Here is Suzanne Wrack’s report.
Well that was an absorbing and high-quality match that, while its fluency was slightly hobbled by the windy conditions, remained in the balance until the end. Chelsea’s defensive resilience and early assertiveness just about merited victory against a City side who were outthought and outfought early on but improved as the game went on and asked a lot of questions of Chelsea’s rearguard.
It all sets up an absolute humdinger of a match on Friday night, when Arsenal visit Kingsmeadow. Momentum is undoubtedly with second-placed Chelsea now and it’ll be one not to miss. Today’s match also tees up next month’s League Cup final nicely. It’ll probably be a bit less blustery then too.
Suzanne Wrack’s match report will be up on the site imminently. Thanks for reading. Bye.
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Gareth Taylor speaks: “It was a game of two halves,” says the City manager, “both teams struggled into the wind and I’m just proud of the second-half performance. I thought we really dominated. We did evertything but score but credit to Chelsea they put bodies on the line and did really well.
“I told them to be patient at half-time, and our pressing was better, we created real good half-chances but had opportunities to create more than that but got to give credit to Chelsea, a team resolite at the back like that. We prpobaly did enough, poor go al to give away, we completely dominated and chelsea were hanging on y the skin of their teeth.
Emma Hayes: “It is the tightest league campaign and I’ve said before that league titles are decided in the second half of the season. We’re three points closer to where we want to get to be through. And that Arsenal derby game [this Friday night] before a packed crowd will be as big as it gets.”
And a word with Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert, the BBC’s player of the match: “We’re absolutely delighted, from back to front we worked our absolute socks off. Me and Lucy [Bronze] always have a bit of a fight and I always enjoy those battles. I don’t think City had a lot of chances and I was disappointed not to get a penalty. Am really happy for [goalscorer Guro Reiten] - she’s been working so hard and happy for her to get the goal today.”
That’s a massively significant win for Chelsea, putting another league title firmly in their hands, two points behind the leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. They defended with tenacity and intelligence against a City side who grew in menace as the game went on. It ends the visitors’ impressive unbeaten run and, probably, any outside chance of the title.
Full-time: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester City
Chelsea have held on!
90+3 mins: I say that, but City have one last chance when Weir wriggles clear in the box and has a shot clear. But only to Hemp who sends a swirling cross into a danger area but Berger gathers
90+2 mins: it looks as if Chelsea have weathered the storm now.
Three added minutes will be played.
90 mins: Chelsea break and a long ball has James through on goal and forces Roebuck out of her box. The keeper just gets there first and now City charge forward again and Weir puts an angled cross-shot way over. A waste.
89 mins: Those substitutions have really galvanised the visitors, but it’s Chelsea who now make one more: Drew Spence for Reiten.
87 mins: Another City chance! A fine cross from Bronze down the right is headed out to Hemp whose acrobatic half-volley is excellently headed away by Bright with Berger beaten.
86 mins: Chelsea chance this time, James’s low shot needing to be parried aside by a diving Roebuck. This is a hell of a finish.
85 mins: White comes close to dispossessing Berger with a characteristically enthusiastic challenge forcing the keeper to slice into the stands. From the throw there’s more scrambling inside the box as three shots in a row are blocked. Good defending but these are nervy moments for Chelsea.
83 mins: Another menacing cross into the Chelsea box drops for Weir but she can’t quite bring it under control and Chelsea clear.
82 mins: City sub: White for Stanway, Chelsea sub: James for Kerr.
81 mins: Losada brings some more space and range to City’s game and gives Hemp room to roam down the right for a dangerous low cross that Chelsea clear.
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79 mins: Some neat passing between Hemp, Losada and Weir ends with Hemp curling over. We haven’t seen enough of that sort of linked-up fluency from City but they’re finding more space now.
78 mins: Blakstad leads an attack down the City left but Carter gets in front of her and wins a foul after the sub pulls her back. She’s had a fine game, Carter.
76 mins: A rare break for Chelsea through Kerr but her left wing cross is cleared and City now attack again before Carter holds off Weir. Chelsea are having to dig in now.
75 mins: That corner is repelled too but City are coming on strong now, Blakstad having had an impact.
73 mins: … but that’s headed clear too after a raking delivery into the box. It comes out to Hemp who drives down the right this time and wins a corner. That’s worked out to Losada then Hemp, whose shot is deflected for another corner.
72 mins: City continue to press and Hemp wins them another attacking throw, but Chelsea smother them and deny space once again and they have to go back to go forward, as so often today. The visitors eventually win a free-kick on the left …
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70 mins: City win a corner on the left through Weir. Losada takes it, but it’s low and poor but bounces off for another one. Greenwood delivers this one, which is better, but still nodded clear.
69 mins: Chelsea’s press continues to do its job, this time squeezing Bronze in the inside-right channel and winning back possession.
67 mins: Chelsea subs: Kirby and Fleming for Harder and Charles. Some handy bench options there, though Harder was excellent.
