Eniola Aluko was delighted Chelsea were able to capitalise on Sunderland’s draw with Liverpool with a win over Birmingham.
The Black Cats drew 2-2 with Liverpool on Saturday night and Chelsea took full advantage as Aluko scored twice, while Gilly Flaherty and debutant Fran Kirby were on target for the SSE Women’s FA Cup winners, who had Gemma Davison sent off before half-time.
Chelsea 4-0 Birmingham City
FA WSL 1
Wheatsheaf Park, Staines
Sunday 9 August 2015
Ahead of Sunday's clash between fellow title-chasers Arsenal and Manchester City, Chelsea moved a point clear of Sunderland in their pursuit of the FA Women’s Super League with BT Sport title and Aluko was in buoyant mood.
“With Sunderland dropping points we wanted a win today to keep pressure on them at the top and we did that very well,” said the England striker.
“The team is on a high after winning the FA Cup last week but it was important for us to focus because Birmingham are a team who are difficult to break and we knew that we would have to put in a performance.
“This is a team now that doesn’t panic when things don’t go our way in games, we don’t implode because we know the quality that’s in our team and there’s a lot of steel in that dressing room.
Ji So-Yun battles with Remi Allen
“The staff are tactical geniuses, they didn’t panic and they knew what we needed to do as a team to stay settled and defensively sound and we scored three goals with 10 players.”
The home side scored the goal their pressure deserved 10 minutes before the break after goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer got down well to push Drew Spence’s shot away, but the alert Aluko was the first to pounce in the box for a routine finish.
Birmingham were seemingly given a route back into the game minutes before the interval when Davison was shown a second yellow card for simulation.
Emma Hayes’ side managed to double their lead before half-time though, when Flaherty was found unmarked from Ji So-Yun’s corner, finishing calmly into the bottom right corner.
Fran Kirby celebrates her first goal for Chelsea
Aluko extended the lead from the penalty spot two minutes into the second half after the ball had bounced up and hit the hand of Aoife Mannion.
Substitute Kirby rounded off an impressive Chelsea debut with her first goal for the club, skilfully lifting the ball over Spencer who had already gone to ground.
“I absolutely thought we could get back into the game after the red card,” said Birmingham manager Dave Parker.
“The opposition going down to 10, losing such a crucial player like Gemma Davison – she’s been on fire and started on fire today – it just gives you that extra opportunity because they’ve got less players up front, you can play out more easily and dominate in midfield.
Melissa Lawley holds off Ana Borges
“But it was them who dominated us in midfield and they really took the game to us, and fair play to Chelsea because they thoroughly deserved the win and they are the best team in this league.
“But for ourselves, if we get in at half-time at 1-0 then we can build, but it’s absolutely criminal, a ball into our box and she’s run off her marker and scored, it’s so simple.
“Then it’s 3-0 before we’ve even kicked the ball and they score again and it’s game over.”
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