Gareth Taylor says Manchester City are ready for another tough St Polten test

Gareth Taylor admitted Manchester City’s first Champions League meeting with St Polten was an “eye-opener” ahead of their reverse fixture on Thursday.

The sides previously met in October, where Mary Fowler’s 80th-minute header snatched three points for City to claim a 3-2 victory.

City have won all four of their Group D games to qualify for the quarter-finals, but Taylor warned that there are “no easy” Champions League games ahead of their penultimate group match.

Speaking about October’s encounter with St Polten, Taylor said: “I learned there are no easy games in the Champions League regardless of what you see previously on paper, particularly an away fixture like that was a bit of an eye-opener.

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“There were a lot of learnings from that game, for sure. To be honest there were potentially too many changes in that game and had to get some personnel onto the pitch.

“We are a very young team, but we had an exceptionally young team that night, academy players playing in those types of games is a big ask.

“I was really impressed with the way the game returned, I remember Mary Fowler scoring in that game and again at the weekend, she’s starting to play some really good football at the moment.”

City could be confirmed as group winners on Thursday night if they beat St Polten and Barcelona do not win.

Barca sit three points behind Taylor’s side, who recorded a stunning 2-0 victory over the defending champions in October thanks to goals from Naomi Layzell and Khadija Shaw.

City and Barca face each other again in their final group match next Wednesday and, having already qualified for the knockouts, Taylor insists City’s focus is now on finishing top.

“When you looked at the nature of the group, we knew we were in there with some good teams and one very good team, who’ve been at the top for a very long time,” he said.

“We were under no illusions that we had work to do but we’ll very much take it – as boring as it sounds – on a game-by-game basis.

“Before you know it we’re four games in, top in the league, which may have surprised a few people, but for us now it’s continuing in these final two games.

“First objective is achieved, second objective is can we finish top of the group.”

Taylor revealed that Jill Roord will be monitored ahead of the game along with Chloe Kelly, who missed Sunday’s victory over Leicester due to concussion, while forward Vivianne Miedema has returned to training on the pitch.

“Viv is back out on the pitch, which is great. I think the reality is that we won’t see her in these next three games before we break,” Taylor said.

“But looking forward to getting her back in early January for when we restart, which is going to be a big boost for everyone because she’s a top player and I think any team would miss having a player like that.

“Chloe Kelly is close, it’s probably going to be touch and go for tomorrow’s game just in terms of the protocol, there was a few existing symptoms she was suffering with.

“If it’s not tomorrow night, hopefully it’ll be Sunday.”