Brilliant Mary Fowler double keeps Man City on top in title race, but blow for Ange as Spurs lose to Arsenal

Mary Fowler scored two brilliant goals for Manchester City in a key Women’s Super League victory that propels them closer to the English title.

The Matildas star has rarely demonstrated the full range of her gifts in her two years in a City shirt but, with star striker Khadija Shaw out with a long-term injury, the Australian chose the perfect time to make sure the WSL’s leading scorer wasn’t missed in a 4-0 victory at Bristol City on Sunday (Monday AEST).

Fowler’s second-half double, which condemned Bristol City to relegation, put City six points clear of champions Chelsea in the title race – and with a superior goal difference by seven over the Blues, who have two games in hand.

An outstanding player-of-the-match display at Ashton Gate felt like a significant moment for Fowler, who has found it difficult to nail down a starting spot in the star-studded team.

Earlier in the game, Fowler’s excellent creative work, with fine runs and crosses from both flanks, didn’t find the finishes they merited.

Having failed to break down Bristol’s defence in the first hour, Fowler took matters into her own hands.

Mary Fowler celebrates with Laura Coombs after scoring the opener for Manchester City at Ashton Gate.Credit: Getty

Finding space outside the box in the 62nd minute, she ran forward unchecked and unleashed an unstoppable left-foot strike.

“I’ve been having some shocking shots in training so I just hoped that one was going to go on target,” she told Sky Sports.

Thirteen minutes later, she made it 2-0 – and with a centre-forward’s goal that Shaw would have been proud of, ghosting in ahead of her marker and expertly sliding home Lauren Hemp’s cross from the right.

With City relaxing after her two strikes, they scored two more, one courtesy of Amy Rodgers’ awful own goal and an Alex Greenwood header with the final touch of the match.

Arsenal celebrate their win over Tottenham.Credit: AP

In the English Premier League, Arsenal held on to beat north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 away and move four points clear at the top after an emphatic first-half display and a nervous second period in an electric derby atmosphere on Sunday.

The win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ensured Mikel Arteta’s team remained at the top of the standings, ahead of defending champions Manchester City, who won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest later in the day.

But Arsenal had to endure a nervous finish despite powering to 3-0 lead in a derby that was supposed to be one of their biggest tests in the title chase.

“The last 20 minutes wasn’t nice, but it was worth it,” Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka said. “We know it is a big derby and they don’t want to lose 3-0 at home. Momentum shifted their way, but I am proud of the boys – we managed to get the three points.”

An own goal by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and efforts from Saka and Kai Havertz put the Gunners in control at half-time and although Spurs fought back through Cristian Romero’s strike and a Son Heung-min penalty, the visitors claimed the three points.

But in the face of a potential rout, Tottenham responded in the second half through Cristian Romero and a penalty from Son Heung-min in the 87th minute.

Under pressure, Arsenal held on and remain one point clear at the top, having played a game more than City.

Tottenham’s defeat hit their hopes of playing Champions League football next season as they stand seven points off fourth-placed Aston Villa, albeit with two games in hand.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou was left to rue the mistakes that have dogged his side all season.

“They’re [Arsenal] a team that deals with the details well and we aren’t,” the Australian said.

The advantage in the title race is still with City, who will clinch a fourth-straight title if they win their remaining games. They responded to Arsenal’s win with a victory of their own at relegation-fighting Forest.

They were always favourites to beat a Forest team fighting for survival but, without Phil Foden, who was ill, and Erling Haaland on the bench, coach Pep Guardiola was missing two of his big match winners in the starting 11.

An injury to goalkeeper Ederson also forced City into a change at half-time.

Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez dribbles the ball past Nottingham Forest’s Willy Boly.Credit: AP

But Guardiola’s team looks in unstoppable form and a 2-0 win extended an unbeaten record in the league to 19 games, dating back to a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa at the start of December.

Haaland stepped off the bench to score the goal that effectively killed off Forest’s challenge after Josko Gvardiol had headed City in front in the first half.

Among those in the crowd were Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, and rock star Noel Gallagher. The goal put Haaland ahead of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer as the league’s top scorer with 21 goals.

“It’s an important win, it does not matter how we do it, and it is good to be back,” Haaland said. “We knew it was going to be a fight, and the pitch was not the easiest to play on but we cannot complain, it is about winning and that is exactly what we did.”

Without a win in their first nine league games this season, Bournemouth are now in the top half of the table after setting their own Premier League points record.

A 3-0 win against Brighton moved Andoni Iraola’s team up to 10th on 48 points. Bournemouth’s previous best in the top flight was 46 points in the 2016-17 season under former manager Eddie Howe.

AAP, Reuters, AP

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

Watch every match of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League on Stan Sport. All the action streaming ad-free, live and on demand, with select matches in 4K UHD.