Women’s Super League: talking points from the weekend’s action
James shining after putting in hard yards
Lauren James continued her stellar start to the season with two goals and an assist in Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat of Aston Villa. The 21-year-old shone in front of her manager, Emma Hayes, who returned to Kingsmeadow for the first time since an emergency hysterectomy and was watching from the stands. James has had to be patient since joining the champions from Manchester United in July 2021. Hayes makes no secret of the fact that what she demands of her players means it takes time for new recruits to get up to speed. Fans could have been forgiven for thinking James had made a mistake in returning to Chelsea, with her game time significantly reduced last season. Now, though, we are seeing the patience and hard work pay off – and then some. James is regarded as perhaps the most naturally talented English footballer since Kelly Smith, and watching her thrive is a treat. Suzanne Wrack
Hungry United no longer quick on the draw
Last season Ella Toone scored early for Manchester United at Everton before the team relinquished their lead in the second half. It was United’s third WSL draw in a row and one of six across the season. Having missed out on a place in the Champions League to Manchester City by five points, it is hard for United not to look back at those draws and think: ‘What if?’ Their stunning start to this campaign is an answer to that. “[I said at the] end of the season it hurts; hurt drives the hunger – we’re hungry,” the manager, Marc Skinner, said after the team’s 3-0 defeat of Everton On Sunday. Previously, these fixtures were banana skins for United, but now they are breezing through them. Although Everton were underwhelming at Walton Hall Park, United’s record of five wins from five games without conceding, putting them top on goal difference by one, speaks of a team capable of maintaining a serious title challenge. SW
Match report: Everton 0-3 Manchester United
Spurs rediscover flair in front of goal
Despite Tottenham’s progress in recent seasons, the one thing that has regularly seemed lacking is clinical firepower. Rehanne Skinner’s side are generally difficult to break down but had scored only three league goals this season before Sunday’s trip to Brighton. No wonder Skinner seemed a little shocked 90 minutes later when that tally had almost quadrupled thanks to an 8-0 win. Within two minutes, Spurs had found their shooting boots through Molly Bartrip’s superb dipping effort. Brighton rallied but a big defensive error allowed Nikola Karczewska to double the score. Braces followed for the influential Ashleigh Neville and productive Drew Spence before the substitute Jessica Naz added two confidence-building goals. It was a dominant Tottenham performance from the first whistle to the last on a day to forget for Hope Powell’s side. They will need to regroup quickly after three straight defeats or they could end up in serious trouble. Sophie Downey
Nobbs back to her best in recordbreaking win
A fit and firing Jordan Nobbs is a heartwarming sight for any WSL fan (bar perhaps West Ham’s followers on Sunday evening). She is a player with an undeniable talent who has been struck down at the worst possible moments by serious injury. If this last week is anything to go by, however, she is back to her best, with two instinctive trademark finishes surely putting her in line for an England call-up on Tuesday. Within minutes of coming on against the Hammers, she had pulled her side back into the game. It was a moment that settled the Gunners after they had been rattled early on. West Ham’s captain, Dagny Brynjarsdóttir, was at it again, firing the visitors ahead, but Nobbs levelled just before the break. West Ham’s tendency to fade away in the second half struck again as Arsenal started firing. A deft finish from Stina Blackstenius and a well-placed Frida Maanum header led Jonas Eidevall’s side to a 13th successive league win, a WSL record. SD
Stengel pounces on City defensive blunder
Manchester City defeated Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday but Gareth Taylor’s side were punished for poor defending when Alex Greenwood was wrestled off the ball by Katie Stengel. City took a short free-kick from not far outside their own box and the play out from the back was loose. Liverpool’s high press saw Greenwood pressured by Stengel, who won the ball, nutmegged the England defender and took one touch before firing past Ellie Roebuck. It gave Matt Beard’s team their first goal from open play in the league, with the others coming from penalties. All of Liverpool’s WSL goals have come from Stengel, but they were unable to hang on to a point as substitute Hayley Raso found a winner 15 minutes from the end. Sarah Rendell
Hero Rowe rides to the rescue for Reading
Rachel Rowe’s 90th-minute equaliser for Reading against Leicester had already made her a hero before she scored again in injury time to secure three points and cement her status as a club legend. Her two goals should be written into folklore. Her first was bent in direct from a corner and her winner was even more impressive. She picked up possession in midfield, where she took a few touches to create a shooting position about 30 yards out. Rowe hit a rocket which rattled the net and she was swarmed by her teammates. The celebrations for Rowe continued post-match when the manager, Kelly Chambers, lifted her off the ground in the team huddle. Her quick brace gave Reading their first league win to move them to ninth. SR