Everything you need to know ahead of this match can be found here…

When and where?

Emma Hayes and her Chelsea squad make the journey to the Midlands to face Aston Villa. The match kicks off at 7:00pm, half-an-hour earlier than originally scheduled, and will take place at Banks’s Stadium, Walsall.

How to follow and watch live

This game is being streamed live on the 5th Stand app, this website, Chelsea Women’s Facebook page and our official YouTube channel. Please note geographical restrictions apply.

The first half is available to watch on our Facebook page and YouTube channel only, with the second half on both those platforms plus the 5th Stand app and the Chelsea website.,

If you are unable to tune in to the action, you can keep up to date with the match via our social media channels too. There will be live commentary on our Twitter page and regular content on Instagram and Facebook. All you need to do is search ‘ChelseaFCW' on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

The form

Chelsea’s Women’s Super League fixture away to Bristol City was postponed on Sunday due to a heavy snow overnight leading to an unplayable pitch. Therefore, the Blues were last in action last Wednesday when we played rivals Manchester City for a place in the semi-final of the Continental Tyres League Cup. The scoreline was 2-2 at full-time and the Blues progressed to the final four with two extra-time goals.

Melanie Leupolz got us underway at he Academy Stadium on the stroke of half-time when she blasted in a half-volley inside the box, but City levelled the scoring shortly after the break when Chloe Kelly took advantage of a defensive mix-up.

It looked as though our hosts had knocked us out of the competition when Lauren Hemp netted inside the final 10 minutes. However, there was a moment of magic as substitute Niamh Charles netted a sublime volley which flew into the top corner to take the game to extra time.

Guro Reiten put us ahead early into the additional 30, when she slid home a cross at the back post ,and just before the break, Sophie Ingle unleashed an unbelievable long-range left-footed strike that went flying and completely out of reach of Karen Bardsley in the City goal.

Should Chelsea win tomorrow, we will break the Women’s Super League record for the longest unbeaten streak of 32 games.

Aston Villa are in their first term in the top flight and currently sit second from bottom in the table having won two, drawn one and lost seven. In their last match versus Reading, they came from behind twice to pick up a point which will give Villa a confidence boost going into tomorrow’s encounter with us. New signing Mana Iwabuchi scored on her debut on Saturday and Diana Silva pulled another back for the match to finish in a 2-2 draw.

Chelsea v Aston Villa head-to-head record

The two teams have met twice, with the last meeting coming last January in the quarter-final of the Continental League Cup. Second-half goals from Magdalena Eriksson, Ji So-Yun and Emily Murphy ensured we progressed to the final four of the 2019/20 competition.

Prior to that, we played Villa in 2016 when Chelsea put six goals past our opponent to reach the last four of the Women’s FA Cup.

Chelsea hit the woodwork three times before the opener came when Drew Spence unleashed an unstoppable half-volley. On the hour Fran Kirby set up Ji, who calmly tapped in and soon after our No.14 netted from 12 yards out. In the final five minutes Ji completed her hat-trick with goals either side of Eni Aluko’s 88th-minute effort.

Mjelde signs a new deal

Defender Maren Mjelde has signed a contract extension to keep her at the Blues until June 2022, with the club having an option for a further 12 months.

Who is next for the Blues?

Chelsea welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Kingsmeadow on Sunday. The league fixture kicks off at 12.30pm and will be available to watch on the BBC Red Button.