Coming straight into today's clash with West Ham after Wednesday's tough battle against Lyon was always going to be a big ask for the Blues. It was therefore no surprise that it was tough to find a way through during the opening exchanges as we were unable to create any clear-cut chances.

Our pressing paid off after 38 minutes, when Sjoeke Nusken pounced on some slack short passing from the Hammers in midfield, setting up Melvine Malard with her back to goal. The striker did not need to be asked twice to turn and finish, putting us ahead at the break with a fine strike.

There was not much action at either end for long periods of the second half, but after some changes from Sonia Bompastor, we were able to extend our advantage. A trademark effort from Walsh from the edge of the penalty area was followed by a header from Maika Hamano, both goals created by Alyssa Thompson on the left.

At the end of a gruelling period of fixtures, this was the best way to finish before the international break: a 3-0 victory and our sixth clean sheet in a row during a match where West Ham produced nothing in the final third of the pitch.

Dominating the play

Bompastor made just two alterations from our impressive 0-0 draw away at Lyon in midweek, switching Lexi Potter and Thompson for Sandy Baltimore and Hamano, the Japan international making her first start of the season.

Erin Cuthbert made the matchday squad for the first time since being announced as Chelsea captain, having completed her recovery from an injury sustained whilst on international duty with Scotland during the summer.

And the Blues started the game in Dagenham with typical intent. Ellie Carpenter stormed down the right wing and got her cross away, forcing the home side to clear their lines quickly. And when Walsh made a run down the channel and played a diagonal ball to Nusken in the box, the Chelsea number six couldn't quite keep her shot down as she slid in to meet the cross.

Carpenter won a corner on the half-hour mark with a powerful half-volley, which ricocheted off a West Ham defender. But the Blues were struggling to make a real impact in the final third, with no shots on target to show for 64 per cent possession and 16 touches in the opposition box.

The breakthrough

Up until that point, striker Malard hadn't had much of a sniff on goal. Yet when she got a chance, she took it with a clinical finish to put us in front eight minutes before half-time. The opportunity came from a West Ham free-kick in the midfield area.

Nusken, sensing a moment's hesitation, used the press to steal the ball from the opposition and strode forward, with the ball finding Malard. The number nine received it with her back to goal, but stood strong, turned and stroked her finish into the bottom corner.

We headed in at the interval with the one-goal advantage, and the home side had failed to take a single shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

Pushing for more

Neither side was able to fashion a clear chance after the restart, but just after the hour mark the Blues came alive once more. Some neat interplay on the edge of the box between Wieke Kaptein, Malard and Walsh was only lacking the finish to make it 2-0.

Bompastor then shuffled the pack in attack, bringing on Aggie Beever-Jones and Alyssa Thompson in place of Baltimore and goalscorer Malard.

The fresh impetus saw us go close when Beever-Jones charged down the right flank, playing the ball square to Kaptein on the edge of the area. Walsh then took her trademark shot from range, crashing her attempt onto the right-hand post.

Sealing the victory

A 1-0 victory wouldn't have done Chelsea's dominance justice, and after looking dangerous from the edge of the area all game, Walsh finally got her goal and added our second of the afternoon.

Thompson jinked her way towards goal from the left-hand side before playing a short sideways pass for Kaptein. The Netherlands international quickly shifted the ball to Walsh, and the midfielder used her tried and tested technique to fire the ball into the bottom corner. The strike put the match beyond reasonable doubt against a side who had still not registered a single shot on goal.

Our third of the afternoon came from another of Thompson's runs down the left. This time, the American took a shot, which was saved before Beever-Jones picked up the loose ball and steered it towards Hamano, who was able to head home at the far post.

Substitute McCabe whipped in a corner right under the crossbar, with keeper Constance Picaud-Inconnu only just managing to tip it over. The final whistle blew with no shots and no touches in our box from the home side. A truly dominant performance to end this block of fixtures.

What it means...

The victory, along with Tottenham's defeat to London City Lionesses, means we move into top spot in the WSL, pending Manchester City's result with Arsenal later this afternoon.

Up next...

Our players will now head off to represent their respective national teams during the international break. We return to action with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on 18 October.

The teams

Chelsea: Hampton, Carpenter, Bronze (c), Buchanan (McCabe 77), Buurman (Bjorn 86), Kaptein, Walsh, Nusken (Potter h-t), Baltimore (Thompson 65), Hamano, Malard (Beever-Jones 65)
Unused substitutes: Peng, Cuthbert, Dragoni, James
Scorers: Malard 38, Walsh 80, Hamano 87
Booked: Kaptein 32

West Ham: Picaud-Inconnu, Codina, Siren, Belloumou, Kumagai, Zelem (c), Gago (Wandeler 69), Asseyi, Riesen (Endo 88), Cascarino, Puibel (Tennebo 81)
Unused substitutes: Walsh, Dowsett, Wareing, Morgan, Peacock

Referee: Sophie Dennington