIP:

"We're speechless as well. It's a derby, so it means so much. We put in a massive shift and a great performance. I think we deserved it.

"We're doing well. Sometimes people write us off but we know what squad we've got. We have personality, we've got attitude, we've got work-rate and we give it our all every time we step onto the pitch and we enjoy playing together."

Man Utd goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce to Zone Sporty VIP:

"We have a really gritty team and women that are ready to just grind it out and that's what we saw today for sure, especially Toonie.

"She has just been an absolute inspiration. Seeing her from the side, she's been the first one on the training ground and the last one to leave. She has earned every second of this moment for how hard she worked to get back."

Man Utd manager Marc Skinner to Zone Sporty VIP:

"Sometimes you may be sent a message that's from above. The reality was Ella has played a hell of a lot of football in the last two or three years and grown and had so many experiences. For me, we need a Toonie that loves football, that's buzzing. We need a player like that for England and Manchester United.

"At the end of the game, I asked her if she enjoyed it and she said, yes. I'll take that away as well as the three points because it's all about the people at Manchester United."

Man City boss Gareth Taylor to Zone Sporty VIP:

"Our build-up play is usually a really strong part of our game. It's the way I like to play, because it allows us to arrive as a team, but we got it wrong tonight on a number of occasions.

"The goals we gave away killed the momentum. In between the boxes we were quite good but gave away too many chances.

"They were easy goals. Sometimes when you play like that, when the decision making is wrong, it's frustrating to give away what we did in that manner. The fourth one was difficult to take because it's a situation we don't need to be in."

Speaking about Khiara Keating's series of mistakes, he added: "It's difficult for her, she's a young goalkeeper, but she's been really good for us. It's not the first time, it happened last season and all goalkeepers go through that. What we want to see is a strength of character to come back."

Man Utd manager Marc Skinner to Zone Sporty VIP:

"My enjoyment comes from the team enjoying their football and we gave a really good account of ourselves. I know we'll talk about the mistakes that Man City have made, but we made them make the mistakes.

"We've had a little bit of criticism in the bigger games this season where we've been a little bit passive, but tonight we were just 'right, we'll go after Man City'. We forced the errors and we got our rewards tonight.

"I've been in here before. Two seasons ago, we won at the Emirates. We took games to teams and our team is new and young again. They've had to learn these big stage environments. Tonight is a great learning curve for them.

"I think the thing that overrides lack of experience is personality and fearlessness. I felt that we had that in abundance tonight.

"It is a big victory for the whole of our whole club. We're going to take it forward to play them again on Wednesday [in the League Cup], which is going to be interesting.

"We are going to rest, recover and be ready to put in another performance against them."