Women’s Super League: talking points from the weekend’s action

Women’s Football Weekend has become a staple of the season after its launch in 2019. It’s a smart idea, capitalising on the men’s international break to highlight the women’s game. This time was no different, with the Football Association, Sky and the BBC heavily promoting the fixtures, which were spread across the weekend. Big crowds duly followed, but there was disappointment with the north London derby being hosted at Brisbane Road while the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was used for Saracens versus Harlequins. The pitch was so poor at Leyton Orient that it was deemed unfit for the men’s match the following day. Meanwhile, Manchester City hosted 5,222 at a packed Academy Stadium while the Etihad across the road loomed large and empty. The FA and broadcasters need the full buy-in of clubs if they are going to make the most of this particular showcase of women’s football. SW

After Manchester City’s energetic 2-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday, their manager, Gareth Taylor, reiterated his belief that had his side lost, their opponents would have gone on to win the title. As it is, City’s win, their first in the league over Chelsea under Taylor, has blown the title race wide open. It remains Chelsea’s to lose though. They are one point behind City and Manchester United with a game in hand and only one game remaining against the top-four sides (as opposed to City and United’s two and Arsenal’s three), but they appear to be struggling with injuries as well as with a lack of ideas and options. A tricky game lies ahead, with Aston Villa, the WSL’s best of the rest, awaiting Chelsea after Thursday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Lyon. SW

A HUGE WIN!!!