“Took it by the horns”: Skinner hails impact of Layla Drury in “epic” late Everton win

Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner lauded 16-year-old Layla Drury for sparking the stoppage-time sequence that delivered a dramatic 2-1 Women’s Super League victory over Everton at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday.

Elisabeth Terland’s 38th-minute opener had United poised for three points until Inma Gabarra’s 90th-minute header appeared to consign the Reds to a second successive draw. Instead, Drury’s fearless dribble earned a corner that Melvine Malard converted at the near post in added time, catapulting United back to second place, eight points behind Manchester City and one ahead of Chelsea.

Speaking after the final whistle, Skinner singled out the teenage winger for seizing the moment. “What I loved about her when she came on was she took the ball under control and ran at the opponent. She took it by the horns, ran and created the moment where we scored from, so I’m really impressed with her,” he said. “She can be a fantastic player. However, she must do it properly and make sure she doesn’t skip any steps.”

The manager labelled the triumph “epic” given the punishing schedule that followed last weekend’s cup-final heartbreak. “We’ve lost the cup final, which is devastating… go away to West Ham midweek, don’t quite get over the line, get back at four o’clock on the Thursday morning, come in to do an hour’s training session… To be leading and to go [level] late… and then to come and win it in the end, I think it’s an epic win with fantastic credit to the players.”

United now turn their attention to a pivotal European clash, hosting Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, before facing league rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford next weekend. Skinner expects defender Jayde Riviere and Asian Cup winner Hinata Miyazawa to return to contention, while Dominique Janssen and Ellen Wangerheim remain doubtful with respective niggle and shin complaints.

The boss also praised midfielder Simi Awujo, noting her seamless transition from American college football to the WSL and predicting further growth.