Promoted side’s first few months in WSL have exceeded expectations, says delighted manager
![Casey Stoney lauds Manchester United’s response to life in fast lane](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/48cd2ae181a83241766520e8761fe675e40a4a49/0_159_3300_1980/master/3300.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdG8tZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=e968efb1598fa06b4fe5a94ac17ea6c7)
Most promoted sides, paired away with last season’s runners-up in their opening match in the top flight, would not be particularly upset by a 1-0 defeat. But that was not how Casey Stoney saw Manchester United’s loss at
Manchester City in September: “It is a strange feeling because you’re gutted you have just lost 1-0 to one of the best teams in the country but it’s because you competed so well and knew you could get more out of the game.” Her side have certainly not been treading water since in their first season in the Women’s Super League.
United sit fourth in the table, level on points with Everton, one ahead of Reading, two clear of Tottenham. They are leading the best of the rest. On Sunday they launch themselves into the second half of the campaign against Bristol City. But with an eight-point gap between themselves and third-placed
Chelsea there is still a jump to be made before they are competing at the top.