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Chelsea prepare for Everton test at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea look to extend their unbeaten start to the WSL season against Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 7thNovember, while Everton hope to provide a shock result. Sonia Bompastor previewed the match in her press conference, after her team had a full week to prepare for the game.

Credits: Chelsea Football Club website

Chelsea went without a midweek match this week, and Chelsea manager Bompastor said that this meant the team could properly rest and prepare for the game in detail. She stated that players were performing at a good level in training, and that the sessions had good intensity and quality. As a result, Bompastor believes that Chelsea are going into the game in a good place.

James unavailable as Cuthbert returns:

Bompastor gave a squad update and confirmed that Lauren James will be unavailable until the end of the year due to picking up a hamstring injury against Charlton. She described James as an “unbelievable” player and acknowledged her importance to the team, but also emphasised her own responsibility as a manager to find solutions when key players like James are unavailable. In more positive news, the Chelsea manager confirmed that Erin Cuthbert is now in a position where “she can start again” and also “play 90 minutes”, which will be a big boost to the team’s mentality and leadership.

Chelsea seek to avoid repeat of last season’s loss:

Last season, Everton were the team to end Chelsea’s unbeaten run, in a 1-0 win for the Toffees at Kingsmeadow. When asked about this fixture, Bompastor said that Chelsea has started the current season in a different position compared to last with the club bringing in different players. With her new squad, she said many players are performing at their best level, and believes that Chelsea are confident in their ability to put together good performances and score at different stages of the game. This will be particularly important against Everton, given their resilient defence that held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw in their last game.

Chelsea build confidence after a strong start to the season:

Chelsea has started the season very strongly in terms of performances and results, with only two points dropped, and Bompastor believes that this has increased the team’s confidence. She added that Chelsea are confident in their ability to perform with or without the ball, as well as dealing with different scenarios during matches.

Chelsea come into this game off the back of a 6-0 win against Charlton, where many different players were involved in scoring. Bompastor noted that in that game, almost every player on the pitch had a shot on goal in that match, showing the attacking threat of this current Chelsea team.

Everton’s strong defence poses a challenge:

Everton, however, could pose a challenge to Chelsea, with Bompastor highlighting their defensive qualities. She described the Toffees as “difficult to break down” and said that Chelsea will have to perform at their very best to get a result. She added that Everton will come into the game on Saturday with confidence due to their positive result against Manchester United, as previously mentioned.

Bompastor hopes to get off to a fast start:

Bompastor said that Chelsea would try to score as early as possible against Everton to get the game off to a good start and potentially start as they did against Charlton. Chelsea managed to score early against Charlton, and saw themselves 4-0 up within the first 20 minutes, and Bompastor said that scoring early is what was significant in that game. She said that starting a game strong is a big “psychological advantage you can take from your opponents”. However, the Chelsea manager also acknowledged that an early goal may not be easy to achieve, and if her team can’t score early, the team must be patient.

Bompastor also stressed the importance of being clinical and ruthless when opportunities arise, and is also preparing her team for different possible scenarios during the game. She believes that Chelsea must maintain and sustain their standards, but the team must also be capable of winning games when things don’t go as planned. She explained that her job as a manager is to ensure the team doesn’t become overly confident when results are positive, but equally wants to prevent the team from becoming too negative when results aren’t going their way.

Key Chelsea players to look out for:

Chelsea has a lot of quality and competition in their squad, including wing-back Ellie Carptenter who has scored 4 goals in her last 4 games. Bompastor said that she has been positioning Carpenter high up the pitch, giving her more freedom to attack in her role. She highlighted Carpenter’s work ethic, and said that she regularly stays after training to work on her finishing inside the box, crossing quality and her first touch. Bompastor said that Carpenter’s additional work is now paying off in great performances on the pitch.

Bompastor was also asked about Giulia Dragoni following her first goal for the club against Charlton, which Bompastor described as a “great goal”, and described her as a top young player, and said that she “believe[s] in her”. The Chelsea manager explained that competition in Chelsea midfield is very high, especially with the return of Erin Cuthbert, which is why Dragoni has not been getting many minutes recently. She added that players need to repeat and sustain their performances to earn starting opportunities, and that her job as a manager is to provide Dragoni with more opportunities. Despite this competition, Bompastor is convinced that Dragoni will get more minutes in the future and prove how good she is.

