Thank you so much for joining me for this top of the table clash. Chelsea have leapfrogged Manchester City with their 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge. You can recap all of the action in the report below. We will be back tomorrow with coverage of the last three games of the weekend, see you then!
Player of the match Erin Cuthbert told Sky: “I think it is fair to say I need recovery after that. It doesn’t matter how tired your legs are when you get a result like that.”
And on the new manager: “I see a lot of similarities between Emma and Sonia. Emma left a good foundations for Sonia to build on.”
I think another thing we have learned today is don’t rely on my match predictions. I really thought Shaw would find the winner today.
This is the aftermath of the foul that could have ruled out the first goal. I think if the referee saw it again it may have been ruled out, it looked like a shove.
When Emma Hayes departed Chelsea there were a few whispers that their silverware run may come to an end with such an icon leaving. But under Sonia Bompastor the team have seemed to find another gear. This is also a team that has Kerr, Fishel, Ingle, Charles and James to welcome back from injury.
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Full time: Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City
Ramirez broke the deadlock and Reiten doubled Chelsea’s lead to go top of the Women’s Super League with a momentous 2-0 win over their title rivals. This most definitely lays down a marker as the defending champions keep their winning run going.
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90 + 5 min: Kaneryd plays with the City defence like a cat and a mouse but eventually they win duel with Kaneryd playing it out of play.
90 + 3 min: Cuthbert has been named player of the match and just as she is Kaneryd takes aim at goal but Yamashita collects.
90 + 1 min: Beever-Jones comes on for Ramirez and Stamford Bridge erupts in applause. She is such an asset to this team. It is crazy to think Chelsea still have Kerr and Fishel to come back, Ramirez will be keeping them out of a shirt if she continues like this. There will be six minutes added.
90 min: Fujino makes a great run and she lays it off to Coombs, she whallops it goalward but Hampton collects.
88 min: That was bold from Hampton, Shaw was running after a ball and the keeper came out to take it. She did get to it first but had she not it was an open goal.
87 min: I would love to hear the tactics and the motivational talks Bompastor has because if this result stays as it is she would have won every single game in charge. I think it’s 11 games across all competitions. Crazy.
85 min: Chelsea have a corner and the delivery is good but nothing comes of it. I thought Bronze had hit that out but the officials give Chelsea another corner. Baltimore takes it and Nusken gets a header but it’s wide.
83 min: City’s defence looks slightly shaky since the second goal but their attacking options are still deadly, if they can find Shaw or Kelly who knows what could happen. The defence doesn’t hold up and Kaneryd has acres of space but Greenwood put in a phenomenal effort to block it. What a player Greenwood is. Lawrence is on for Reiten.
81 min: Kelly and Coombs are now on for City. I was surprised Kelly didn’t start the match with Hemp out. Ramirez almost makes it three but City do enough to stop her.
The delivery from the corner was good but it was blocked, it fell to Reiten who had so much space and she slotted home. That’s surely the game. Huge.
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GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City (Reiten, 80)
Wow.
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79 min: Ramirez picks up a ball that was loose from the City defence, she lays it off to Kaneryd but it’s deflected out by Greenwood. Corner to come.
78 min: I think City can feel slightly aggrieved with that foul not being blown up, if VAR was in play I think it would have been reviewed. City look to strike back straight away and Shaw has a shot straight at Hampton. Chelsea counter and Reiten goes just wide. My word I am typing so fast to keep up with this action.
Hamano found Ramirez, she was crowded by two defenders and City think Ramirez had fouled Kennedy. Referree didn’t blow so Ramirez kept running and it was a clinical finish. What a player. What a goal.
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GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Manchester City (Ramirez, 75)
What a goal.
75 min: There isn’t a lot to report from the past few minutes, Chelsea are still pressing really high.
73 min: A lot of possession based football but no chances created, I think we are heading for a stalemate.
71 min: Shaw is now back on the pitch, great to see.
71 min: There isn’t VAR for this game and so the referee can’t review this. I think the challenge from Ramirez is debatable but the pain for Shaw came as her arm was stood on when she was on the ground. It looks like a jumping player has landed on her arm. She is back to her feet but it is unclear if she will continue.
69 min: The corner delivery came in but Shaw was tackled by Ramirez and the City fans want a penalty but it hasn’t been given. Shaw has stayed down and Hampton has signalled to the referee that she needs treatment. She looks in a lot of pain.
68 min: It looked like a promising move by Ramirez but the offside flag is up. City counter and oh my word Baltimore has just executed one of the best recovery tackles I’ve seen in a long time. I was sure Fujino was going to score but it’s out for a corner instead.
66 min: Batlimore makes a great challenge on Fujino but then she does it right back, that battle between them has been so entertaining. Chelsea do manage to clear.
