MILLIE TURNER hailed Manchester United’s shift in mentality after her last-ditch effort stopped Aston Villa denting their title charge.
The defender’s goal at the death helped the Red Devils snatch a 3-2 away win with Rachel Daly netting twice in the five-goal thriller.
It was a moment reminiscent of their defeat of Arsenal last November when Alessia Russo’s injury-time finish sealed a 3-2 victory.
The result saw United go seven points ahead of title holders Chelsea and six in front of Man City in a fiercely contested title battle.
But the Blues could cut their lead to four points whilst carrying two games in hand should they beat Liverpool on Wednesday.
However Turner believes calmness within the Red Devils ranks could be key in their hunt for a historic first-ever WSL title.
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The centre-back told BBC Sport: “Ever since the Arsenal game at the Emirate we’ve just had a switching mentality.
“We know that we can win games and we know we can win every game.
“I think that’s so important in the dressing room and we came out here and believed every single minute that we could win this game and that’s what we did.
“We just need to stay calm and take every game as it comes. We try to put in good performances and see where it can take us.”
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United notched up their 15th win in 19 league games with the team yet to lose a WSL fixture away this term.
Red Devils boss Marc Skinner, whose team play Tottenham next, added: “In the first half we were not good enough.
“We didn’t raise the intensity and Villa were all over us. We played into their hands, we tried to play a style of football rather than the game itself.
“Second half we addressed that, Villa were excellent, but with this team we find a way, and we found a way again.”
Before the match Skinner spoke of the need for his side to stop their rivals “free-flowing” play with Villa having netted three goals in their last match.
And the visitors got off to a decent start with Katie Zelem firing wide.
But the hosts began to up their ante in attack with Daly looking to deliver.
The striker gave her side a ninth-minute lead via a classy set piece heading home from Lucy Staniforth’s pinpoint corner-kick.
But United drew level moments later with Leah Galton turning the ball home from Ona Batlle’s curved delivery.
Hannah Hampton denied the visitors a 32nd-minute lead, pulling off a stunning flying save parrying Galton’s shot away from danger
And the score remained 1-1 until Daly fired Carla Ward’s side back in front close to half-time
Her swept-in finish saw her go level with Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw at the top of WSL scorers chart with 17 goals
The second spell saw Daly come close sealing a hat-trick with the striker hitting the woodwork following Kenza Dali’s pass into the box.
But United hit back immediately through Nikita Parris
The forward bagging her third WSL goal of the season powering a header past Hampton from Hannah Blundell’s cross.
Ella Toone came close to netting late on with her fierce drive forcing another classy Hampton stop.
And team-mate Turner, who came on in the 87th minute, sealed United’s win after they won a stoppage time free-kick.
She netted a dramatic injury-time header following Katie Zelem’s inch perfect delivery.
Villa boss Carla Ward said: “I feel like we deserved something from the game.
“We had a couple of opportunities where we hit the bar, we did tremendously well.
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“Credit to Manchester United, they are top of the league for a reason, but it is sickening.
“We are disappointed tonight because we are going home with nothing when we should as a bare minimum have taken a point.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
