Chelsea took the lead somewhat against the run of play after a bright start from Aston Villa, when Aggie Beever-Jones nodded in from an Ellie Carpenter cross.

The goal did little to swing the momentum in our favour. The home side continued with their gameplan regardless, finding their equaliser in impressive fashion through Ebony Salmon. As the first half drew to a close, Blues stopper Hannah Hampton was called upon to make several saves, and Villa truly had their tails up as the sides went in at the break.

Bompastor responded with a triple substitution for the second half, bringing on Sandy Baltimore and Erin Cuthbert, as well as handing a Blues debut to new signing Alyssa Thompson. It was not long afterwards that Chelsea found the back of the net for a second time as a Keira Walsh strike from range deflected off Villa's Missy Bo Kearns.

Then, with 15 minutes to play, Sam Kerr replaced Johanna Rytting Kaneryd to mark her first appearance since sustaining an ACL injury in December 2023. It was a pivotal moment marked with huge cheers from the Chelsea faithful in the stands.

Kerr's first opportunity to strike came within minutes of her introduction. The Chelsea faithful were waiting for the net to bulge, but instead the Australian passed to Beever-Jones.

That was perhaps a trial run for a player who had been out for almost 20 months, and when her second opportunity came, she made no mistake in netting her 100th goal for Chelsea within minutes of her return.

Today was all about Kerr. At the final whistle, the Chelsea players and staff surrounded the newly-fit striker in a huge circle, congratulating her after a gruelling road back. This was by no means a classic encounter, but three points were secured and Kerr enjoyed the return she so richly deserved.

The selection

Sonia Bompastor made three changes from the XI that beat Manchester City at Stamford Bridge last Friday. Cuthbert, Baltimore, and Maika Hamano were rotated out of the side, and replacing them were Rytting Kaneryd, Guro Reiten, and Catarina Macario.

Kerr was once again named on the bench in anticipation of her long-awaited return, and – having received clearance from the league to play with a cast on her arm – new signing Thompson was also named as one of the substitutes.

Beever-Jones strikes again

The Blues went close early on when Reiten played in Macario from the left-hand side of the box, but the number nine put her shot just wide of the post.

Villa had plenty of the ball in the opening 20 minutes, but just as the home side were finding some rhythm, the Blues struck on the break as Macario took on several players to create an opportunity. It was Carpenter who provided the assist, crossing in a dangerous ball from the right, and Beever-Jones headed home from close range to give us the lead.

The combination of Carpenter and Beever-Jones evoked memories of the opener against Man City last week, which was forged in a very similar fashion.

Pegged back

The Villains continued undeterred after Chelsea had taken the lead, and just 12 minutes later, they had a reward for their efforts. Chastity Grant was able to make a run down the right and cross the ball in for Salmon, who looped her finish beyond Hampton.

They could have doubled their advantage not long afterwards, had it not been for a last-ditch tackle from Nathalie Bjorn. Hampton gathered well on the edge of the area to snuff out another dangerous move from the Villains. The home side had the bit between their teeth as half-time approached.

Villa had numerous chances to take the lead as Chelsea looked uncharacteristically shaky at the back. Hampton, as the last line of defence, was called on to make several saves.

Triple change

Bompastor made a triple substitution after the break, bringing on deadline day capture Thompson to make her Blues debut along with Baltimore and Cuthbert.

Those changes had the desired effect when Chelsea regained the lead, Walsh hitting a long-range effort that bobbled into the bottom corner beyond Villa goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, taking a big deflection off Kearns on the way in. Villa still posed a threat on the break, but the Blues looked much sharper going forward with the addition of Thompson's pace.

Inevitable Sam Kerr

Then came the moment that Chelsea fans had waited so long for. After an absence of 634 days, Kerr made her return to action to the delight of the visiting supporters.

It wasn't long before our returning star had a chance to extend our lead, but she unselfishly laid the ball off to Beever-Jones, who couldn't find the finish from close range.

The performance had been by no means convincing from the Blues, and when the fourth official indicated there would be seven minutes added at the end of the 90, the home supporters roared their side forward as they won a corner. This time, the save was pretty routine for Hampton.

When the ball fell to Kerr within striking range for a second time, she remembered her deadly instincts and delivered the finish for the 100th time in a Chelsea shirt. Even though she had been on the pitch for little over a quarter of an hour, the day belonged to her.

What it means

Chelsea have secured two wins from our opening WSL matches this season and sit joint-top of the table with six points.

What comes next

The Blues face Leicester City next Sunday at 12 noon, as we return to Kingsmeadow for the first time this season.

The teams

Chelsea: Hampton, Carpenter, Bright (c), Bjorn, Charles (Baltimore 45), Walsh, Macario (Jean-Francois 88), Kaptein (Cuthbert 45), Rytting Kaneryd (Kerr 75), Reiten (Thompson 45), Beever-Jones
Unused Substitutes: Peng, Buurman, Nusken, Hamano
Scorers: Beever-Jones 22, Walsh 55, Kerr 90+3
Booked: Baltimore 63, Bright 90+5

Aston Villa: Roebuck, Patten, Kearns (Kendall 66), Baijings, Daly (c) (Taylor 87), Wilms, Maritz, Salmon (Mullett 76), Hanson, Grant, Deslandes
Unused Substitutes: Kelly, Mayling, Parker, Maltby
Scorers: Salmon 34

Referee: Stacey Pearson