Manchester United manager Marc Skinner applauded referee Rebecca Welch for her display as his side drew 2-2 with Manchester City in the derby.
The Red Devils recovered from going a goal down to 10-player Manchester City to lead 2-1 with 15 minutes to go thanks to goals from Lucy Staniforth and Alessia Russo.
Super-sub Ellen White would rescue a point for City who went a player down after Georgia Stanway was correctly sent off for a high challenge in the 35th minute.
Skinner said: "I thought the tackle looked relatively dangerous, I do like Georgia Stanway’s tenacity, though.
“It was an aggressive, tenacious tackle from what I could see, but I also loved the reaction of the referee Rebecca.
“She took her time to make the decision, and it was the right one of course, but her calmness and focus has to be applauded.”
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw had opened the scoring for City three minutes after Stanway was sent off for a lunge on Leah Galton.
Substitute Staniforth then equalised for the home side directing a corner in at the near post, before Russo put United ahead with a strike from 18 yards out.
White brought City level less than five minutes later, the striker pouncing on the rebounding save from a Jess Park drive to score from close range.
The draw sees Manchester City stay in ninth place as the league heads into the international break, while United moved into third with fourth-place Chelsea set to play tomorrow.
“It was another good experience for us, and it’s another part of the process and the progress we’re making,” Skinner added,
“We know we can be better, but we’ll continue to work hard on that.
“It’s a missed opportunity to get three points, yes, but I still see this as a good step forward in terms of mentality and us being together as a team.
“I see our team growing together – we’re making good steps and strides and we’re getting ourselves into good positions.
“It’s all things to look at, and we can take heart from the way we played today.”
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