Report: Crystal Palace 0 United Women 1

After a rotated line-up sealed our League Cup progress in midweek with victory over Newcastle United, Marc Skinner named the same XI that started last Sunday's 4-0 WSL win against Liverpool for the trip to Sutton in south London.

This was a first meeting against Palace since our debut season in April 2019, when a 7-0 win at Leigh Sports Village clinched the Women's Championship title.

Grace Clinton's fourth WSL goal of the campaign, already matching her tally from the whole of last season only 10 games into 2024/25, deep into first half stoppage time was ultimately the deciding factor.

FIRST HALF

A dominant United barely let the hosts out of their own half from the earliest stages and the visiting Reds had several chances before eventually taking the lead.

Palace defender Hayley Nolan celebrated an important block like a goal when she got in the way of Elisabeth Terland's close-range shot from Clinton's cutback. Gabby George saw a dangerous in-swinging corner tipped over by Eagles goalkeeper Shae Yanez, before Leah Galton struck the post with a header all inside the first quarter. Terland also soon fired over with a first-time attempt.

Having managed to keep United at bay, Palace began to play with a little more adventure towards the end of the opening 45 and ex-Liverpool striker Katie Stengel missed her team's first clear chance. The American's first touch from a low cross set up a volley that she blazed into the side netting as Phallon Tullis-Joyce came rushing out to close down the angle inside the six-yard box.

But, after the officials signalled five minutes of additional time following treatment to Stengel, United quickly retook control. Dominique Janssen sent Yanez flying to her left, before Clinton punished Palace on the stroke of half time. High pressing from Galton and Geyse forced Palace to lose the ball on the edge of their own area and Grace was on hand to sweep a first-time finish into the net.

SECOND HALF

United were pushing for a second as soon as the game resumed and Palace had Yanez to thank for a point-blank save to deny Geyse what looked a certain goal, spreading her body like a starfish and managing to get an outstretched leg in the way of the ball.

Substitute Celin Bizet was wide of the target just over an hour in as more United pressure high up the pitch created an opportunity, while Terland's clever movement was causing Palace issues as teammates tried a few times to thread passes through for her that were picked up by Yanez.

There was a comfortable save for Tullis-Joyce to make as the game reached the final 20 minutes, grasping a speculative effort as Palace attacker Ashleigh Weerden attempted to go it alone. A scrappy end ultimately dented United's hopes of extending the lead, although Janssen wasn't far off target with a late strike of a bouncing ball from outside the box.

As we now head into the winter break, the battle for the top three could hardly be tighter, with United in fourth place but only a point behind Manchester City in second. Our next game is on 12 January against West Bromwich Albion back home at Leigh as the defence of the Women's FA Cup begins. The WSL resumes with the Manchester derby at the Etihad a week later.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier (c), Turner, George (Sandberg 72); Miyazawa (Ladd 87), Janssen; Geyse (Bizet 60), Clinton, Galton; Terland.

Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Mannion, Awujo, Watson, Malard, Williams.

Goal: Clinton 45+5.

Booked: Bizet 82, Clinton 85.

Crystal Palace: Yanez; Riley (Sharpe 46), Nolan, Everett (c), Veje, Woodham; Potter, Cato, Gejl; Blanchard (Larkin 71), Stengel (Weerden 42).

Subs not used: Majasaari, Gibbons, Arthur, Atkinson, Pritchard.