Birmingham City 0-1 Chelsea: Women’s Super League – as it happened

LIVE – Updated at 20:58

Chelsea are one win away from the title after Pernille Harder’s second-half penalty gave them a hard-fought victory over the bottom club.

Emma Hayes’ verdict

“I said it before the game: we are playing teams that have something to lose. Birmingham played tremendously well. I thought we were nervy in the first half – we rushed things and, because the goal didn’t came… I say it all the time but Sam Kerr mustn’t be called offside when she’s not offside. The officials have got to do better with appreciating her movement. But job done, Pernille Harder has composure at the biggest moments, and I’m delighted.

“It’s one of those games where you know it’s gonna be tight and you hope for the early goal. I felt it was a difficult day for the centre-forwards because their back three dropped so early. That’s why I took Beth out at half-time, because I felt the centre-forward wasn’t in the game, so we had to create some overloads. In games like this you’ve just gotta dig it out.”

Post-match reaction

Erin Cuthbert

“I was saying to the girls, ‘There’s no photos on the title.’ Sometimes it doesn’t matter how you win, and in the course of a season you’re always gonna have games like this. Birmingham were fighting for their lives and put in a big effort.

“At half-time Emma [Hayes] said to switch the ball a bit more, a few more counter-presses, and just a little bit of aggression. As soon as we got the penalty I knew [Pernille Harder] would score. She’s been practising that every day after training, so it’s no coincidence she did it tonight.”

Pernille Harder

“It was not necessary for us to make it so exciting! It would have been nice to get a goal at the start of the game. When it came to the penalty I was just