66 mins: City win a free-kick on the left. It’s floated straight to Berger
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65 mins: A battle royale in centre mid between Blakstad and Cuthbert ends with the latter coming out on top, forging forward and winning a free-kick. Cuthbert’s swirling delivery is headed clear from the edge of the area and the danger passes for now.
63 mins: Weir gets a rare run and sight at goal but her low shot is easily saved by Berger.
62 mins: Handball shout as Harder’s cross from the left byline smacks off Greenwood’s arm. Nothing given.
60 mins: The battle between Hemp and Carter on City’s left is developing nicely, this time Carter holding off the City wide player’s run.
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58 mins: City subs: Losada and Blakstad, on her WSL debut, come on for Shaw and Park
56 mins: Cuthbert drives into the area and has a decent penalty shout turned down after being bundled over by Mace, but it looks as if the defender got the right side of her opponent. Nothing given
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53 mins: Bronze does show some attacking smarts, winning a throw on the right near the cornner. It’s worked out to Stanway who feeds Stokes then Hemp, whose awkward cross billows over to the far post where a stretching Park can only volley into the stand.
52 mins: City have had a greater share of possession since half-time but it’s Chelsea who look more like scoring on the break, with Kerr now more prominent.
50 mins: Another Chelsea chance. Reiten has a clear sight at go al after Harder dummies Kerr’s cross but her shot is well blocked by Bronze, who’s had a quiet game in attack but defended excellently there.
49 mins: Another Kerr break and this time Ruby Mace holds her up, forcing her wide and winning the ball back.
47 mins: Chelsea chance! A swift breakaway with Harder sliding in Sam Kerr who gets ahead of the two centre backs on the inside left channel but just slides the one-on-one opportunity wide.
46 mins: What can City do with the wind in their favour? They have a decent spell of possession that ends with a loose ball from Mace on halfway.
Peep! We go again, Chelsea kicking off.
Emma Hayes has found a hair bobble and the players are back out.
In the men’s FA Cup, Liverpool are 2-0 up against Cardiff. Scott Murray is describing it here:
And in the WSL, Everton lead Reading 1-0
Here’s the goal, if you fancy another look:
The @Guro_Reiten goal AND the Chelsea fans! 🤩👏#CFCWpic.twitter.com/micF1YJtgI
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) February 6, 2022
Chelsea just about deserve that lead, having mastered the conditions quicker and dominating the first 25 minutes but Man City found a bit more rhythm and menace in the later stages of the half. Still hard to call. Don’t go anywhere!
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Half-time: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester City
Walsh plays in Hemp down the left but Chelsea keep them back and their press keeps them at bay until half-time whistle blows.
One minute to be added on
44 mins: almost a clanger from Roebuck who spills a high ball in the wind but thankfully for her there’s no one able to capitalise.
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43 mins: Chelsea get a spell of territorial dominance but City doing a better pressing job now with Fleming dispossessed by Stokes.
41 mins: Shaw is becoming more bothersome to the Chelsea defence and almost exploits the swirling wind to get a clear shot at goal inside the area but Chelsea clear. City are having their best spell at the moment
39 mins: Chances for Man City! City win a free-kick on the left this time after the lively Hemp is again impeded. It’s whipped across the entire area before being knocked back to Park whose left-foot effort has to be pushed behind by Berger. City’s best chance so far.
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37 mins: A more promising spell from City, who win a free-kick on the right when Cuthbert fouls Hemp. Greenwood’s delivery is headed back out to Mace, who can’t quite get on top of the bouncing ball and spears it over with the keeper Berger prostrate on the floor.
34 mins: Kerr wins a header in the middle of the park and nods it out right to Harder to build another attack but this time City’s rearguard smothers. Chelsea have been quieter in attack in the past 10 minutes or so.
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32 mins: Having bigged up Carter, I should add that City are finding more opportunity down their left, with Stokes prominent. Again Chelsea crowd them out though.
30 mins: Hemp forges forward and reaches the edge of the box before being brilliantly dispossessed by Carter’s sliding challenge. The Chelsea right-back has impressed so far.
29 mins: A chance for Shaw who gets in front of the defender from Park’s neat nudge forward but Berger rushes out to save. Better from City though.
28 mins: An attacking chance for City! Hemp does brilliantly on the left, skins Carter and skims a dangerous low cross across the six-yard box but there’s no one following in.
27 mins: Park does well to win City an attacking throw on the right but they just can’t find room with the ensuing possession and every time Chelsea counter with greater speed and incision. Though this attack comes to nowt.
23 mins: Now City attack down the left, winning a throw in a promising position but again they lose possession when Bronze is robbed. Stanway wins it back and begins another spell of possession but Chelsea are pressing brilliantly and win it back and are immediately on the attack with Harder having a low cross-shot blocked on the left by Roebuck.
