“Man City accomplished the mission” – is the race for the Women’s Premier League title over?

City is nine points ahead of Chelsea with 27 points left to play. Having won 12 straight games since an opening day defeat to the Bombastors, they look unlikely to lose three of their last nine matches.

Opponents are struggling to prevent City from scoring, let alone robbing them of points.

City have scored in their last 27 Premier League matches, their longest scoring streak in the competition, while this season they have scored an average of 2.7 goals per game (36 goals in total).

Shaw has played an important role on that front, scoring 13 league goals this season, and the Jamaican looks set to win the Golden Boot for a third successive season.

One criticism sometimes leveled at City is their reliance on Shaw. While there’s no denying her importance in Gigglertz’s system, her teammates are more than just pulling their weight.

Viviane Miedema is the WSL’s all-time leading scorer, but this season she is thriving in a withdrawn role at the helm of Shaw’s supporting cast.

It was her perfect pass that saw Kerulin score the first goal on Sunday. The Brazilian winger has contributed three goals and three assists in her past five league matches.

Now that injuries have started to appear at the start of the season, City’s strength and quality in depth cannot be overstated.

Forwards Aoba Fujino and Mary Fowler are close to returning from injury, while on the bench on Sunday were Sydney Loman, Iman Benny, Grace Clinton and Sam Coffey.

The latter, a club record £600,000 signing, made her debut off the bench and took the corner that led to Shaw’s victory.

City did not play well in south-east London, but like all great champions they found a way to win.

“There is something in their eyes, a determination that we will find ways [to win]“Gigglertz said.

“There’s something about this group that even though it’s not a pretty game, we still find ways to win and keep going.

“I am very happy and proud of this winning mentality in the group.”