Two Women’s Super League stars were left comparing the bumps on their foreheads after a nasty collision in the Manchester derby on Saturday.
Manchester United’s Simi Awujo and Man City’s Jade Rose caused a long stoppage late in the second half after a sickening clash of skulls going for a header.
Medical staff carried out concussion protocols and Awujo had to come off, though they were both eventually up and walking.
It was a grim reminder of how brutal football can be on what was a punishing afternoon for United, who lost 3-0 away from home to lose ground in the WSL title race.
City are now four points clear of second-placed Chelsea, having played a game more, while United are seven points off their rivals in third.
Neither club has commented on Awujo or Rose’s condition but the latter posed for a picture showing off her bump on Instagram, sticking a thumb up and writing: ‘Can’t say I didn’t put my body on the line.’
Man United’s Simi Awujo and Man City’s Jade Rose suffered a sore clash of heads on Saturday
The duo were left in pain after competing for a header and required concussion protocols
Rose was snapped by her team-mate Alex Greenwood afterwards and appeared in good spirits
City have now won eight out of their nine Women’s Super League assignments and manager Andree Jeglertz was delighted after his first derby win.
‘Fantastic. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it because it was so intense in the game,’ he told BBC Sport.
‘Just looking at the performance in general and the result, it’s a great experience.
‘I think we struggled a little bit in the last game about getting a solid defending part.
‘For us to get a clean sheet and not concede that many opportunities for them is a big boost for the future.
‘It’s always about what we can do better, what we can improve and so on.’
Manchester United gaffer Marc Skinner told BBC Sport: ‘We deserved it. We gave City those goals. It’s a set piece where we didn’t get first contact or second contact, that’s on us. Then we don’t defend a run into the box. Then we play out from the back when we should probably kick it.
‘It wasn’t like they dominated us, that’s the scary thing. I felt this is a City team where you can get at them and I’m disappointed we didn’t do that today.’
United had been dealing with a tight turnaround after beating Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, when Awujo had made her first start in the competition.
