The head coach was without several injured players this evening and gave Erin Cuthbert a rest as the midfielder remained on the bench until she was introduced in the 65th minute.

Yet the Blues rose to the challenge, and goals from Alyssa Thompson and Lexi Potter handed us the 2-1 victory to see us take second place in the Women's Super League table.

'It's always easier and better when you have all your players available,' said Bompastor after the 2-1 win. 'I think with all the players I have available now, I tried to rotate as much as I could, and I think for that reason, it went quite well.

'I could rest some players, I could give some opportunities to others, and I think going into the game on Saturday, it will be good to have done that today. But of course, if you have more players available, you can rotate more, you can do different things, you can bring in some players who bring different options, but that's the situation, and I need to focus on the players who are available. We still have enough quality to achieve good things.'

Potter was making her first start in the WSL for Chelsea, and she didn't hesitate to deliver the finish just before half-time. Bompastor took the time to praise the Academy Graduate, who responded perfectly to the opportunity she had been given.

'I'm pleased for her, because she's a great kid,' smiled the head coach. 'She's a really good player. She has a lot of talent. Even if she's still young, when you give the opportunity to a player like this to play more minutes, that's when she can also show her level.

'Today she contributed to the performance and to the result. Her first goal is a good confidence boost for her individually, and I'm pleased because she's a hard worker. She has a great mentality, and it's good to have Lexi playing at this level and for her to get some recognition.

'Lexi is really confident on the ball. She's on someone you can trust and believe in because she has the capacity to hold the ball under pressure. It was part of the game plan today to have Keira (Walsh), who is more used to being in that pivot position. She attracts the ball, and she's able to build up under pressure.

'But part of the game plan was also for Lexi – even if she started more as a number eight tonight – to help Keira to build up when we had the ball, to create an overload in that central corridor. So it's good to have two players like Keira and Lexi, who are comfortable on the ball.'