Hayes spoke to the press at Cobham this afternoon as her side prepare to take on Tottenham Hotspur for the second time in just four days.

The Blues came out on top at The Hive Stadium on Sunday thanks to goals from Guro Reiten, Sam Kerr and Jessie Fleming.

It was an eventful afternoon in north London with Ann Katrin-Berger receiving a red card midway through the first half. However, two second-half goals from the Blues ensured a vital win on the road as Hayes’ side steer closer to another WSL title.

Speaking to the press, Hayes said: ‘We put ourselves in an unnecessary position, but we have the quality in our ranks, the characters within our ranks, the experience to react the way we did and that’s all you can ask.

‘You can’t control the outcome but to react, to be as present in our mind, to be able to adapt, to step up, I thought the whole environment was amazing.

‘I just knew that we had to stay in the game and defensively we had to be rock solid, which we were and full credit to Sam, Guro, Pernille in the second half – because I thought that the three of them had to work their socks off in the front three.

‘Magda coming into the game I thought was a gamechanger, she brought some leadership that we needed at that minute in time.

‘They’ll be determined to make that right this week and we have to be aware not just of their threats, but they will be disappointed that they let that slip out of their hands.’

The Blues sit at the summit of the WSL with three league games remaining, however Hayes has urged her side to remain humble as she expects the final run-in to prove difficult.

‘I’ve said it throughout, we have the tougher run-in. We just happen to be ahead, but everybody’s looking at our schedule knowing that we have the tougher schedule so I think that the team need to remain humble in what we are doing and make sure that in our training detail we apply ourselves in the best possible way.

‘At this stage of the season, getting over the line requires detail and diligence and application of the game plan and I’ve got to make sure I enforce that as much as possible because as much as it was a great win at the weekend, it was just that, it’s just a win.

‘It’s just about reminding ourselves that we haven’t achieved anything yet. It was three points in difficult circumstances.

‘Yes, we’re in the driving seat but we haven’t won anything, so we need to keep our feet on the floor, we need to keep grafting to make sure we’re ready for tomorrow night, that’s what my job is. I know Tottenham have provided a really stern test for us and I expect the same tomorrow.’

The boss is expecting another challenging test at Kingsmeadow tomorrow evening.

‘Tottenham were the better team until the sending off, so with 11 players we were not the better team and we were deserving of the position we were in.

‘We need to be mindful Tottenham provided a really, really difficult game for us. Yes, we dug deep in the second half but my question to my group is why did it take a sending off for us to do that? That’s what I will expect, I want to see a better response from the whole team when we start with 11.’

Fleming wrapped up the win for the Blues in the fifth minute of stoppage time on Sunday, with her long-range effort flying into the top corner. Hayes was full of praise for the Canadian international, adding: ‘I am certain Jessie Fleming will be a huge player for this team going forward, I know she will.

‘We’ve got high hopes for her because she’s got the ability not just to do that, but she keeps doing it and that impact from the bench is what we needed at the weekend.’

On what she wants to see from her team tomorrow evening, Hayes said: ‘I’d like us to execute the game plan. I didn’t feel we played very well, I thought they won the midfield battle initially.

‘Tottenham are a good team, I really rate the work she’s [Rehanne Skinner] done there and they took us all the way. They pushed us, tough to beat.’

When asked what psychological impact the closeness of the title race is having on her, Hayes explained: ‘I genuinely play the game now and just switch off, I don’t watch the game when I go home for the opponents. I didn’t see Arsenal’s game.

‘I just know that what I’ve learned for myself is just focus on the things I can control. I don’t worry about it anymore, maybe because I’ve been in this position so many times that might help me.’

The boss reiterated the importance of Chelsea supporters and said she wants it to be a sell-out at Kingsmeadow tomorrow evening.

‘Selling it out is critical. So, Chelsea fans, the rest of you… there’s an opportunity to still come to the game!

‘They always sound like 10,000. They’re amazing. It’s no coincidence the fanbase is growing as the team is growing, we’ve grown together, and I think that’s what makes our relationship so unique.’

Tomorrow evening’s clash against Tottenham at Kingsmeadow kicks off at 7:45pm and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football.

Tickets are still on sale for the clash with Spurs and can be purchased here.