Women's Super League review: United thrash Bristol City as Covid hits fixtures

Only three Barclays Women's Super League fixtures were played ahead of the winter break as both coronavirus outbreaks and the weather caused cancellations.

The highest-profile casualty was Tottenham's trip to Chelsea, which means Alex Morgan will be denied a final appearance for Spurs before her return to the United States.  West Ham were also forced to postpone their fixture against Aston Villa and close their Chadwell Heath training ground because of a crop of positive Covid tests.

Birmingham City were due to play Manchester City but that match was also a casualty, although a waterlogged pitch was to blame on this occasion.

On the pitch, Manchester United took advantage of the postponements to extend their lead at the top of the table to four points thanks to a 6-1 victory against bottom club Bristol City.

Doubles for Leah Galton and Tobin Heath along with solo goals for Millie Turner and Jess Sigsworth heaped the misery on a City side that has collected just two points from their 10 matches and have a goal difference of -39. 

Arsenal returned to form with a 4-0 thrashing of Everton. Gunners head coach Joe Montemurro was able to start with top scorer Vivianne Miedema on the bench but his side were 2-0 within 10 minutes thanks to goals from Jordan Nobbs and Caitlin Foord. Jen Beattie and Beth Mead complted the scoring in the second half as Arsenal moved back above Chelsea into second, albeit having played two matches more.

Sunday's other surviving fixture saw Reading travel to Brighton to record their first WSL victory in seven games as Jess Fishlock struck twice in a 3-1 win.