Manchester United moved up to second in the Women’s Super League with a resounding 3-0 victory over Brighton at Leigh Sports Village.

Ella Toone gave the home side the lead inside two minutes and set up Hinata Miyazawa for United’s second, with Celine Bizet’s long-range effort rounding off the scoring 20 minutes from time.

Brighton failed to register a single shot on target and have taken just one point from their last four league games.

United were unchanged from the XI which started the eye-catching 4-2 derby win over Manchester City last weekend, with Elisabeth Terland making her 50th WSL appearance against her former club.

And it was Terland who set up the opening goal with a delightful reverse pass which found Toone in plenty of space inside the box, the in-form England international – who scored a hat-trick against City – calmly slotting a low shot beyond Sophie Baggaley.

While Baggaley will feel she could have done better with Toone’s effort she was powerless to prevent Miyazawa drilling home United’s second goal in the 11th minute.

Miyazawa was left completely unmarked on the edge of the area to receive Toone’s free-kick and, although her first right-footed shot was blocked, Miyazawa simply rifled the rebound – with her left foot – into the bottom corner.

United came close to extending their lead just before the interval when Jayde Riviere was set clear down the right and sent in a low cross that Leah Galton, at full stretch, could only divert wide of the far post.

Straight from the goal-kick, Brighton were almost punished for losing possession trying to play out from the back but Baggaley came to the rescue with a double save from Miyazawa and Terland.

Brighton’s best chance of the half came when Nikita Parris sprinted clear from inside her own half as United vainly appealed for offside but the former United striker was unable to get a shot away and the danger was cleared.

Brighton manager Dario Vidosic unsurprisingly made three changes at half-time with Vicky Losada, Marisa Olislagers and Bruna Vilamala replaced by Pauline Bremer, Maisie Symonds and Jorelyn Carabali.

The substitutions had the desired effect and Brighton began to offer more of an attacking threat, although Parris somehow skied a shot over the bar from just three yards out following a flicked on corner.

United responded to the threat by putting the result beyond doubt in spectacular fashion, Bizet nutmegging a Brighton defender before firing home a swerving shot from 25 yards which simply proved too high for Baggaley’s despairing dive.