Birmingham 0 Man City 4: Mewis marks return from injury with stylish brace as City turn up heat on Chelsea
SAM MEWIS helped Manchester City pile pressure on champions Chelsea with a lethal display on her return from an ankle injury.
The midfield maestro’s clinical brace was among the goals that saw the points gap to the league leaders cut to just two after City’s 4-0 win against Birmingham.
The result saw Gareth Taylor’s side pick up their eighth straight win ahead of their Champions League clash with Fiorentina.
And the City boss was full of praise for Mewis who was playing for the first time since City's win in Europe against Goteborg in December.
Taylor said: “Sam has been out for quite a long period and not played for us for a while.
“Fortunately with her not going away to the SheBelieves Cup we were able to get her ready, and I thought her performance today was really good.
“In the first-half, we were probably a little bit impatient with our play and a little bit wasteful.
“I think with Birmingham slowing the game down quite a bit we struggled to try and get our flow and rhythm. Sam’s goal a little before half-time helped us.
“The girls were able to relax and we were able to play a half-pitch practice in the second-half which is what we wanted.
“It’s important to keep winning. We know where we are at as a team and how well we are progressing and the things we need to improve on.
Despite the hefty scoreline Taylor’s did not have things entirely their own way in the game’s early stages
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The low block of Carla Ward’s aces and a few impressive stops from Hannah Hampton managed to keep City at bay for the first 40 minutes.
Taylor’s players threatened early in the exchange - moved from Birmingham’s home turf to St George’s Park - forcing a superb save from Hampton in the 14th minute.
The Lionesses starlet showed why she is seen as a contender for England’s No1 shirt saving Ellen White’s header and denying a downward-headed effort from Steph Houghton.
We have to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off. This result won’t define us
Carla Ward
Moments later Blues had a decent looking free-kick themselves with Ellen White heading Sarah Mayling’s floated effort out of City's penalty area.
And it was White's team who would eventually get the breakthrough with Sam Mewis heading in her fifth goal of the season close to half-time.
In the second-half City doubled their lead with Mewis latching onto a ball volleyed off the line to snatch her second in the 53rd minute.
Taylor’s players increased their tally moments later.
This time with Mewis turning provider for Lauren Hemp with her floated effort reaching the back of the net.
And the England starlet required treatment for a few minutes after appearing to hurt herself in the process of scoring.
Playmaker Caroline Weir wrapped up the victory netting City’s final goal of the match in the 67th minute.
The result leaves Birmingham winless in five games and five points ahead of bottom-placed Bristol before a tricky match against Arsenal.
Ward: “We have to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off. This result won’t define us.
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“This will make us stronger and we have got to kick on.
“This is a group who have been written off all season but we will take each game as it comes.”