64 min: The high press pays off there for Chelsea. Ramirez pressures Yamashita which forces a poor pass and it’s out for a throw. The Blues have a good platform but they just can’t do anything with it and end up back with Hampton.
62 min: The crowd want a Chelsea free kick as Ramirez is fouled on the halfway line but it isn’t given and City are on the charge. Fujino and Baltimore battle in the box and the Chelsea player comes out on top to relieve pressure.
61 min: Chelsea’s area is like an arcade full of pinball machines at the moment. Chelsea get it in the box and they keep having chances with City unable to clear. It ends with Nusken’s effort going wide.
60 min: Cuthbert tries to pick a pass to the wing but it deflects to Ramirez, she squares it back to the Scotland international but her shot rolls across the face of goal.
58 min: It is starting to feel like this match could end 0-0. The two teams are going toe-to-toe and there really is not a lot to separate them.
56 min: Greenwood and Park are both stood over the ball, it is Greenwood who takes it and she picks out Shaw at the far corner but it’s wide.
55 min: Park tries to cross in but Nusken blocks and concedes a corner. The delivery was great to pick out Shaw, a lovely run, but it bounces into Hampton’s hands. A few moments later Shaw wins a free kick in a great position.
53 min: It’s taken short and it’s put into the area, Bronze pops it in but Ramirez can’t turn it in. The ball comes back to Bjorn but her effort is wide. A lot more open play.
51 min: The play itself is largely the same from the first half though Chelsea’s press seems less intense. Hampton has a rogue pass, Bright deals with it but City then have a lot of time on the ball in a dangerous area. Chelsea clear and counter and Ramirez makes an amazing run but Greenwood times her tackle to perfection, she concedes a corner.
49 min: Ramirez looked to go clear there but Greenwood pulled her shirt back, absolutely a foul worth taking but she has got a yellow card for it. Chelsea have a free kick and they take it short, it feels like the wrong idea. Bronze eventually pelts it in but Cuthbert is offside.
47 min: No half-time changes for either side. I have been made aware that Usain Bolt is at Stamford Bridge to watch this match.
Back underway! Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City
So will the top two share the points? Or can someone find a winner? All to come.
I have to stick to my prediction, which was a 1-0 City win, but so far Chelsea look the more likely to score.
That half went by so quickly, a cracking game so far. Kaneryd and Hamano impressive so far, as is Greenwood.
Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City
There have been chances for both teams but they have not been clinical enough to break the deadlock yet. The top two cannot be separated.
45 + 1 min: Bjorn gets a yellow card for pulling Shaw’s shirt, so City will play out the final parts of this half.
45 + 1 min: Chelsea are next to have a chance with Kaneryd in a good spot, she tries to switch feet and Kennedy sees it out for a corner. Hamano takes it but the resulting shots are blocked. There will be two minutes added.
45 min: Fowler takes the corner and Shaw meets it but it’s wide, she puts her head in her hands afterwards knowing what a chance that was.
44 min: City have a really long build-up and Roord plays a delightful ball to Casparji who shoots and Hampton’s save pushes it out for a corner.
42 min: Greenwood puts in a long ball and tries to find Shaw but Hampton reads it and she collects.
40 min: Ramirez is okay to continue, much to the delight to the crowd who cheer when she gets back to her feet.
39 min: Greenwood is the taker and the delivery is good but it’s cleared and Ramirez is down after being hit in the face. She’ll need some treatment and so there’s a break in play.
38 min: Shaw picks up the ball from outside the box and turns and shoots but it is deflected out for City’s first corner of the game.
37 min: The football on display outside of both areas has been beautiful but as soon as there is a chance the mistakes creep in. Chelsea have the upperhand on the balance of things but no one really close to scoring yet. Fowler crosses in but Cuthbert is there to block before it finds Shaw.
35 min: Baltimore plays a ball to Reiten but she is judged offside.
33 min: Hamano makes a great recovery run to pick up a ball but Park does sensationally well to win it. Every opportunity every player has there is just a touch too much or a heavy pass, it will take one moment to break this deadlock.
31 min: City are really coming to life with their long ball plays, they have not come off yet but it’s seen their most exciting moments in this match. They are being outmuscled in the midfield at the moment so the long ball tactic makes sense.
29 min: Yamashita plays a peach of a ball to unlock City’s attack, it comes to Park but she takes a touch too many and Hampton is able to collect. Hamano then plays an awful ball and Shaw pounces again but some superb defence in the box clears the chance.
27 min: Reiten does really well in a duel with Casparji, who steals the ball but the Chelsea player wins it back. The Norway international squares it but Nusken absolutely skies the chance.
25 min: I was just about to write about how Chelsea’s execution isn’t quite there at the moment and then Baltimore played that pass. A few things have gone awry for the hosts but they are on the front foot now with Ramirez who takes a long range effort but the keeper saves.