Cuthbert is another key player, and one who is recently back from injury. Bompastor described her as an important player for Chelsea, and her return is “great news”, especially due to the leadership that she brings to the team.

Melvine Malard has proved to be a crucial player for Chelsea, and Bompastor highlighted Malard’s goalscoring and assists. She added that Malard enjoys playing alongside her teammates and is playing with a lot of confidence, which helps her to maintain her enjoyment of the game. Malard will be a big threat to Everton’s defence on Saturday, and could be the key to breaking down such a resilient defence.

The game kicks off at 12:45 BST on Saturday 7th November and can be watched on Sky Sports.

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WSL

Man City Tame London City Lionesses to Claim All Three Points

Photo: @thoughtsofawing

London City Lionesses Starting Lineup    

Mary Earps (GK), Jana Fernandez, Maria Perez, Lucia Corrales, Danielle Van de Donk,

Alexia Putellas (C), Daniela Arques, Kadidiatou Diani, Izzy Goodwin, Mapi Leon,

Grace Geyoro  Carlotta Wamser

London City Lionesses Used Subs

Delphine Cascarino, Nicole Anyomi, Janni Thomsen, Poppy Pattinson, Freya Godfrey

Manchester City Starting Lineup

Ayaka Yamashita (GK), Jade Rose, Alex Greenwood (C), Grace Clinton, Bunny Shaw, Lauren Hemp, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Aoba Fujino, Yui Hasagawa, Rebecca Knaak, Carlotta Wamser

Manchester City Used Subs

Sam Coffey, Mary Fowler, Kerstin Casparij

From Kick off, London City Lionesses dominated posession. With early opportunities from Lucia Corrales, Alexia Putellas and Grace Geyoro, key players from Cities back line were pushed to prevent an early goal.

The first clear chance for City comes from Grace Clinton putting a cross into the London City box, but with nobody on the end of it, the ball goes out of play.

London City fire back with more chances seeing Jana fernandez drive the ball down the right beating her defended, creating a one two with Putellas, before shooting just wide of the goal. We also saw Kadidiatou Diani cross the ball over the box to Alexia Putellas, she was able to get a low head to it, where Geyoro picked it up and sent it over the bar.

Manchester City are given a free kick. With Alex greewood taking, it is fired directly into the box but headed away by Alexia Putellas. Both Danielle Van de Donk and Laura Blindkilde Brown both go for the follow up but Blindkilde Brown went down in the process, stopping play.

A long ball is sent through to Issy Goodwin from the London City defence, she tries to collect it with a high foot while her defender Rebecca Knaak tries with a low head. They end up collitiding with Rebecca Knaak recieving treatment and a yellow card given to Issy Goodwin

Alex greenwood takes a free kick, pinging it toward Rebecca Knaak who gets a head to it. Mary Earps is able to get a hand to it, but it bounces off the post toward goal. She pulls off the second save, with the loose ball landing to Maria Perez to clear from the box.

With 3 minutes of injury time announced, London City pushed for a goal. Issy Goodwin drove the ball down the left crossing it for Jana Fernandez at the back post, she hit it on the volly but the chance goes wide.

But it wasnt enough for either side, as they went into halftime at 0-0.

Early in the second half, Lauren Hemp and Jana Fernandez battled it out on the right wing, seeing the referee immediately issued Hemp a yellow card for the challenge.

Lauren Hemp receives the ball in midfield laying it off for bunny shaw. She is able to outrun Jana Fernandez heading toward the box. Mary Earps comes out of goal and Shaw goes round the goalkeeper sending it top bins. Just after the break its London City Lionesses 0 – 1 Manchester City.

After the goal, London City immediately pushed heavily for an equaliser. During that time, Danielle Van de Donk, was pushing toward goal and Rebecca Knaak committed a mistimed foul in the transition, seeing the defender awarded a yellow card.

The first subsitutions of the game are made with Sam Coffey and Mary Fowler coming on for Grace clinton and Laura Blindkilde Brown, Delphine Cascarino and Nicole Anyomi coming on for Kadidiatou Diani and Issy Goodwin. Soon after, Kerstin Casparij came on for Carlotta Wamser.

