The challenge for Chelsea is to see if they can extend their unbeaten home league run to two full years after they set a new Women’s Super League record of 12 Kingsmeadow wins on the spin by beating West Ham last Sunday.
Spurs, Man U, Brighton and, yes, Arsenal will all have the chance to deny Emma Hayes’ team before Valentine’s Day.
But first the Blues travel to Brighton (who have won only one in five after a stuttering start to the season) after Chelsea’s midweek distraction of a trip to Portugal in the Champions League.
Sam Kerr achieved a morale-boosting hat-trick in the 3-2 defeat of the Hammers, though her success owed a lot to the support roles of Fran Kirby, Beth England and Pernille Harder.
It was the first time spectators had been allowed back in eight months, and it made a huge difference – even though only around 400 were present despite the 700 capacity.
“It was my first hat-trick for the club, so I’m excited,” said Kerr. “Every day in training we score goals like these, and it’s pretty easy when it’s Fran Kirby playing you in.”
West Ham, with former goalkeeping coach Billy Stewart as stand-in manager, gave the Blues a real run for their money, and could have earned a draw had Chelsea keeper Ann-Katrin Berger – who recently won her first German cap – not stood firm against Rachel Daly in a one-on-one breakout.
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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