Key events
Half time: Chelsea 2-0 Bristol City
Thestrup is up and able to continue on in this fixture. Well Chelsea are in control of this game thanks to a Reiten penalty and Nusken goal but Chelsea have left a lot of goal out there and Bristol are growing into this one. All to play for in the second half.
45 + 2 min: The ball comes in but Charles can’t connect to it. Thestrup is down with injury from the corner.
45 + 1 min: Cuthbert takes a chance but it is deflected out for a corner. There will be one minute added.
44 min: Bristol have definitely battened down the hatches since conceding the second, they have done really well defensively with Chelsea repelled at every opportunity.
42 min: Cuthbert wins a free kick and she takes it quickly, it comes to Reiten but her chance is cleared by Jones. Back and forth the ball goes between the teams but eventually Chelsea get it in again but it’s cleared and Bristol counter through Napier but the whistle stops her for offside.
40 min: “Come on Chelsea,” rings around Kingsmeadow but it is Bristol who attack next. An electric run from Napier see her lay it off to Syme but her chance is over the bar. Napier potentially should have chosen a better option there.
38 min: Chelsea are on the front foot but the steam in their engine seems to have waned slightly.
36 min: Bristol have a short spell going forwards and Napier wins a free kick from Bjorn, it’s kickable. The delivery is good but it can’t be controlled in the box and it’s out for a goal kick.
35 min: Ingle gives away the ball really sloppily, Morgan makes a great run and she passes to Napier with Bjorn having to concede a throw in to stop their attack.
34 min: The ball comes in but it has a bit too much on it for Beever-Jones to connect to it. This is relentless from Chelsea, this will exhaust Bristol and the next goal feels as thought it belongs to the Blues.
32 min: Nusken finds herself in the box with the fans shouting shoot but Bristol swarm her and the chance is gone.
30 min: Cuthbert gives away a free kick for a foul on Powell, it’s deep in the Bristol half and so they will have to build from deep here. They whack it forward but Chelsea win it back and soon unlock their attack (it feels as though I should just copy and paste that today!).
28 min: There is a loose pass at the back for Bristol but they do well to recover initially. Possession exchanges hands and Chelsea look to attack once more.
26 min: Bull manages to block Hamano’s effort as Chelsea start to hunt down Manchester City’s goal difference. Before the game began City had +6, that stands at +4 now. Nusken’s goal was also Emma Hayes’ 500th home goal as Chelsea manager.
24 min: Bentley initially saved that but it comes back down to Nusken, who was fallimg herself, and scores.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Bristol City (Nusken, 23′)
Reiten, who has been electric for the hosts, crosses it in again but it is deflected out for a corner. Reiten is standing over the set piece, she pops it in and Nusken finishes.
22 min: Apologies my laptop decided to freeze and so I missed a Chelsea corner but we still stand at 1-0. The Blues come again and a good cross came in but Beever-Jones’ effort is saved well by Bentley.
20 min: Reiten and Hamano execute a training pitch move, they connect with a one-two but the pass back from Hamano doesn’t reach Reiten.
18 min: Chelsea are getting it in the right areas but they either can’t find someone in the box or find the final touch to score. Beever-Jones is the latest to have a chance, she makes a good run and takes a punt but it is wide.
16 min: Powell wins a free kick from a foul by Hamano, that battle down the right has been so interesting so far. Morgan’s delivery is good and it falls to Jones but it is straight over the bar.
15 min: Cuthbert makes a great run, spurring the crowd into a raucous cheer but Bristol manage to wrestle the ball away and clear. The initial momentum that Chelsea had, which was smothering Bristol, seems to have eased.
13 min: Chelsea win a corner and the delivery is good but Nusken’s header is wide, the Blues players well defended in the box.
11 min: Bright has a huge lofting pass to Beever-Jones but the forward is offside, Bristol have barely had a sniff of the ball. Just as I write that they have their first attack, a really good run from Napier and she lays it off with Musovic needing to make a good save. Bristol may already be relegated but they are a deadly team.