Nicole Anyomi drives into the box with Jade Rose and Rebecca Knaak on either side of her, with Rose tackling the ball from her, sending Anyomi down and the ball out for a corner. Mapi Leon takes it, sending it toward the middle of the box, Jana Fernandez gets a head on it, whipping it into the top corner. Equalising the score its London City 1 – 1 Manchester City.

Kerstin Casparij tries to send the ball into the box but is blocked by Mapi Leon. the ball lands perfectly for fowler to send the ball in, with Lauren hemp running in she is able to hit it on the volly into the bottom left corner. From one end to the other its London City 1 – 2 Manchester City.

London City try to change the gaming bringing on fresh legs, seeing Mapi Leon coming off for Janni Thompsen, Lucia Corrrales coming off Poppy Pattinson and Danielle Van de Donk coming off for Freya Godfrey.

London City have more chances with Delphine Cascarino’s shot being collected by Manchester City goalkeeper Yamashita and a Freya Godfrey cross defended by Knaak.

4 minutes of injury time are added at the end of the 90 minutes. London City push for an equaliser but the game was already decided. London City Lionesses 1 – 2 Manchester City.

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Six-Goal Blues Thrash Charlton as Chelsea go Top of the WSL Once More

Image via @melvine_malard on instagram

Chelsea paid their first visit to The Valley this afternoon as the squad thrashed Charlton Athletic 6-0 in a statement London derby win.

Charlton currently sit last in the league, having been yet to pick up a point after their seemingly unexpected promotion last season and with the visitors at the opposite end of the table, in first place, it was expected to be a tough brawl for the Addicks.

The hosts have made three changes from their last WSL fixture, with Anna Koivunen, Grace Johnston and Lucia Lobato making the move into the starting line up. Meanwhile, Chelsea have made six changes, with Veerle Buurman, Lauren James, Sandy Baltimore, and Keira Walsh returning to the starting line up and Manaka Matsukubo and NAthalie Bjorn earning their first league starts this season.

Starting XI’s:

Charlton Athletic XI: Koivunen (GK), Mason, Johnston, Davidson, Hutton, Flannery, Korhonen, Skeels ©, van Egmond, Lobato, Neville

Subs: Kenney (46’), Fitzgerald (58’), Waldie (58’), Lockwood (73’), Robe (79’)

Chelsea XI: Hampton, Carpenter, Buurman, Nusken, Mallard, James, Baltimore, Bjorn ©, McCabe, Walsh, Matsukubo

Subs: Cuthbert (35’), Beever-Jones (46’), Dragoni (61’), Hamano (62’), Thompson (62’)

Chelsea took kick off in South London through Lauren James and the blue’s were off to a positive start, dominating in possession and providing an attack in the opening minute.

The first corner of the game came in the third minute, with Katie McCabe and Lauren James linking up to take it short, eventually finding the head of Nathalie Bjorn and the Swedish skipper knocking it home.

GOAL: 3’ Nathalie Bjorn

Sjoeke Nusken came close to doubling Chelsea’s lead not long later, her effort from the edge of the box, failing to find the net.

Melvine Malard found Chelsea’s second of the afternoon in the tenth minute, with Anna Koivunen struggling to get a hold of the ball, sliding beneath her and into the net.

GOAL: 10’ Melvine Malard

Just three minutes later, Lauren James forced Koivunen into a stunning save, however the ball failed nto make it any further than the feet of Ellie Carpenter, who slotted home her fourth goal of the season.

Goal: 13’ Ellie Carpenter

Manaka Matsukubo had her turn in the action after the restart, breaking free from the Charlton defence, however her effort was seen just wide of the goal mouth.

Melvine MAlard found Chelsea’s fourth of the game in the 19th minute, after efforts from herself, Lauren James  and Ellie Carpenter failed to finish, her tap in found the back of the net.

Goal: 19’ Melvine Malard

Melvine Malard thought she had completed her hattrick just three minutes later, however her goal was ruled out for offside.

A pause in play for the treatment of Sjoeke Nusken meant that the squad were momentarily down to ten and Charlton found their first promising attack of the game – this however came to nothung, with Chelsea’s defence being first to it.

A second pause in play saw Lauren James receive treatment for what looked to be a hamstring injury and was subsequently forced off the field with Erin Cuthbert replacing her.

