Lauren James double eases leaders Chelsea to WSL victory over Leicester

Chelsea continued their strong form with victory against Leicester in a scintillating encounter in south-west London. Emma Hayes’s side got off to a rapid start with an early goal from Lauren James and an own goal from Courtney Nevin. Leicester’s Jutta Rantala pulled one back in a goal-filled first half, with Sam Kerr and Sam Tierney adding one for each team just before the break. James and Aggie Beever-Jones added two further goals in the second half to make sure of the three points.

The Blues returned to Kingsmeadow for the first time in almost a month, backed by a strong contingent of spectators. The Women’s Super League title holders are the only team to remain unbeaten in the division, having also beaten a resilient Paris FC in Europe on Thursday. The Chelsea manager has been outspoken in recent weeks on player loading and rang the changes once more. Sophie Ingle, Ève Périsset, Fran Kirby and Maren Mjelde came into bring fresh legs and energy across the pitch.

They faced a Leicester team that have been enjoying a turnaround in fortunes under Willie Kirk this season. Despite coming into this fixture without a win in five, they have impressed in these early months with their brave, aggressive football and came into this fixture sitting in seventh. The Foxes manager also made a handful of changes from the side that had drawn with Tottenham with Aimee Palmer, Julie Thibaud and Aileen Whelan all starting.

It was a rampant Chelsea who came out of the blocks, any fears of tiredness from their midweek exploits fading fast. Within five minutes of the whistle, they were two goals ahead due to a combination of ruthless forward play and loose defending from the opposition. For the first, James snuck in ahead of Thibaud as Tierney sent a pass backwards. She raced towards the box and made no mistake with the finish past Janina Leitzig.

Chelsea pounced again shortly after with James displaying her electric pace as she stormed forward once more. CJ Bott did well to force her to cut inside and Leitzig got a good hand to the shot but could only parry it onto Nevin and it ricocheted off the defender and into the back of the net.

There was evident consternation in the Leicester ranks as the game appeared to be running away from them. Chelsea were able to force the turnovers and slice through their defensive line at ease in the early stages. Kerr set up James for another opportunity, but her effort dipped wide before Kirby sent an ambitious effort over the bar.

James scores Chelsea’s fourth goal at Kingsmeadow. Photograph: Steven Paston/PA

A pause in play, however, allowed the visitors to regroup and they began to settle into their rhythm. Their transitional play has been a strong asset this season and it was through this they were starting to find some joy. With almost half an hour played, they had pulled themselves back into the fixture with a fine move through the midfield. Lena Petermann dropped deep to win the ball back and turned brilliantly past her marker to feed Rantala. The pass was perfectly weighted for the Finnish international to fire past Ann-Katrin Berger in the Chelsea goal.

It was a goal that really levelled out the encounter and Rantala had an opportunity minutes later to add another, dragging her shot wide from distance. Chelsea, however, were always dangerous and went through the gears as the half drew to a close. Erin Cuthbert had a goal disallowed by the offside flag moments before Kerr extended the hosts’ lead once again. Niamh Charles, enjoying a strong season, showed her strength to hold off Bott down the left. She worked space to direct in a low cross for the Chelsea forward to turn it home unmarked.

Leicester, however, are nothing but resilient this campaign and they showed the stubbornness once more just before the break. When Petermann broke through the Chelsea defensive line, Berger rushed out of her box to rashly take the forward down. Palmer, known for her set piece ability, stepped up to crash a sweetly struck attempt off the woodwork with Tierney first to react at the near post to narrow the deficit.

A pause in proceedings allowed everyone in the stadium to take their breath. The second half failed to reach the same intensity as Chelsea dominated proceedings. James added another with a lifted finish with half an hour to play before Beever-Jones added a fifth as the clock wound towards the final whistle. It was a comfortable scoreline in the end for Hayes’ side who retained their place at the top of the table ahead of the international break.