The last time Manchester City beat Chelsea in the league, they were playing them at a ground out by Heathrow Airport, on the now rarely used Wheatsheaf Park that was formerly home to Staines Town. Eight years ago, goals from Demi Stokes and Jen Beattie secured the win in a title-winning season. Familiar names from an unfamiliar time because since then Chelsea have gone on to win five more league titles and many people would not even remember that they used to play away from their current home of Kingsmeadow.
It had been eight years since City had managed to get a league win away at Chelsea, but a 1-0 victory brought an end to Chelsea’s 33 game unbeaten league run at their home ground. It also ensured that there is plenty to play for in the Women’s Super League title race.
Heading into the game, Emma Hayes had been positive about Chelsea’s relationship with Kingsmeadow, without being drawn on the record itself.
“It’s a bit like anybody when they go home or return home — it’s that feeling of comfort.
“It’s a familiarity, it’s a ground we’ve had such amazing memories at (but) this is just another notch in our season.”
Not since Brighton pulled off a shock 2-1 victory at the ground in February 2021 have Chelsea lost here. An even better omen for Manchester City is that the past two times a club other than Chelsea have won the WSL title, they have won at Chelsea that season. Arsenal’s historic 5-0 win at Kingsmeadow was an omen of things to come in 2018-19, while City themselves famously last won away when they won their only WSL title in 2016.
The match itself was decided by a goal from Bunny Shaw in the 14th minute, her 15th of the season for Manchester City. Jess Park nicked the ball off the normally unflappable Erin Cuthbert in midfield and found plenty of space to run into. Shaw similarly found it easy to bound into the box as defenders rushed to catch up with her — Hannah Hampton saw the ball slotted past her having only moved off her line late on.
From there, Manchester City seemed happy to defend their lead, with Chelsea finding it hard to break through despite their opponents sitting further and further back. It was a game that was fairly obviously missing Sam Kerr, watching on from the stands, with January signing Mayra Ramirez often a second behind her new teammates. Chelsea struggled to create clear cut chances and ultimately, could not find a way back into the game.
Chelsea’s 33-game unbeaten home WSL record was ended by Manchester City (Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
The result leaves City level on points with Chelsea, as well as level on goal difference, although the Blues are still top thanks to goals scored. But more important is the mental boost that City will have gained from this win.
“It’s nice for me, it’s my first time I’ve won here,” said City manager Gareth Taylor after the match. “I’ve not been successful here at all.
“It’s a big step for us, there’s no doubt about it.
“I think we’ve gone under the radar a little bit this season. I think we’ve tried to play our game as much as we possibly can. But we’ve added a bit of steeliness and determination to our defending now so we’ve worked on that.”
There were strong parallels to the 1-1 draw at the Joie Stadium in October where City almost held out against Chelsea despite only having nine players after Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp were shown red cards. That ability to cling on in matches when things are going against them has been a big factor in City’s success so far this season.
Fittingly, the record that Chelsea would have beaten by going undefeated was Manchester City’s own home unbeaten record.
“It’s not the sort of thing you’re going to put on my tombstone,” said Emma Hayes. “You’re going to be remembered for the feathers you get at the end of the year and my focus is going to be on that.”
This result sets up a true title race with Chelsea and City but the loss at Kingsmeadow almost felt like a strange relic. It was Chelsea’s biggest game at the ground this season. Their match against Manchester United has already been played at Stamford Bridge as will their Champions League fixtures and home game against Arsenal.
It meant the ground had an unusual thrum, almost as if people had forgotten what it meant to have a game this big taking place here. With Chelsea having lost it, maybe there is a curtain coming down on what Kingsmeadow really represented. The push to play more matches at Stamford Bridge has left Kingsmeadow as something of a halfway-house.
Who knows whether the players genuinely feel like they have one home when they spread their time across multiple pitches, but it is interesting that Manchester City remain loyal to the Joie Stadium where they have in the past had their own formidable records. Only the Manchester derby to come in March will be played at the Etihad.
Regardless of home ground, both Chelsea and City still have plenty to play for, although Chelsea’s attention will certainly turn away from the league once the Champions League quarter-finals come around next month. For that reason, it seems fair to suggest that under the radar or not, City might be title favourites.
(Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
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