Jodie Hutton caused issues for the Chelsea back line soon after, hanging tight to Veerle Buurman in the box, the hosts once again taking advantage of the visitors’ missing man.

Sjoeke Nusken broke free from Lucia Lobato on the left flank in the 37th minute, crossing the ball into the box, however failing to meet a player in white and blue.

The Blues earned a free kick within the attacking third in the 40th minute and with a miscommunication from the visitors, Leah Davidson was able to break free on the right hand side and provide another crucial Charlton attack.

Cassandra Korhonen linked up with Jodie Hutton in front of the Chelsea goal in a bid to decrease the deficit. However, her shot soared too high of the goal.

Another corner for the visitors on the crunch of half time saw Erin Cuthbert and Katie McCabe team up to break through the addick defence, the resulting ball however, only made it as far as the first man.

Half Time: Charlton 0-4 Chelsea

Half time substitutions saw Aggie Beever-Jones replace Melvine Malard oin the Chelsea attack whilst Gillian Kenney replaced Emily van Egmond.

With the second half under way, Anna Koivunen was forced straight back into action, saving a low shot from the visitors.

The second half continued much the same, Ellie Carpenters’ cross to Sandy Baltimore being knocked out by Ashleigh Neville. The subsequent corner was seen well wide of the goal with Keira Walsh’s shot heading into the Jimmy Seed Stand.

Aggie Beever-Jones had a shot from range in the 52nd minute, however was unablemto find the target once more.

However, just minutes later, the English striker finally found the back of the net, scoring her first goal since March 2026.

GOAL: 57’ Beever-Jones

Substitutions from Charlton saw Lizzie Waldie and Lucy Fitzgerald enter the field of play, replacing Ellie Mason and Cassandra Korhonen

Chelsea made their final substitutions of the game with Giulia  Dragoni, Maika Hamano and ALyssa Thompson replacing Keira Walsh, Manaka Matsukubo and Nathalie Bjorn.

Sandy Baltimore’s shot from range in the 63rd minute saw a close call and a lack of reaction from Anna Koivunen with the ball hitting the post. Maika Hamano’s follow up shot was much the same, hitting the cross bar and headingout for a goal kick.

Giulia Dragoni got in on the scoring just moments later, linking up with Alyssa Thompson in an emotional shot from the back of the box to beat the keeper.

GOAL: 66’ Dragoni

Charlton made yet another substitution in the 73rd minute with Jodie Hutton making way for Katie Lockwood.

Chelses came close to a seventh after the restart, with Alyssa Thompson’s diving shot reboudning to the feet of Maika Hamano who was unable to find the target.

Maika Hamano and Alyssa Thompson teamed up once again on the counter attack from a Charlton corner, and with the duo going against the run of play and 2v1 with Koivunen, ALyssa Thompsons shot looked bound to find the net, however made its way just wide of the goal.

With ten minutes on the clock, the hosts made their final substitution of the game with Leighanne Robe replacing Grace Johnston.

The following ten minutes saw chance after chance from the visitors however none of them managed to find the back and extend Chelsea’s lead once more.

With three minutes added time announced, the blues attempted to get a final goal on the visitors, with Sjoeke Nusken earning Chelsea another corner, Katie McCabe’s ball however failed to find a body in Blue and White.

With the final attempt of the game, Katie McCabe’s free kick found the head of Aggie Beever-Jones, however she was unable to knock the ball into the net.

FULL TIME: Charlton Athletic 0-6 Chelsea

A worrying display from the hosts saw Chelsea 4-0 up at half time, providing no mercy to the WSL debutants. The second half was much more of an even affair with the visitors struggling to find the target in the opening stages despite their comfortable lead. However this all changed after Aggie Beever-Jones found the back of the net, with the Blues scoring a further two goals inside the second half.