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21 mins: Harder is running this game and she threads another diagonal ball across the area for Kerr whose effort is blocked but Reiten pulls it back for Ingle who has a firm shot blocked.
20 mins: City can’t find the final ball at the moment and are in the unusual position of struggling for possession, most of which Chelsea have.
18 mins: A scare for Chelsea as Fleming’s back pass buts Berger under pressure from Shaw, but she lacks support from the rebound and Chelsea clear.
16 mins: Chelsea threaten another as Harder crosses from the left byline for Kerr whose header isn’t quite powerful enough.
It was a lovely cross from the right by Carter that Reiten rose brilliantly to meet and angle across Roebuck, who didn’t know whether to come or stay. Chelsea have settled the better in these conditions and deserve to be ahead.
Goal! Chelsea 1-0 Man City (Reiten 14)
A lovely deft header gives the Blues the lead.
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13 mins: Kerr tries a header from distance after another good Chelsea move instigated by Harder but it’s easily gathered by Roebuck.
12 mins: Cuthbert robs Greenwood as she tries to play it out and feeds Kerr whose ball in is cleared. Chelsea come again on the left this time but Bronze clears.
10 mins: The wind is blowing brutally in the direction of City’s goal, with a blootered clearance barely travelling 10 yards and from the ensuing scramble Chelsea win a free-kick just inside City’s half. It’s belted into the first defender, Cuthbert tries to forge a shooting opportunity from the rebound but her effort is blocked too.
7 mins: City could do with a calmer spell of possession and they get one, knocking it from left to right and back before winning an attacking throw, from which Stokes forges down the left and delivers a decent cross that is cleared by Nouren.
6 mins: Harder wants a free-kick when upended by Walsh just outside the box on the inside left but no dice. They win a corner from Cuthbert that swirls and curls and has to be nodded off the line.
4 mins: A bit of risky defending from City almost lets Kerr in before the visitors break but the cross from the left is easily gathered by Berger in goal.
2 mins: City have most of the early possession but Chelsea hold them at arm’s length, and threaten a move themselves when Andersson and Kerr combine down the left but City clear.
Peep! And City get us under way, attacking the covered home terrace
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Chelsea are lined up in what looks a 4-3-3, Man City likewise with Park, Shaw and Hemp the front trident.
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Out come the players at a sunny but windy Kingsmeadow, to the refrain of Liquidator …
The managers have been speaking at a blustery Kingsmeadow. Emma Hayes is pleased to be welcoming back Sam Kerr. “She’s a big boost, with her personality and is a livewire in the dressing room. I love watching her movement, which is outstanding and brings us a lot even though team have done well in her absence.” Of the conditions she adds: “I wonder wether I’ve got any hairbands because it’s’ really swirling around. Set pieces will be key.”
Gareth Taylor says Manchester City still consider themselves to be in the title race. “There’s a lot of movement between fixtures at the moment and we’re just hanging on in there making sure we can take advantage when the opportunity arises.”
Alex Greenwood had a good old chinwag with our Louise Taylor earlier in the week, about City’s uneven season, England under Sarina Wiegman and more:
The more competitive nature of the WSL this season has prompted calls for it to expand, not least from today’s two managers, Emma Hayes and Gareth Taylor. “I want it to go to 14 teams. I want more games, that’s the next step for our league,” Hayes says. Hard to disagree, though the gap between top and bottom in the division still needs addressing.
Team news
Chelsea line up thusly:
The Chelsea XI to take on Man City! 👊#CFCW
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) February 6, 2022
And here’s the City lineup:
📋 TEAM NEWS 📋
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) February 6, 2022
XI | Roebuck, Bronze, Mace, Greenwood (C), Stokes, Walsh, Stanway, Weir, Park, Hemp, Shaw
SUBS | Keating, Losada, White, Beckie, Raso, Kennedy, Coombs, Angeldahl, Blakstad#ManCity | @HaysTechnology pic.twitter.com/EpYBFf0ePa
Preamble
Greetings everyone, and welcome to another pivotal fixture in a WSL title race of proper intrigue, twists and turns. A fixture that at one point looked like a mere tussle over the runners-up spot behind Arsenal now has real significance, with Chelsea able to catch the leaders with their games in hand and Manchester City renascent after their dreadful start. They may be fifth but they’re not completely out of this, especially as they are unbeaten since mid-November, when a still injury-ravaged side were hammered 4-0 by the opponents they face today.
City are in ruder health now as they go into a game that will also serve as a prequel to the League Cup final, both sides having won semi-finals in midweek. And with Arsenal next up for Chelsea in the WSL, Emma Hayes may be inclined to rotate her squad a little. City’s squad is of course formidable, and their attack in particular is purring at the moment. They dazzled against Spurs on Thursday, while Georgia Stanway became the club’s record scorer with her FA Cup hat-trick at Nottingham Forest last weekend – at the age of only 23.
We should be set up for a cracker. Kick-off: 12.30pm GMT.
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