Man Utd sweep WSL player & manager of the month awards...again

Manchester United have completed a clean sweep of the Women’s Super League Barclays player and manager of the month awards for the second month in a row, with winger Leah Galton recognised alongside boss Casey Stoney.

The WSL Manager of the Month award for December has gone to Stoney for overseeing a perfect month in which United won all three of their league games to stay top of the table.

December began with a 2-0 away win over Aston Villa and was followed up with a 2-1 win on the road against Reading. The WSL leaders then put Bristol City to the sword in a 6-1 thrashing.

United took maximum points, scoring 10 goals and conceding just twice. Overall, Stoney’s side are now unbeaten in 14 consecutive WSL games stretching back to January 2020.

The Player of the Month award went to Galton. The 26-year-old scored in every game her club played in December, including a brace in the win over Bristol. She now has five in the WSL this season, rising to the top of the club’s goalscoring charts.

Stoney won the Manager of the Month prize for November, while United forward Tobin Heath scooped the Player of the Month award at the same time. It further underlines the level at which the team has been performing this season in only their second year as a top flight club.

In the first game of 2021 following last weekend’s postponement against Everton, United face a top of the table clash away against reigning champions Chelsea. The Blues are three points behind and have a game in hand, so avoiding defeat will be a must for United’s title hopes.

These teams met in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season back in September when Galton cancelled out a Chelsea opener from Sam Kerr for a fair 1-1 draw.

One of the reasons United have been able to compete at the top of the table this season is improved competition for places that has kept everyone on their toes. But that competition saw a limited number of chance for 2019 summer signing Lotta Okvist, with the Swedish left-back this week sealing a transfer to Kopparbergs/Goteborg, who have reversed their decision to fold.

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