23 min: Oh my word Baltimore’s blushes were saved there. The Chelsea player plays an awful pass and it rolls in the path of Shaw, she makes a great run but her shot it wide. Wow.
21 min: Kaneryd is away here, she makes a great run into the box and she lays it off to Hamano whose shot is just over the bar. That is the closest chance of the game so far.
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20 min: City lose out high up the pitch as Chelsea hike up the pressure but the hosts’ passing accuracy lets them down in the resulting attack with Bright coughing up the ball.
18 min: The midfield battles have been so interesting. If someone loses the ball it looks exactly like a pinball machine.
16 min: For all of their possession so far, City are yet to trouble Hampton at all. Yamashita is the goalkeeper who has been the busier.
14 min: Here come Chelsea, Kaneryd has a good run but she seems to scuff her shot and it is an easy save. Maybe she should have squared that to a teammate, two were waiting.
12 min: Bright chuckles to herself as she thinks she has fairly won the ball but Shaw wins a free kick. City build from deep and they struggle to get the ball forward. Eventually Nusken wins it and clear the danger.
11 min: How good is Greenwood? A perfectly weighted ball was about to find Kaneryd but she came sprinting across and did enough to disrupt the play. She’s so, so valuable.
9 min: Kennedy loses possession and Cuthbert tries to cross it but it’s well blocked. Then moments later up the other end Shaw almost pounces on a loose ball from Bright. Both sides level at the moment.
8 min: Chelsea players are not letting City any space whatsoever, it’s making them force passes. There has not been any errors yet from City because of it but if they keep it up it could cause issues.
6 min: Chelsea have their first sustained possession and it was a lovely cross from Kaneryd but Casaparji puts it behind for a corner. The delivery is good and Bright has a header but Yamashita collects.
4 min: Shaw wins a free kick with Ramirez fouling her. They take the set piece short and the chance is snuffed out with Chelsea’s defence disturbing the play.
3 min: City have had the lionshare of early possession but they are being put under huge pressure from Chelsea’s high press. They are being pinned in their final third at the moment.
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2 min: This is going to be such a tasty match-up. If City play as they did against Barcelona then Chelsea may be in for a long evening. But the Blues have won ever single game across all competitions so far. Two titans.
Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Manchester City
Here we go.
This is your five minute warning to grab snacks and a drink because once this game gets underway you won’t want to miss a second.
The players will be out on the Stamford Bridge pitch soon in front of what is expected to be a good crowd. Can City get one over on Chelsea? Or will the defending champions keep marching? All to come.
Do you have any predictions for this one? I don’t know why but I have a feeling Manchester City will come away with the win, I’m thinking 1-0 and Bunny Shaw will score. Get in touch and let me know your thoughts.
The North London derby has already taken place today with Arsenal winning 3-0, you can catch up with the report below. Brighton have also already played today and they beat West Ham 3-2.
Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor said: “It is more than just another game, of course. We have proven so far that we can play good stuff and have got good results along the way. We have been difficult to play against. There is no denying, these games are really important. For us, it is a good game and the fact it is Stamford Bridge gives us something different. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said: “I think this league is so competitive and all the games are really difficult. Of course, it will be an important game, but, as I said, not decisive. We are heading into this game with a lot of confidence even if we know Man City are a good squad and have good players, individually and collectively.”
Those with eagle eyes will note there is no Lauren Hemp in the squad for Man City at all. Gareth Taylor had said in the week he was positive she would be a part of the game after a knee knock but it seems the game has come too soon.
The team news is in. Chelsea have made seven changes from the side who beat Celtic midweek. Musovic, Perisset, Mpome, Lawrence, Keptein, Jena-Francios and Beever-Jones all drop out of the starting team.
Chelsea: Hampton, Bronze, Bright, Bjorn, Baltimore, Nusken, Cuthbert, Reiten, Hamano, Kaneryd, Ramirez
Manchester City, meanwhile, only make one change from their win over Hammarby in the week. Blindkilde Brown drops out for Roord.
Man City: Yamashita, Greenwood (C), Fowler, Roord, Kennedy, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Fujino, Shaw, Hasegawa
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the top of the WSL table clash between Chelsea and Manchester City. The Blues are hosting their rivals at Stamford Bridge in what is set to be one of the games of the season.
City are currently unbeaten in the league with six wins and a draw, only dropping points to Arsenal in their 2-2 draw. Chelsea, meanwhile, have won every game they have played in the league this season. They aren’t top though as they have a game in hand against Manchester United.
It’s a huge fixture which will have a bearing on how the title race shakes out come the end of the campaign. Chelsea’s new boss is the first in the WSL to win her first six league games in charge and she will be looking to extend the record tonight.
We will have a look at what has been said in the build-up shortly but first let’s take a look at some team news.
