Shaw delighted to see training ground work pay off | OneFootball

The Jamaican international set the tone early at the Joie Stadium as she netted the first of her three goals after just eight minutes, and despite an Olivia Holdt equaliser seven minutes later, the Blues hit back almost immediately.

And it was Shaw’s deadliness which saw us restore our advantage when scoring another two goals before 22 minutes were on the clock to record the fastest ever hat-trick in the WSL in 12 minutes and 37 seconds.

City stormed into a 5-1 lead with goals from Kerolin and Vivianne Miedema topping up the score before the break, and that sealed the win early on.

Our number nine was a presence in both boxes during a sunny Manchester afternoon, getting her goals, while also helping out from all set pieces and dominating in the air.

It was important we bounced back after a frustrating draw with Aston Villa last time out in the league, so a fast start was just what Shaw was after, she said.

“It was a good day. We wanted a good start and to get the job done,” she declared.

“We really wanted the win and wanted to entertain and show people that, when we’re at home, we get the job done.”

There are just four WSL games left for City to play as we boast an eight-point gap over second-placed Manchester United, so a win against Spurs aided our pursuit of the title.

It took a whole team performance to get over the line, and while Shaw’s goals will rightfully take the headlines, she was equally as happy to help out at the back.

She added: “I know that I am a focal point at the top of the pitch, but I also try to defend crosses and set pieces as much as possible because I know I’m good at that.

“Most people don’t see that; they see the goals, but those things also matter a lot to me. I just try to work hard and then listen to the defenders because they’re the ones who know more about defending than I do.”

It was a pleasing hat-trick for Shaw, as they all are, but her third one pleased her the most because of what’s been going on behind the scenes at City’s training ground.

“I would definitely say the third one (was her favourite goal) because that is a trademark kind of goal for me, the ball is crossed in, and I’m trying to get on the end of it.

“That one is something that I work on in training, so to see it happen in a game is good.”