United topped West Ham by a score of 4-0 at Old Trafford in the Women's Super League on the strength of two goals from substitute Lucia Garcia.

After scoring four times in the second half, United moved above Chelsea by one point. Nevertheless, the defending champions have two games in hand on Marc Skinner's squad, who must travel to Manchester City on Sunday.

After a tedious first half in which neither team was able to score, United finally got going when Katie Zelem scored a penalty kick in the 52nd minute.

Ten minutes after entering the game, Garcia scored the game's opening goal with a calm finish (65).

After a scoreless first half, United came out strong in the second, with Ladd scoring twice and Garcia adding an insurance goal in stoppage time (90+1).

Meanwhile, Paul Konchesky's West Ham are still winless in the 2023 Women's Super League, where they sit in ninth place.

Insight into United's WSL Title Win...

United started the game in third place after Arsenal's thrashing of Tottenham in the north London derby.

United only managed one attempt on goal in the first half, and it came from a header by Leah Galton, who was making her 100th appearance for the team.

As defender Hawa Cissoko of West Ham pushed Ladd from behind, Skinner's team was even more dissatisfied when their penalty claim was denied.

Yet referee Emily Heaslip did not let Cissoko off the hook for her dangerous tackle on Alessia Russo six minutes into the second half.

United's skipper Zelem got his shot past West Ham's goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.

After 13 minutes, the hosts extended their lead when substitute Garcia scored coolly off a through pass from Ella Toone.

With six minutes remaining, Ladd put the game away with a curling shot into the bottom corner after a cut back from Ona Batlle.

The Old Trafford crowd of 27,919 was sent home pleased when Garcia scored her second goal in the 91st minute on a rebound from a strike by Martha Thomas.

Toone: Skinner yelled at us at the halftime break.

Manchester United's match-winning player Ella Toone said to Rezence Vn88 Sports:

"After a halftime pep talk (which included some shouting), we came out and played our football.

"That wasn't strategic; rather, it was our usual brand of play, full of the enthusiasm and individuality in which we take great delight. We put forth more effort, so that's probably why.

"That was more of a shout than a conversation during halftime, but it worked!"

Skinner: At halftime, I had to say a few choice words.

Coach Marc Skinner of Manchester United said in an interview with vn88 Sports:

"Usually we are extremely cool, collected, and collected, but in this case we had to have some choice words. In the first half, we weren't great but we also weren't terrible. But, the tempo slowed down a bit in the middle of our buildup.

"I expected West Ham to slow down a little as the clock wound down. Nonetheless, they played exceptionally well in the first half and prevented us from scoring.

"The fact, though, was that the Manchester United players had some harsh words at halftime and agreed that this was not the Manchester United spirit.

The second half was fueled by Manchester United's spirited fans."

When asked if it was a message to their title opponents, he said: "As a group, we get a message from it.

"Do not give any team 45 minutes of your time. There is still time for us to do what we can to help you reach your season-ending goals. We can take a lesson from that."

Konchesky: "We gave in. " | "We need to stick together."

Paul Konchesky, manager of West Ham, said to W88 rezence Sports:

"Man Utd was always going to be a formidable opponent. We held them scoreless for 55 minutes, but after giving up the game's first goal, it was always going to be difficult to mount a comeback. This was especially true in the second half.

"We gave in more than we intended to and allowed more goals. We probably contributed to three of the four goals they scored. We need to get out of our own way and be more brutal, both defensively and offensively.

"We need to start winning games again, and maybe we can do that next week when we host Liverpool.

We'll be fine once we get back on our feet, but we need to pull together because this is a rough patch right now.