Chelsea juggernaut keeps on rolling

Another 4-0 win for Chelsea, their second in a week, with Tottenham the victims this time. Rehanne Skinner had transformed Spurs’ outlook since she joined as manager in November, and they had won three in a row before this, but after a promising start it all fell apart. Ria Percival and Kit Graham both forced saves from Ann-Katrin Berger in the opening minutes before the Germany international Melanie Leupolz scored against the run of play, from more than 25 yards to crush Tottenham’s confidence. Another goal followed two minutes later, Fran Kirby picking off an attempted pass out of defence by the Spurs keeper, Aurora Mikalsen, and squaring to Pernille Harder, whose shot deflected into the net off the unfortunate Abbie McManus. The defender thus ended her debut since arriving on loan from Manchester United with an own goal to her name, and a feeling of inevitability about the result kicked in. Ji So-yun was again unplayable at times, and her ball to Harder led to the cross that Sam Kerr headed home for the third, and at half-time there could be no way back for Spurs. Chelsea might lead the table only on goal difference (with a game in hand on Manchester United in second) but are surely heading for the title. The depth of squad they have – by far the best Emma Hayes has created – makes me excited to see whether they can fulfil their potential in the Champions League.

United punish Everton errors to stay second

Everton were boosted by the return from injury of Valérie Gauvin, who was making her first start since sustaining a muscle injury in the FA Cup final on 1 November, as well as the arrival of Jill Scott, who made her debut after signing on loan from Manchester City and became only the second player to make 150 WSL appearances and Alisha Lehmann, who came on in the second half to make her first appearance since joining on loan from West Ham. This looked an ideal opportunity for them to take points off a top-four side for the first time. But for all the progress Everton have made since Willie Kirk’s arrival they still came up short. The first half was one-way traffic as United pinned back Everton. Ella Toone scored an early goal, sweeping in the rebound after Sandy MacIver spilled Leah Galton’s cross, and Christen Press added a second shortly before half-time, cleverly holding her run and getting between the Everton defence before finishing well. There were too many errors from the home side and too much possession conceded, and though they improved to dominate the second half they couldn’t breach a stubborn defence. Casey Stoney’s side see out games very effectively, and they fully deserve their position in the table. A top-three finish and a place in the Champions League has always been their target, and it looks like they are finally here to stay; Everton can learn a lot from what United have achieved in their three years.

City streak continues with West Ham still soft under Harder

With Arsenal’s match at Aston Villa postponed because of a waterlogged pitch Manchester City had a chance to open up a bit of daylight between themselves in third and the Gunners just behind them, and against a side in transition it was an opportunity they would not miss. City have not lost since they played Chelsea in October, and have to keep the pressure on the leaders. They handed a debut to their latest American signing, the centre-back Abby Dahlkemper, who played alongside Steph Houghton in a defence that was far too good for the Hammers – who managed one shot in the match, and that wasn’t on target. The pick of the goals was probably the third, a beautiful Alex Greenwood delivery from a corner that was met by Ellen White with a flicked header that looped in at the far post, her 54th WSL goal (second only to Vivianne Miedema); the fourth was a disaster, Maz Pacheco falling over to present Rose Lavelle with a free run into the area. West Ham appointed Olli Harder as manager in December and since then two of their most influential players have left on loan – Cho So-hyun and Lehmann – and it seems strange the club wouldn’t make it a priority to keep their best players. With Bristol City winning they are perilously close to the single relegation spot and Harder has work to do to unify a beleaguered squad.

First win gives City hope of miracle

A historic moment for Bristol City, who finally won their first game of the season against Brighton (who were also the first team Villa beat). Everyone had written them off, but now they are hot on the heels of West Ham and Villa. Both of those are in really poor form while Brighton themselves, having taken one point from their past six games, are certainly not safe. And it was not a narrow win, at 3-0 it was a significant victory. City have gone through a tough time, their manager Tanya Oxtoby is on maternity leave, but standing in for her, Matt Beard has obviously made a huge impression. It is no coincidence this result came at the end of his first full week of training – this is a coach with great pedigree, both in this country and the US, someone who has won trophies and is a great motivator. Things didn’t work out at West Ham, but I don’t think it was necessarily the coach that was the problem. Yana Daniëls saw the keeper too far off her line and scored from 25 yards with just a few minutes played, and that set the tone. City like to play a passing game but what they showed was that when the opportunity comes to go direct they will not be afraid to do that, and when you have a player of Ebony Salmon’s qualities in attack it will be an option. Their second came from a long ball down the middle, and Salmon outpaced and outmuscled her marker before scoring with a cool finish, and her penalty again showed great composure for a 20-year-old. Kayleigh Green’s red card for a stamp compounded Brighton’s misery, and shows how frustrated the team were with their performance – though it was the kind of foul that is unacceptable however frustrated you are.

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