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Bench Magic: Bompastor’s Half-Time Changes Sink Roma

Chelsea Starting Lineup

Hannah Hampton (GK), Veerle Buurman, Erin Cuthbert (C), Lauren James, Sandy Baltimore, Alyssa Thompson, Weike Kaptein, Lucy Bronze, Kadiesha Buchanan, Lexi Potter, Aggie Beever-Jones

Chelsea Subs Used

Sjoeke Nusken, Ellie Carpenter, Keira Walsh, Melvine Malard, Giulia Dragoni

Roma Starting Lineup

Rachel Baldi (GK),  Winonah Heatley, Maya Antoine, Maya Doms, Kayleigh Van Dooren, Elishabetta Oliviero, Giada Pellegrino Cimo, Martina Piemonte, Shukurat Oladipo, Giada Greggi (C), Valentina Bergamaschi

Roma Subs Used

Frederikke Thøgersen, Manuela Giugliano, Alayah Pilgrim, Sofia Jahnukainen, Alice Corelli

Chelsea dominated the first half, claiming a lot of possessions from the first whistle. Roma set up with five at the back compared to Chelsea’s three, knowing they were in for a defensive match.

Hannah Hampton played a key part in a lot of opportunities, playing direct balls through to players high up the pitch, allowing them to exploit the space that Roma’s high press gave them.

With chances from Aggie Beever-Jones, Alyssa Thompson, Lauren James, Sandy Baltimore, and Wieke Kaptein, Chelsea were taking a lot of shots, but it didn’t look like they were going to score.

With two minutes of added time, neither team was able to get an opener before the half.

At half-time, Chelsea made two substitutions, seeing Lauren James and Alyssa Thompson come off for Sjoeke Nusken and Ellie Carpenter. While Roma made one, with Frederikke Thøgersen coming on for Giada Pellegrino Cimo.

Early into the second half, Roma held a lot more possession. They played with a lot more confidence and were playing more in the Chelsea half.

That soon changed after Ellie Carpenter worked the ball down the right wing. She dodged a slide tackle from Shukurat Oladipo and took a one-two with Wieke Kaptein. She received the ball within the ten-yard box, slotting it between a diving Baldi and the post. Just after the break, it was Chelsea 1-0 Roma.

More Chelsea substitutions saw Keira Walsh and Melvine Malard coming on for Erin Cuthbert and Aggie Beever-Jones. Soon after, Roma made their first substitutions of the game, with Giada Greggi and Kayleigh Van Dooren coming off for Manuela Giugliano and Alayah Pilgrim.

Ellie Carpenter drives the ball towards the box, laying the ball off for Keira Walsh. She collects the ball just outside the box, looking to make the pass back to Ellie Carpenter before the ball is intercepted by Maya Antoine.

Roma made another substitution, with Sofia Jahnukainen coming on for Elishabetta Oliviero.

Lucy Bronze plays the ball down the wing; Shukurat Damilola Oladipo is able to get in front of Malard but allows the ball to bounce past her. Mallard is then able to pick up the ball and lay it off to Sjoeke Nusken. She was left one-on-one with the keeper, taking it the first time, but it went flying over the bar

A chance for Roma saw Maya Antoine drive the ball down the right and cross it over to Alayah Pilgrim, just inside of the box. With Lucy Bronze in front of her, she takes it forward but strikes it over the bar.

With not long to go, Roma make their final substitutions of the game with Winonah Heatley coming off for Alice Corelli.

Lexi Potter received a knock and went down. She received some treatment before coming off for Giulia Dragoni, making her UWCL debut for Chelsea against her old team.

Wieke Kaptein takes a short corner for the Blues, playing a one-two with Sandy Baltimore, and crossing into the box. Rachel Baldi comes out to clear the ball, but Kadiesha Buchanan already had a head to it, sending it into the back of the net. Chelsea 2 – 0 Roma

With four minutes of added time announced, both teams strike for a goal. We saw a foul on Lucy Bronze, but the referee played advantage. She laid it off to Sjoeke Nuskens, who drove it up the pitch and crossed it over to Melvine Malard. She took a touch and shot, just skimming over the bar.

With the last shot of the game, the whistle was blown. It’s Chelsea 2 – 0 Roma.

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French Duo Unstoppable as Chelsea Defeat Crystal Palace 3-1

Image via Wing Chong for Constancy Sport

Chelsea come back from behind as French duo link up to help defeat Crystal Palace 3-1.