9 min: Hamano is bang up for this, she is absolutely everywhere at the moment. Chelsea are setting up for another attack here, Reiten pops it in but Connolly clears.
7 min: In a real show of intent as soon as Reiten scored she ran in to pick up the ball to get the game restarted, they know the goal difference will make a difference. On the replay it looks like the foul from Bull may have been on the edge of the box. Of course no VAR and so the penalty stands.
PENATLY! Chelsea 1-0 Bristol City (Reiten, 6′)
Well hit and Chelsea are ahead.
5 min: Chelsea have been awarded a penalty as Charles is fouled in the box.
5 min: Bristol are having to endure wave after wave of Chelsea attack at the moment, so far they are repelling the efforts but how long can they hold out? They have displayed this season they are a hard team to break down.
4 min: Hamano has had a lot of joy down the right so far, she pops the ball in but Bentley picks it up. Hamano is the central player in Chelsea’s first chance as she plays a one-two to Perisset but Hamano’s chance is just wide.
2 min: This is a big match, it was anyway but Man City’s loss means Chelsea are still in the race. Let me know your thoughts on it and on what you are up to this Sunday via email and X. Chelsea with the lionshare of possession so far.
Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Bristol City
Here we go then. Can Chelsea keep their title defence on track? Or can Bristol upset the Kingsmeadow party? All to come.
The crowd cheer loudly as Emma Hayes walks out at Kingsmeadow with her son for the final time.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes told Sky: “Of course it is emotional but I have to do my best to make sure I put that at bay until the end of the game because thinking about my life here with these fans and the journey I have had at Kingsmeadow I’d like to think it’s not the end, it’s merely a goodbye and I’ll see you soon.”
The title race run-in is as close as ever and here are the fixtures that are left for Chelsea and Manchester City, the two clubs who can still win the trophy.
Chelsea:
Man City:
A moment from an interview between Erin Cuthbert and Guro Reiten went viral where Reiten said she had never tried an Irn Bru. Now at every game she is given one:
In the club programme today Hayes has said: “I just want to say what an honour and a privilege it has been to lead this football club. Thank you for always being behind the team, cheering us on whatever the circumstances, and for making this such a special journey. I love you all and I’ll never forget you.”
Bristol City manager Lauren Smith said: “It gives us another opportunity to go toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league. From recent history, they’re the best team that’s been around. We’ll look at it as an opportunity and equally, two weeks after when we play Everton, that’s an opportunity for us to still try and get some points in front of a home crowd. For us, there’s plenty to play for.”
Today is Chelsea manager Emma Hayes’ last home game in charge before she departs this summer. Not only is it the boss’ last game in front of the club fans but it is Maren Mjelde and Fran Kirby’s last too with both playing announcing they will leave at the end of the season.
Here is the report from Manchester City’s loss to Arsenal if you want to catch up on any of the action:
Chelsea have shared their team news. Lauren James is not included because of injury but Millie Bright does start. Fran Kirby and Maren Mjelde both on the bench for their final home game.
Bristol’s team news is here. I’ll update you with Chelsea’s when they share it.
Bristol City:
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to our coverage of the Women’s Super League. Manchester City’s loss to Arsenal earlier today has blown the title race wide open and Chelsea have the chance to close the gap on City this evening as they take on Bristol City.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes had said the title race was over when the Blues lost to Liverpool midweek but it is back on with City’s loss. Gareth Taylor’s side are currently six points clear but the Blues have two games in hand, including tonight’s fixture.
This season will see history made as previously no team had won the WSL title after losing three league matches. Both Chelsea and City have lost that amount this campaign.
However, Bristol could throw a spanner in the race as while they will be relegated from the league at the end of the season, their performances this campaign have been good. The team news will be out shortly before kick-off at 6.45pm BST.
