Chelsea Overcome the Blues with Ruthless Execution at the Bridge

In their new home of Stamford Bridge, Chelsea host Birmingham City in their third WSL fixture this season. Full of confidence after a 5-0 victory in Manchester last weekend, the Blues look hungry for more.

Amy Merricks’ Blues head to London ambitious to take something from the hosts, challenging for every ball and putting bodies on the line. Following an impressive draw on Sunday, the squad prepare to put themselves on the WSL radar once again.

Two Sides with a Point to Prove

In front of 4,793 attendees, Chelsea and Birmingham City have something to prove as they continue their 2026/27 Barclays Women’s Super League campaigns with all eyes on three points this weekend.

Sonia Bompastor’s Blues head into this fixture with four points on the board, having secured one draw and one win so far this season. Earning another three points on home soil is the confidence boost Chelsea need

Meanwhile Amy Merricks’ newly promoted side have one draw and one loss to their name, as they look to make a statement in the WSL. Over the summer, several new faces signed with Birmingham City, becoming part of an exciting project in the topflight.  

Starting XIs

Chelsea: Hampton (gk), Carpenter, Buurman, Nusken, Baltimore, Thomspon, Kaptein, Walsh, Bronze ©, Buchanan, Potter.

Substitutes: Peng (gk), Rudz (gk), Girma, Malard, Bjorn, McCabe, Dragoni, Las, Hamano.

Birmingham City: Baggaley (gk), Levasseur, Naalsund, Leidhammar, Crosthwaite, McKenna, Turner ©, Hurtre, Miyagawa, Herron.

Substitutes: Thomas (gk), Harris, Rastoche. Cooke, Amano, Holloway, Cornet, Effa Effa, Sarri.

First Half Frustrations

Early pressure from Chelsea sees the ball fly across the face of goal several times, with Buurman’s wide effort eventually preventing a first minute goal.  

A stellar run down the right flank from Ellie Carpenter sets up Lexi Potter who cannot miss from close range. A powerful effort smashes the top of the next time give the Blues the lead. Despite Sophie Baggaley’s initial save from Carpenter, she could not prevent the young midfielder from striking the net.

Sandy Baltimore’s quick throw in caught Millie Turner off guard with Alyssa Thompson driving at the goal, almost taking a two-goal advantage. Baggaley with a crucial save from close range.

Oceane Hurtre’s free kick from outside the box curls in with a scramble in the box. Another Birmingham City corner to be played. This time Lucy Bronze confidently heading the ball out of play.

A cleverly crafted one two piece of play on the right sees Carpenter through to Thompson who goes for goal once again, narrowly missing the crossbar. 

Miyagawa lobs Bronze with a ball over the top to Hurte who almost connects, but Hannah Hampton confidently saves. Moments later at the other end, Neve Herron clears Carpenter’s effort off the line, once again defending the Birmingham goal.

Thompson through to Sjoeke Nusken who heads it to the crossbar. Another close call for Birmingham as Chelsea dominate in the final third with a strong possession game.

Just ahead of halftime, Hurtre almost gives Birmingham a sign of redemption with a long-range effort powering straight into Hampton.

Halftime: Chelsea 1-0 Birmingham City

Second Half Mastery

Birmingham City up the intensity with something to play for after a narrow Chelsea lead at the break.

Controversy arises as Thompson believes she deserved a penalty kick, with the decision to deny her protest resulting in a yellow card for Bompastor on the touchline.

Shortly after, a Birmingham attack almost finds the net with Hampton stepping up once again.

Melvine Malard is introduced with half an hour to go. On her Stamford Bridge debut in Chelsea blue, she looks to make an impact and create a comfortable lead. 

Suzu Amano becomes the Blues’ first substitution, making way for Geum-min after a valiant effort in the midfield press and possession of the ball. After her entrance, she proved challenging for the Blues to contain, opening up pockets of space on the field that Chelsea struggled to contain.

 Malard does just that!! Ten minutes later she chips Baggaley after a defensive header from Turner that does not quite reach the goalkeeper. The French striker’s initiative allows her to control the ball and slot it home at a tight angle to give the hosts a two-goal advantage. Her first WSL goal of many in Chelsea colours.

Once again, the number nine thought she was through, but the offside flag raised high. There is no doubt she is hungry to put her name on the scoresheet and fight for her place in the starting lineup once fully returned to fitness.  

Katie McCabe, Giulia Dragoni and Natalie Bjorn enter the pitch, with five minutes left of play. Keeping the clean sheet proves vital in their WSL campaign as they look to threaten while maintaining defensive solidity. 

Despite a much stronger second half from Merricks’ side, Chelsea retain their clean sheet and look to keep momentum in the final few moments. While dominating possession throughout the match, there were certainly moments of brilliance from Merricks’ side which just needed some extra clinical edge to put the ball across the line.

Attendance 4,793.

Full time: Chelsea 2-0 Birmingham City

Bompastor on Crucial Partnerships Forming:

When asked about partnerships forming on the pitch – mentioning Keira Walsh and Potter, alongside Malard and Carpenter – Bompastor assured the club focus heavily on building relationships between players that allow them to fulfil their full potential on the pitch:

“It’s crucial when you get to a point on the pitch where the players understand each other and they get that connection together. I think that’s what can make the difference between playing good football but also being able to play with a manner where you hurt the other team.

It takes a lot of time for that.”

Merricks on Birmingham’s Ability to Compete Consistently in the WSL:

Following a frustrating defeat for the Blues, the head coach praised her squad’s ability to compete as they keep pushing week in week out to reach the demands and intensity of the WSL:

“If you ask me what I’ve learned, I’ve probably had just a confirmation of the fact that we absolutely can compete with every team in this league and we must compete consistently. 

And I think that’s why for me that first half going into halftime I was a little disappointed with what I’d seen so far.”

The double Gameweek ahead

Both Chelsea and Birmingham City return to WSL action next Sunday (27 September) with home ties for both. Merricks’ Blues will host Crystal Palace in a must-win fixture against another newly promoted side. Meanwhile Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge in a fiery London Derby against Arsenal.

Before this, midweek action is set to happen. Birmingham travel to Goodison Park where they face WSL rivals Everton in the Subway Players Cup. Bompastor’s side will host Austria Wien as they kickstart their ambitious UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign at their new home in Wimbledon.

Regarding their upcoming Champions League clash, Bompastor spoke about the importance of mentality and mindset alongside the added confidence from this weekend’s win:

“It’s always easier when you win the games to stay confident for sure, but that’s a different competition. We know this competition is really difficult. Everyone is improving in Europe. Every team is also doing well…

We are starting at home, so hopefully getting a good result this week will help for us to approach the game with confidence. But it’s a different complete game so we need to also stay on board, keep working, and making sure we come into that game with the right mindset and mentality.”

With a closer contest than many anticipated this afternoon, the stakes are high for both clubs as they look to recover, regroup and compete to high standards in the double game week ahead.