Manchester City concluded their disappointing Women’s Super League campaign with a win as they beat relegated Crystal Palace 5-2 at the Joie Stadium having twice been behind.

Palace took a shock lead early on through Ashleigh Weerden and, after Kerolin’s leveller, went in at the break 2-1 up thanks to a Mille Gejl finish.

City recovered in the second half as substitute Jill Roord, having had a shot turned onto a post by Shae Yanez, made things all square and Rebecca Knaak scored two headers either side of a Kerolin strike.

They had gone into their final fixture already guaranteed to finish outside the Champions League places in fourth after last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

City ended 17 points adrift of unbeaten title-winners Chelsea, a year on from being runners-up behind them on goal difference.

Amid the struggles of their injury-hit season, City sacked Gareth Taylor in March, putting former boss Nick Cushing in interim charge for the remaining games.

A major question from here is whether Cushing, who is to oversee City in the inaugural World Sevens Football event later this month, will stay on, with the 40-year-old insisting ahead of Saturday’s match that “no conversations” had taken place on that front.

Like City, Palace will also be looking to bounce back in 2025-26, the Eagles’ relegation being confirmed with two games to go of their maiden WSL campaign as their decision to replace promotion-winning boss Laura Kaminski with Leif Smerud proved not enough to save them.

Having gone close through Laia Aleixandri’s header, City found themselves a goal down just four minutes into the contest when Weerden collected Gejl’s pass and fired past Khiara Keating.

Palace had a chance to score again soon after, Molly-Mae Sharpe shooting wide.

But Kerolin brought things level in the 17th minute as she got past Allyson Swaby and cracked the ball home.

Palace were not deterred and, after Jess Park passed up a good chance at the other end, her shot being saved by Yanez, they got their second five minutes before the break as Gejl connected with Katie Stengel’s lay-off to stroke into the net.

Early in the second half Lauren Hemp beat Yanez only for the flag to go up for offside and Stengel curled wide.

Roord, one of two players brought on by Cushing at the interval, then saw her shot brilliantly tipped against a post by Yanez.

Keating made a double save to deny Stengel before City continued to push and they equalised in the 64th minute when Kerolin, having just sent a shot into Yanez’s arms when looking certain to score, saw another effort parried and Roord followed up to finish from close range.

Three minutes later the home side were in front, Knaak heading in from Hemp’s corner.

City then added gloss in the closing stages, Kerolin striking in the 86th minute having been played in by Aoba Fujino, the other player introduced at half time, who provided a further assist as she teed up another Knaak header in stoppage time.