Manchester United fans have wanted to see Melvine Malard spearheading their team's attack for a while and her devastating display in the 4-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday showed exactly why. A tap-in from close range, a wonderful pass for England star Ella Toone to double the lead and a superb finish from the edge of the box saw the Frenchwoman steal the show as the Red Devils did all they could to keep up with those setting the pace at the top of the Women's Super League.
Things might've been different if not for Mary Earps' excellent reflex save and Maya Le Tissier's brilliant block on the line that kept Spurs out in the early stages on Sunday evening. Instead, it was United who took the lead just before the half hour mark, with Malard getting the faintest touch on Hannah Blundell's inch-perfect cross.
Despite being ahead, the visitors lacked tempo to their play in the first half, but they came out after the break with greater impetus and got their rewards early on. Malard turned provider when her excellent pass set up Toone to make it two, then the Lyon loanee got her second with a beautifully-placed strike from the edge of the Spurs' box just before the hour. Hayley Ladd rounded the scoring off late on with her first of the season.
United weren't at their best in this game, that much is for sure, but that they hardly had to get out of second gear to record such a convincing victory is a real positive as they closed the gap to Manchester City, in the final Champions League spot, to one point and moved to within four of pace-setting Chelsea with just one round of WSL fixtures to go before the Christmas break.
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