Manchester United Women on a six-match winning run as they face Manchester City today
Manchester United Women have won six matches in a row in all competitions, and they face unbeaten Manchester City later today, Sunday 25 October, at 18:00 GMT.
The run has changed a poor start. United opened the season without a win in their first three games. They lost to London City Lionesses and Chelsea, and drew 1-1 at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. In those defeats they managed just two shots on target and had less than 40% of the ball, which is what possession means in football.
The turn came in the Women's League Cup, the domestic cup, with a win over Sheffield United. Manchester United's own reports show the side kept winning from there. On 3 October they beat Liverpool 1-0 in the Women's Super League (WSL), England's top division. On 21 October they beat Liverpool again, 5-3 in the League Cup, after leading 3-0 at half-time.
The numbers show a team that started to attack more. In their first three league games, United had 10 shots. In their next three, they had 42. Over those three games they won nine points, scored six goals and conceded two. Ella Toone scored in the 3-1 win at Charlton Athletic.
Passes that end in the final third, the closing part of the pitch nearest the opposition goal, tell a similar story. United made 197 in their first three league games. In their next three league games, against West Ham, Liverpool and Charlton, they made 529 combined.
Eva Olid, who joined the club in the summer, promised high-possession attacking football when she was appointed. That is a style built on keeping the ball and pushing forward. BBC Sport examined how United's tactics were changing under her in September, and the results since have followed that plan.
United now sit fifth in the WSL, eight points behind Manchester City, who are still unbeaten. Kick-off against City is at 18:00 GMT. Maya le Tissier captains the side, and Toone is vice-captain. The BBC noted that Toone was not picked for England, the first time she had been left out under Sarina Wiegman, England's head coach.
For a club that began the season with three games and no win, six straight wins is a clear turnaround. The City game will show how far that run can carry them against the league leaders.
