Having seen off PSG in their first Women’s Champions League game at Old Trafford on Wednesday, United came into the derby full of confidence but perhaps low on energy.
It’s new territory for United and Skinner – to manage a squad on multiple fronts and play against big-hitting opposition with just two days’ rest.
There were four changes to the starting XI, including the return of playmaker Ella Toone and forward Elisabeth Terland, but from the first minute they couldn’t match the energy of Manchester City.
“We won’t use it as an excuse. We had an advantage on City last year in that sense,” said Skinner.
“We have to design a squad and have an impact in the winter transfer window to support the players, who are giving everything. It wasn’t a lack of commitment.
“I felt the players gave as much as they could, they just switched off. That can be tiredness and fatigue but we can’t accept that, and we have to fix that.”
Boosted by the return of Hemp, City’s frontline immediately put United under pressure as right-back Jayde Riviere was given a torrid opening 45 minutes.
Hinata Miyazawa did her best to pull the strings in midfield but there was very little opportunity for United to push forward, having been pinned inside their own half for much of the match.
They failed to record a shot on target by half-time – a worrying statistic for a team who found themselves 3-0 down and short of ideas at Etihad Stadium.
Returning midfielder Park fired an effort off the outside of the post in the second half but it was City who looked more likely to extend their lead, with Shaw coming close twice later on.
United have had a strong start to the campaign but back-to-back WSL defeats has harmed their early title challenge and they will welcome the international break coming up to regroup.