Chelsea moved to the top of the Women's Super League with a narrow 1-0 win over title rivals Man United thanks to a brilliant finish from Sam Kerr.
United came into the game a point clear at the top of the table but the title holders took control of the race with a huge victory, in a game of few clear-cut chances. Kerr opened the scoring with a superb finish from Lauren James' pinpoint pass from deep-lying midfield, the Aussie taking the ball down under pressure before chipping Mary Earps.
United very nearly hit straight back when Ella Toone fired across the face of goal, while Alessia Russo also went close of spinning in the box only to fire straight at Ann-Katrin Berger. The visitors could also feel hard done-by not to have a got a penalty when Nikita Parris looked to have been tripped in the penalty area, with Marc Skinner voicing his displeasure to the referee at half-time.
Kerr was inches away from grabbing her second after half-time when her curling effort beat Earps, only to fly past the post. But the game became very scrappy and United failed to consistently test Berger, who did have to hold a Katie Zelem free-kick from close range.
Here are the key talking points as Chelsea claimed a vital win.
Title race now firmly in Blues' hands
Their week may have started by a crushing cup final defeat that ended their quadruple hopes, but Chelsea have bounced back in impressive fashion. After a comfortable win over Brighton kept them on United's heels they moved back to the top.
This crucial win sends them two points clear of United and they still have a game in-hand. Even a draw would have been a great result for the visitors but the defeat leaves them with real work to do in the title race.
Chelsea have been remarkably consistent since that opening-day defeat to Liverpool and they are now right in the driving seat to claim the title for a fourth year on the spin.
In truth, it was a scrappy contest, particularly in the second half. But Chelsea won while not at their best - the classic sign of champions. Arsenal and Man City, as well as United, won't count themselves out. But most would back to Chelsea to get over the line from this position.
United cutting edge deserts them when needed most
Man Utd had only lost once in the WSL before today, a 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture back in November. But they were unable to create many clear-cut chances against a well-oiled Blues defence.
Toone did send an effort narrowly wide just after they fell behind and they did have a ten-minute spell in the second half where they managed a decent spell of territory. But for a side who had scored just as many as Chelsea coming into today, Marc Skinner will be disappointed with his sides' lack of goal threat.
Alessia Russo worked hard up top, but Millie Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan were outstanding against her, never giving the England forward a moment to turn into space. United have generally spread the goals across their team throughout the season, but for the first time in the campaign they looked slightly one-dimensional in attack.
In the last ten minutes bar of couple of long balls into the box, you never really felt an equaliser was coming.
Lauren James leaves mark against former club
Emma Hayes once again shuffled her pack for this one, bringing Lauren James back into the starting line-up against her former club. And the Lionesses break-out star of 2023 came back to haunt United, producing a magnificent long-range pass from her own half to set Kerr racing away in behind the defence for the only goal in the 23rd minute.
It wasn't one of her barnstorming displays, that we saw at the recent Arnold Clark Cup. But she was disciplined tactically against a high-quality opposition and produced a moment of magic to unlock the United defence.
James was withdrawn just after the hour for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, but Hayes will be pleased with what she saw from her in-form star.
Hayes deployment of Niamh Charles proves crucial
She isn't a player to normally grab the headlines but Niamh Charles deserves credit for her role in how solid Chelsea looked today. Spanish right-back Ona Batlle is often one of United's most dangerous attacking outlets, but she was neutralised by the impressive Charles.
United's right side of Batlle and Nikita Parris couldn't get anything out of Charles and Jess Carter in the first half, with manager Marc Skinner later electing to switch Parris to the other flank in the second half, with limited success.
The Blues clean sheet was built on excellent displays from Bright and Buchanan at the back, but Charles was one of the best players in a blue shirt, ensuring that Chelsea didn't miss Guro Reiten as much as you might have expected.
BBC's limited coverage continues to be felt
In the BBC 's first live match broadcast since the Gary Lineker saga led to a mass walk-out of on-air talent, the live television coverage of this one was the biggest "off the field" talking point. Although the game was still broadcast live on BBC Two, there was no pre-match or post-match analysis.
Viewers had to make do with one sole commentator in Nigel Adderley describing the action, the BBC using the world feed commentary. It was disappointing to see such basic coverage of the biggest game of the season so far, if ever a game deserved the full treatment it was this one.
But it was also inevitable, as the BBC's handling of the situation continues to be scrutinised. After the game no post-match interviews were shown with the Beeb abruptly ending the broadcast.
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