Crystal Palace thrashed by London City Lionesses

In-form London City Lionesses thrashed Crystal Palace 5-0 at Hayes Lane to take them back to the top of the FA Women’s Championship.

A devastating first half from the visitors ensured the contest was over by the break, Sarah Ewens, Jamie-Lee Napier and Karin Muya all on target.

Napier set up Muya for a fine fourth before a composed finish from Lucy Shepherd at the death.

The Lionesses lead the table by a single point from Bristol City while Palace sit seventh, still looking for their first win of 2023.

Muya, Napier and Shanade Hopcroft were a constant threat, the former drawing a fine save from Natalia Negri at her near post and Hopcroft striking the woodwork twice in the opening 20 minutes.

The barrage of pressure eventually told as Ewens turned in Hopcroft’s cross, expertly controlling a half-volley finish while falling to the ground.

Elise Hughes headed one over the bar for Palace in a rare foray forward for Dean Davenport’s side, but they were soon two behind.

Lois Heuchan’s superb slide pass set Napier away, the diminutive winger beating Negri at the second attempt.

And just before the break, a well-constructed move found Heuchan in space down the Lionesses’ left-hand side, her wicked cross met with a thumping header from Muya.

She doubled her tally for night by getting on the end of a Napier pass, who had carried the ball up to Palace’s box on a lengthy run.

Shepherd brilliantly tucked away across Negri from a difficult angle to complete the rout in added time

Palace’s Hughes put the damaging defeat down to an inexplicable dip in confidence

“You can take nothing away from them today but that’s not a Crystal Palace team that’s turned up,” said Hughes.

“Maybe there are a few of us that are lacking in confidence – from results more than anything – but we have lots of winners in that changing room and it’s only us now that can change things around and we have to do that soon.

“They came with an intensity which we weren’t able to match, especially in the first half, which was disappointing. We have to reflect on that.

“We’ve all bought into a process in terms of wanting to play to a certain style, and there’s going to be dips. It’s just a shame we had one today and we weren’t able to react.

“But this is a competitive league and it only takes for a game or two for things to change so there’s plenty to play for.”

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