Manchester City’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end against Arsenal as they lost 1-0 in a game which saw England international Jill Scott sent off for a head butt.
Arsenal are now second in the WSL 1 after Chioma Ubogagu’s strike on 35 minutes gave them all three points against the ten players of City.
Nick Cushing, speaking after the game, said of the incident involving Scott: “I’m really disappointed and Jill is really disappointed. It’s really out of character for her. She’s has been our best player ever since the day I came in.
“We’re disappointed but we’ll deal with it. We have a game around the corner against Liverpool so we have to focus on that more than anything.”
Cushing’s team started the game the better side having the majority of possession, and should have taken the lead on 32 minutes, when Abbie McManus crossed from deep, but Toni Duggan headed just wide.
However three minutes later the ball was in the back of the net, but for the visiting Gunners, as Ubogagu dropped a shoulder to skip past Lucy Bronze and calmly slot the ball under the body of City keeper Alex Brooks.
City could have got back on level terms just before half time but loanee Nikita Parris could only blaze her shot over the bar following an earlier effort that stung the palms of Arsenal’s Emma Byrne.
A half-volley from Isobel Christiansen that flew just wide of the post was the last action of the half and the hosts went in at the break trailing 1-0.
As play resumed, the Blues went in search of an equaliser, but just 12 minutes in, things got even worse for the home side.
Scott got in a tangle with Arsenal’s Jade Bailey, head-butting the defender in the aftermath, and after consulting with his assistant, referee Marytn Rawcliffe sent the City player off.
Scott will now serve a three match ban and will play no more games in the lead up to the England World Cup squad announcement on May 11.
The defender became the second Blues’ player to be shown red for violent conduct already this season.
Arsenal failed to make their numerical advantage count for the remaining 20 minutes, going closest through Lianne Sanderson whose near-range effort was cleared off the line.
Parris then almost rescued a point for her side but her curling strike hit the post late on, meaning the Gunners took all 3 points back to London.
