Chelsea cemented top spot in the Women's Super League on the last day before the international break with a 5-0 win at Bristol City – a warning to the West Country side of what they can expect at next month's Conti Cup final between the teams.
Though brave in defence, and doing their best to tightly mark the visitors, City went down to two goals from Fran Kirby, strikes from Pernille Harder and Beth England, and a header from Sam Kerr.
As Kerr buzzed down the left and Kirby raced down the right, it was a triumph for good wing work on a Twerton Park pitch which cut up badly in heavy second-half rain.
Emma Hayes was particularly pleased with the swift start. There has been criticism, most of it justified, that the Blues have been slow starters, often gifting their opponents the run of the pitch for the first 15 minutes.
Not so against Bristol. "We came out of the blocks really well," said the gaffer. "Our one and two-touch play was as good as I've seen it, and I'm as happy with the performance as I am with the result."
Hayes denied Kirby a chance of a hat-trick by substituting her in the second half; a deliberate move as she tries to protect her star striker and preserve her fitness following last year's long lay-off. "Fran was disappointed," admitted Hayes. "But she's doing everything I ask – she goes above and beyond."
Chelsea now seem to be running as smoothly as their serious league title challengers Man City, and as the remainder of the season plays out it increasingly looks like a two-horse race to the finish line.
Both Chelsea and Man City are in the Round of 16 of the Women's Champions League, both with home ties first.
Tuesday's draw paired the Blues with Atletico Madrid and City with Fiorentina. The first leg is being played at Kingsmeadow on 3 or 4 March, with the away fixture days after the journey across London to play West Ham on Sunday 7 March.
The window of hope for Bristol City in the Conti Cup final is that it will come just four days after that away leg against Madrid, with Hayes putting out a full-strength side for the match against the Spaniards.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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