Line ups:

Crystal Palace XI: Peyraud-Magnin (GK), Everett ©, Lloyds-Smith, England, Ladd, Blanchard, Larkin, Goldie, Tsunoda, Swaby, Bartrip

Subs: O’Brien (77’), Enge (95’, Napier (95’)

Chelsea XI: Hampton (GK), Carpenter, Buchanan, Bronze ©, McCabe, Nusken, Potter, Kaptein, Hamano, Thompson, Malard

Subs: Baltimore (46’), Cuthbert (46’), Beever-Jones (68’), Dragoni (91’), Matsukubo (91’)

Chelsea took kick off in South London through Melvine Malard and had a dominant spell of possession in the opening stages.

It was four minutes until Chelsea got the first set piece of the game with Wieke Kaptein taking the shot – Molly Bartrip however was first to it clearing the ball to prevent any Chelsea attack

With the third corner in as many minutes, Katie Mccabe took the chance, firing it just past the depth of the Chelsea attack and being cleared by the opposition.

Katie McCabe provided the first clear chance of the game with a through ball on the left to Melvine Malard however Palace skipper, Aimee Everett was better to it, removing the ball from the path of the French striker.

Moments later, the visiting side forced a crucial save from Peyraud-Magnin, who only cleared it as far as the feet of Malard whose ball came within inches of the goal mouth, forcing a doubled effort from Everett and Swaby to keep the visitors from going ahead.

Palace had their first series of corners of the game just after the fifteen minute mark with Molly Bartrip chesting the ball into the net to give Palace the lead for the first time ever in this London Derby!

GOAL: 19’ – Molly Bartrip

Katie McCabe tried to get one back ten minutes later however struggled to get the ball close to the net, the shot going far wide of the goal mouth.

Palace came close to a second in the 29th minute, with Hayley Ladd shooting from the edge of the box straight into the gloves of Hannah Hampton who was determined to keep the deficit at bay.

Teyah Goldie kept Ellie Carpenter from levelling the score with a last ditch clearance on the stroke of 33 minutes.

On the stroke of half time Wieke Kaptein seemed to have placed a harsh tackle on Tsunoda, enabling a fight on the half way line, with Kaptein, McCabe and Blanchard receiving yellow cards.

HALF TIME: Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea

A concerning display from the visitors saw Crystal Palace ahead half time thanks to Molly Bartrip’s set peice excellence.

Substitions ahead of the second half saw Erin Cuthbert and Sandy Baltimore replace Maika Hamano and Alyssa Thompson.

Erin Cuthbert and Melvine Malard linked up in the opening stages of the second half with the duo close to an equaliser, the latter however shot the ball just wide of the goal, Peyraud-Magnin avoiding being called into action once more.

Moments later Melvine Malard found the equalisier for good, shooting from a far and gliding the ball into the back of the net.

GOAL: 51’ – Melvine Malard

Fuka Tsunoda’s free kick found the feet of Bethany England soon after with the help of Hayley Ladd, however England’s shot was settled just over the bar.

Lucy Bronze recieved a yellow card soon after for a foul on Annabel Blanchard – the latter receiving treatment for a second time.

Aggie Beever-Jones entered the field of play in the 68th minute, replacing Wieke Kaptein in a bid for Chelsea to find a lead.

Sandy Baltimore’s fancy footwork saw the French international effortlessly weave past three Palace players where she crossed the ball to the head of Melvine Malard – whose effor found the back of the net once more.

GOAL: 75’ – Melvine Malard

With four minutes on the clock, Sjoeke Nusken found herself shooting from the edge of the box, her shot met the far post however, rebounding to the feet of  Ellie Carpenter who was unable to get her footing – soring the ball far above the goal.

Sandy Baltimore found the third and final Chelsea goal at the dead after a foul from Molly Bartrip awarded herself a yellow Card and Chelsea a penalty. Baltimore’s shot sailed past the gloves of Peyraud-Magnin.

GOAL: 90’ – Sandy Baltimore

Final substitutions from Chelsea saw both Julia Dragoni and Manaka Matsukubo enter the field, Matsukubo making her Chelsea debut after signing for the club this summer.

An impressive comeback from Chelsea in South London as goals from Melvine Malard and Sandy Baltimore help Chelsea come back against hosts Crystsal Palace. The winners are unbeaten in all competitions this season, including four consecutive London derbies.

For the hosts, it’s upsetting loss considering the circumstances but significant improvement on previous encounters but with a tough run of games to come, Jo Potter will certainly be looking at the positives going into the winter Period.