CHELSEA V MANCHESTER UNITED WOMENS

What went wrong for Manchester United?

Chelsea v Manchester United Women

It would be hard-pressed to say this United team were in contention for the WSL trophy last season, beginning now 10 points away from the top-of-the-table leaders of Chelsea. Chelsea has got a comfortable three-point cushion between them and second-place Arsenal. However, with the concerning news of Sam Kerr's ACL injury, the heat is on Chelsea to fill in that number 9 position- Lauren James, Aggie Beaver-Jones or Mia Fishal. Manchester United, however, have never beaten Chelsea in the women's game. And this game would not change that. Within the first 5 minutes, Lauren James opened the scoring board with her afternoon's first goal. James scored a hat-trick with Manchester United. Haley Ladd pulled a goal back for the visitor, but that would not be the talking point or what United will take away from this game. This was an important game for Niamh Charles, who returned from suspension with a bang, leading Chelsea out for her first time at the bridge.

I can undoubtedly see how Johanna Rytting Kaneryd has grown into the English pace of football with her ability to cut inside the defender and place perfect balls in the box to be collected.  It was also a league debut for her move from Everton for the Swedish Bjorn.

Manchester United are on their second loss in the League after losing to Liverpool before the winter break, and it would be hard-pressed for them to come back as no team has won the WSL with more than two defeats, and they have clocked up 3 in the last 11 games.

Although the Chelsea back line has been the most vulnerable it's ever been, they have been able to prevent much from happening that end, even with the long-term injury loss of Millie Bright. Manchester United would have their chances through Toone, but Gracia denied her with a last-gasp tackle from Lawrence and a free header wide of the far post.

The three Chelsea goals are from Chelsea's star girl Lauren James, an academy prodigy, in the 5th, 23rd, and 85th minutes. With assists from Rytting Kaneryd to get the first goal, Bjorn to her second goal, and Nusken to the goal, the win for the Blues at Stamford Bridge was sealed. This was not James' first Hat trick at the bridge but her second successive one after a 5-1 victory over Liverpool in November.

"I was impressed with her whole performance. She carried out the game plan and her role in that game plan to perfection. I've never seen a player like Lauren do the things she does individually. "That was Lauren at her best today. She took responsibility in that area of the pitch in a way that the team needed. It was a real team effort that allowed LJ to thrive. Lauren has a lot of complexities, but she is a genius footballer, and I'm happy for her. "She wanted to demonstrate to the home fans that she can step forward. She could do it as a ten and a nine in the second half. Her hold-up play is unbelievable." Chelsea boss Emma Hayes hailed "genius footballer" Lauren James for stepping up in Sam Kerr's absence. "Everybody has to take their turns," she said in a press conference. "Lauren took that today for the team."

James said of her success at the stadium, "I don't know the answer to that. I love scoring and try to do that as much as possible to help the team win. "It's just about focusing on what I can do and silencing anyone hating. I've got to focus on myself and helping the team. "It's always tough playing against Manchester United, but with the fans behind us at Stamford Bridge, we love playing here. Our performance from the start today, you could tell everyone was up for it."

Yellow cards- Ladd and Parris.

Chelsea- 4-2-3-1

Hampton

Lawrence

Buchanan

Bjorn

Charles

Leupolz

Cuthbert

Rytting Kaneryd

James

Reiten

Fishel

Substitutes

Chelsea- used

Carter

Kirby

Nusken

Bench

Musovic

Ingle

Perisset

Mjelde

Cankovic

Beever-Jones

Manchester United

Earps

Riviere

Le Tissier

Turner

Blundell

Ladd

Zelem

Gracia

Toone

Galton

Da Silva Ferreira 

Substitutes

Used

Evans

Naalsund

Parris

Williams

Bench

Guerrero

Tullis- Joyce

Possession

Chelsea 56%,     Manchester United 44%

Shots

Chelsea 20         Manchester United 9

Shots on target

Chelsea 5          Manchester United 4

Corners

Chelsea 7          Manchester United 2

Fouls

Chelsea 5         Manchester United 7