Women's Super League
Bristol City WomenBristol City Women0Chelsea WomenChelsea Women2

Bristol City Women 0-2 Chelsea Ladies

By Josh HuntBBC Sport

Chelsea Ladies secured the Women's Super League title with a hard-fought victory against Bristol City.

The Blues, led by assistant Paul Green with manager Emma Hayes advised not to travel at this stage of her pregnancy, were rarely troubled by the Vixens.

Drew Spence headed Chelsea in front, before City's Millie Farrow fired right at Hedvig Lindahl from six yards out.

Jonna Anderson fired in a late second to secure the result as FA Cup winners Chelsea wrapped up a domestic double.

Ji So-yun cracked a long-distance effort against the bar in added time, with Bristol City unable to respond.

The visitors, who beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final earlier this month, are now only one game away from finishing the season unbeaten in the league.

Unbeaten Chelsea secure famous five

Chelsea's title success gave them their fifth major crown in the club's history and their second in 11 days.

Hayes' side - who reached the Champions league semi-finals this term - had never won a trophy prior to her arrival in 2012, but this is the second double of her tenure, matching their efforts from 2015.

The Blues also won 2017's transitional WSL 1 Spring Series, but were not awarded the WSL trophy because of the event's one-off eight-game format.

They had looked set for a close battle with 2016 WSL champions Manchester City, but three defeats in their past five games left Nick Cushing's side out of contention.

Chelsea will have to replace a number of key figures when they attempt to retain their title in 2018-19, with England midfielder Katie Chapman, 35, retiring and defender Claire Rafferty, 29, leaving at the end of the season.

But their immediate thoughts will turn to their final game of the season against Liverpool as they aim to finish a remarkable season unbeaten in the league.

Chelsea midfielder Gemma Davison:

"We knew that we'd have to stay focused on this game and we wanted to make sure we got the result as well to keep winning and stay unbeaten.

"We stayed focused and patient throughout the game. Good teams do that, and we put the pressure on in the last 30 minutes and got our rewards.

"We all know that every player in our changing room can make a difference. Drew Spence has had a phenomenal season and she deserves a lot of credit for that goal.

"This whole squad's got a good character about it and we've displayed it all season."

Line-ups

Bristol City Women

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 22Baggaley
  • 2Dykes
  • 6Kerkdijk
  • 21Turner
  • 4Matthews
  • 14Palmer
  • 20Biesmans
  • 11Hemp
  • 7ArthurSubstituted forEstcourtat 52'minutes
  • 9DanielsSubstituted forHumphreyat 80'minutes
  • 29FarrowSubstituted forFergussonat 74'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Brown
  • 8Humphrey
  • 10Fergusson
  • 12Allen
  • 13Watson
  • 16Estcourt
  • 18Wilson

Chelsea Women

Formation 3-4-1-2

  • 1Lindahl
  • 4Bright
  • 18Mjelde
  • 5Flaherty
  • 3BlundellSubstituted forAlukoat 87'minutes
  • 10Ji
  • 17Chapman
  • 20Andersson
  • 24SpenceSubstituted forCuthbertat 68'minutes
  • 23BachmannSubstituted forDavisonat 70'minutes
  • 14Kirby

Substitutes

  • 2Thorisdottir
  • 7Davison
  • 9Aluko
  • 11Rafferty
  • 16Eriksson
  • 22Cuthbert
  • 28Telford
Referee:
Amy Fearn
Attendance:
820

Match Stats

Home TeamBristol City WomenAway TeamChelsea Women
Possession
Home29%
Away71%
Shots
Home6
Away15
Shots on Target
Home3
Away8
Corners
Home3
Away5
Fouls
Home5
Away3

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Bristol City WFC 0, Chelsea Ladies 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Bristol City WFC 0, Chelsea Ladies 2.

  3. Post update

    Attempt saved. Ji So-Yun (Chelsea Ladies) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Francesca Kirby.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Chelsea Ladies. Conceded by Jasmine Matthews.

  5. Post update

    Millie Bright (Chelsea Ladies) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Lauren Hemp (Bristol City WFC).

  7. Goal!

    Goal! Bristol City WFC 0, Chelsea Ladies 2. Jonna Andersson (Chelsea Ladies) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Francesca Kirby.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea Ladies. Eniola Aluko replaces Hannah Blundell.

  9. Post update

    Gemma Davison (Chelsea Ladies) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Aimee Palmer (Bristol City WFC).

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Francesca Kirby (Chelsea Ladies) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left misses to the left. Assisted by Jonna Andersson.

  12. Post update

    Attempt missed. Gemma Davison (Chelsea Ladies) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.

  13. Post update

    Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Ladies) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Aimee Palmer (Bristol City WFC).

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Bristol City WFC. Carla Humphrey replaces Yana Daniels.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Bristol City WFC. Conceded by Hedvig Lindahl.

  17. Post update

    Attempt saved. Olivia Fergusson (Bristol City WFC) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  18. Post update

    Attempt saved. Lauren Hemp (Bristol City WFC) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Loren Dykes.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea Ladies) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Bristol City WFC. Olivia Fergusson replaces Millie Farrow.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea Women17125041113041
2Man City Women16102443172632
3Reading Women1794439172231
4Arsenal Women1694330171331
5B'ham City Women1792629171229
6Liverpool Women179172824428
7Bristol City Women1751111241-2916
8Everton Women1742111927-814
9Sunderland Women1641111337-2413
10Yeovil United160214147-462
View full Women's Super League table

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