Emma Hayes’ team return to Kingsmeadow on Sunday to play fellow title contenders Manchester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League, and here we preview the clash…
WHEN AND WHERE?
Chelsea host Manchester City at our KT1 home Kingsmeadow on Sunday, which kicks off at 12 noon.
HOW TO BUY TICKETS
Another sell-out crowd is expected at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, with only a few tickets remaining. Buy yours now to make sure you do not miss out on matchday. Tickets are priced at £9 for adults and £1 for juniors (aged under 20) and senior fans (aged 65 or over).
Click here to purchase your tickets
THE FORM
Although our game away to Everton was postponed due to a frozen pitch, meaning we have fallen from first place to third with one game in hand, the Blues still remain the only team in the league to be unbeaten. Click here to view our results.
Chelsea were last in action two weeks ago when we recorded an emphatic 6-0 triumph over Birmingham City in Solihull. Fans were certainly not short of entertainment with four different players all getting in on the action. Ji So-Yun got us underway shortly after the whistle when the South Korean midfielder placed her free-kick out of reach of the goalkeeper.
The second goal came from an unlikely source, which was defender Millie Bright. The No.4 began the attack from the back and earned herself her first goal of the season with a well-timed run and finish. Minutes before the interval, Bethany England found the net and it was Bright who delivered a sublime long-range pass for our forward to blast home. Spence added two quick-fire goals within six minutes of the restart, the first was tucked away with her right foot and the other was with her head. England notched the sixth with just under an hour left of play when she struck the ball into the far corner with ease to register her ninth goal of the season.
Manchester City are sat above us in second place having played eight fixtures. So far this season they have won seven games and suffered a slender 1-0 defeat to Arsenal. Their most recent match was last weekend where they edged a 1-0 win over bottom of the table Liverpool. Former Blue Gemma Bonner’s goal was the difference against her previous club Liverpool when she nodded home Caroline Weir’s pin-point cross midway through the second-half.
CHELSEA WOMEN V MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
This will be the 18th encounter between Chelsea and Man City. The Blues’ 2018/19 league opener was against City at Kingsmeadow, where it finished goalless resulting in a point apiece. They then put a halt to our Continental Cup quest after Nikita Parris got a double in the semi-final, and were eventual winners of the competition. Exactly a week later, Chelsea took the trip to the Academy Stadium but this time in the league and once again went toe-to-toe with City, coming away with just a point from a 2-2 draw. Further cup upset came against City when we exited out of the 2018/19 Women’s FA Cup semi-final, as an unfortunate own goal from Magdalena Eriksson in stoppage time condemned us to defeat after we had twice hit the woodwork.
It is evident from previous results that the Blues record against City leaves room for improvement and out of the 17 encounters, it has been City who have got the better of the Blues with eight victories, whereas we have won four and drawn five. We have not registered a victory against Nick Cushing’s side since the 2017/18 season when we reached the final of the FA Cup due to Fran Kirby’s brace. Firstly, the forward took advantage of Steph Houghton’s misjudge of a long ball and then in the second half she pounced on a similar defensive error, burst clear and calmly slotted home.
HOW TO FOLLOW AND HOW TO WATCH THE LIVE STREAM
Supporters who cannot make it to Kingsmeadow, can keep up to date with the clash via our social media channels. There will be live commentary on our Twitter page, regular updates on Facebook and Instagram, plus footage of the matchday on our Instagram story. Simply search ‘ChelseaFCW' on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date.
You can watch the game live on The FA Player, a free streaming platform, exclusively dedicated for women’s football in England. it will also be shown on BT Sport.
RAINBOW LACES
As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, Chelsea are supporting Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign at the game.
The club is committed to ensuring our club is a safe and welcoming place for LGB&T (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people, their friends and families, and so we are proud to once again be supporting the campaign which sends a strong message of zero-tolerance to homophobic, biphobic and transphobic behaviour, whether on the pitch, in the stands or on social media.
The captain will be wearing a special rainbow-themed armband to show backing for the campaign and players at all levels are being invited to wear rainbow-coloured laces on their boots.
We will be hosting an event for Chelsea Pride, the club’s LGBT fans’ group, and Nutmegs, a football community for women of colour and non-binary people of colour.
Emma Hayes says: ‘Our football club has been one of the driving forces in promoting a more tolerant, more diverse place to be, not just for our players but for our fans. The Rainbow Laces campaign is an important one and represents a varied group of people and is certainly a campaign we’re proud to be part of.’
Click for more information on the campaign or to get your laces
FESTIVE MATCHDAY ACTIVITIES
There will be a whole host of festive treats to enjoy on Sunday. Head to Kingsmeadow early to join in with the fun. Make sure you bring your friends and family with you as well as we celebrate the jolly season!
To get you in the Christmas spirit there will be a live brass band playing before the game, free mince pies situated outside the public bar at the West Stand and Father Christmas will be there giving out a limited number of gifts!
Click here for mince pie allergy information.
ELSEWHERE IN THE WSL
The other 10 teams of the WSL will be in action on Sunday. Just like us Manchester United v Everton kick-off at 12 noon. There are two matches with a 2pm kick-off, Liverpool host West Ham while Brighton & Hove Albion travel to Tottenham Hotspur. Reading welcome Arsenal for a 2.30pm start and Bristol play Birmingham City at 3pm.
NEXT UP AT KINGSMEADOW
There is another opportunity coming up to watch the Blues at Kingsmeadow as we host Reading on Wednesday 11 December for our final Continental Tyres group match. Emma Hayes’ side have already qualified to the quarter-final stages but will be aiming to remain undefeated in the competition we are yet to clinch. Kick-off is 7pm and tickets cost just £3 for adults and £1 for juniors (aged under 20) and seniors (aged over 65) and can be purchased on the gate.