Manchester City Women won the Continental Cup for a third time as they beat Arsenal Women 4-2 on penalties at Bramall Lane following a 0-0 draw.

Karen Bardsley saved Danielle van de Donk’s spot-kick before successful efforts from City captain Steph Houghton and substitute Janine Beckie as Nick Cushing’s side gained revenge for their 1-0 loss to the Gunners in last season’s final at Adams Park.

City – currently two points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the Women’s Super League, having played two games more – had hit the bar twice before the match went into extra-time, through Nikita Parris and Beckie.

Manchester City Women won the Continental Cup for a third time on Saturday

Joe Montemurro’s injury-hit Arsenal, five-times winners of this competition, had only five players on the bench for the contest, and most notable among them was top-scorer Vivianne Miedema, dropping out of the starting line-up as a precaution due to fatigue.

Katie McCabe came into the team for Miedema, and she produced the first attempt on goal in the ninth minute, skewing over from a good position.

As Arsenal continued to apply pressure, Beth Mead sent a shot into the stand and Houghton diverted the ball just wide of her own goal when intercepting a Van de Donk delivery.

City goalkeeper Karen Bardsley saved Danielle van de Donk’s spot-kick in penalty shootout

Janni Arnth headed over from the resulting corner, before Parris struck an ambitious effort off-target at the other end.

City almost broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time as Houghton’s header was parried by Sari van Veenendaal and Gemma Bonner failed to turn in the rebound.

And they went even closer in the 59th minute when Parris flicked a header against the bar.

Having barely threatened since the break, Arsenal then passed up a great opportunity as Arnth hit a shot wide from close-range.

Nick Cushing’s side gained revenge for their 1-0 loss to the Gunners in last season’s final

She was promptly substituted for Miedema, before City went back on the attack, with Parris firing just over.

Both sides might have won it as the 90 minutes neared a conclusion, with Van Veenendaal making good stops to deny Caroline Weir and Jill Scott, either side of Mead having a shot saved by Karen Bardsley.

Miedema struck just wide in stoppage time and Beckie then drove a fierce effort against the bar, moments before the whistle confirmed the need for extra time.

Van Veenendaal did well once again in the first half of the additional period as she blocked a Parris shot. Parris was then taken off for Lauren Hemp, who flashed a header wide and miscued another chance, with Van Veenendaal grabbing the ball, shortly after half time in extra time.

Beckie sending a dipping effort over was the only other attempt of note before penalties ensued and City were left celebrating.

Things did not look good for Cushing’s team when Van Veenendaal saved Hemp’s penalty, but Bardsley saved the next spot-kick, from Leah Williamson, to keep the score at 1-1, then kept out Van de Donk’s effort, and Houghton and Beckie subsequently made no mistake.

John Kennedy insists Brendan Rodgers is already laying the groundwork for a fourth season in charge of Celtic.

Rodgers’ future has been the subject of conjecture since last summer when he voiced his displeasure at the club’s business in the transfer window in the wake of failure to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.

Reports emanating from south of the border suggest Leicester City have been monitoring the Northern Irishman’s situation and the lack of permanence in Celtic’s January transfer business – Oliver Burke, Timothy Weah and Jeremy Toljan were all signed on six-month loans – suggest another summer of upheaval is inevitable.

John Kennedy believes Brendan Rodgers will stay at Celtic despite speculation over his future

Kennedy, one of Rodgers’ first-team coaches, insists work is already being done to freshen the squad for next term. Furthermore, he insists the former Liverpool boss, who signed a four-year deal in 2017, is content in his job.

‘There has been nothing said that would suggest Brendan isn’t going to be here,’ said Kennedy. ‘Brendan just gets on with his job. I remember the chat at some point last season was that if he got a second Treble, an English team would come calling and he’d be gone.

‘We’re getting to that point in the season again and these stories will surface in the run-in. From working with him, he’s in a very good place. He’s a terrific manager who will hopefully be successful again this season.

‘His full focus is with Celtic and the way I see it he is preparing for next season, just as he did last year and the year before.’ 

Kennedy (right) is adamant that Rodgers will remain in charge of Celtic

Thursday’s Europa League defeat to Valencia has left Celtic and Rodgers free to focus on domestic competition. The pursuit of a third consecutive Treble will continue with Sunday’s Premiership visit of Motherwell.

Eight points clear at the top, Rodgers’ team are firm favourites to land an eighth consecutive crown. Should the manager see out the remainder of his contract with title-winning campaigns, he will guide the club to a new record of 10 in a row.

Kennedy acknowledges the hype around the issue but insists players and staff cannot afford to be drawn in.

Rodgers has been linked with the Leicester job, with Claude Puel’s future under scrutiny

‘The fans and the media will do that but it would be careless for those of us on the inside too think too much about it,’ added Kennedy. 

‘Firstly, we’ve got to win eight and then before 10 there is nine. You also want to be competing in Europe and competing for trophies. When you look so far ahead, you can trip yourself up in the short term.

‘In the last two seasons, the manager’s message has been to get better game on game. That won’t change before the end of this season or even if we get closer to 10.

‘There will be hype around it, and ultimately, yeah, we want to achieve it, too. But there’s a hell of a lot of work to be done first.’