The Blues began our clash with Villa at Kingsmeadow on the front foot and just as it was for our opening goal against Wolfsburg on Wednesday, it was the link up play between Kerr and Fran Kirby that helped to break the deadlock on 24 minutes.

Kirby picked out Kerr in the box with a pinpoint cross and the Australian rose above her marker and headed into the top corner to give Chelsea a much-deserved lead.

The Blues continued to dominate proceedings, but we had to wait until the 57th minutes before adding a second and once again it was Kirby providing the assist for Kerr.

Villa failed to clear their lines and Kirby reacted first to intercept the ball before finding strike partner Kerr, who hit a first-time shot into the top corner to double our advantage and secure the three points.

With just four league games remaining, today’s win maintains our position at the top of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League, two points ahead of second-placed Manchester City.

Chelsea will now prepare for the second leg of our Champions League quarter-final against Wolfsburg. The Blues take a 2-1 lead into Wednesday’s clash in Budapest as we look to book our place in the semi-finals.

Emma Hayes made six changes to the team that started our first leg victory against Wolfsburg in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, with Zecira Musovic, Hannah Blundell, Jess Carter, Guro Reiten, Jessie Fleming and Erin Cuthbert all coming into the starting line-up to face Aston Villa.

Blundell and Carter slotted into the full-back positions alongside central defenders Eriksson and Bright, while Musovic was handed her second start for the club, with Ann-Katrin Berger rested for today’s clash.

Reiten and Cuthbert both came off the bench in Wednesday’s victory over Wolfsburg and they lined up on the flanks with Ji and Fleming sitting in the central midfield positions.

Prior to today’s fixture with Villa, Kirby and Kerr had directly combined for eight goals this season, assisting one another four times each, and the in-form duo lined up in attack for Chelsea.

Following our midweek Champions League clash, and a host of changes to our starting 11, Chelsea could have been forgiven for a slow start at Kingsmeadow, but the Blues began the game on the front foot with a real urgency to our play during the opening exchanges.

It did, however, take us 10 minutes before we got our first real sight of goal when Fleming unleashed a curling strike, but her goal-bound effort was blocked by a Villa defender.

Reiten side-footed an effort inches past the post following good work from Kerr, but while they were half chances, the Blues created a real opening minutes later and it was Kerr who was involved again.

Blundell delivered a defence-splitting pass to put Kerr through on goal, but the Australian couldn’t generate any power to trouble Villa keeper Weiss.

There was nothing she could do moments later though when Kerr headed home her 18th goal of the season and it was Kirby who provided yet another assist for the Australian.

Kirby turned quickly as she received the ball from Fleming and delivered a teasing cross into the box for Kerr to nod past Weiss and give the Blues a much-deserved lead on 24 minutes.

The Blues duo combined again 10 minutes later but neither of them could apply the finishing touch to further our advantage.

Kirby first played in Kerr but on the stretch, the Australian could only poke her effort towards goal and Weiss managed to get down low to block the effort.

In the same wave of attack, the ball eventually came to Kirby who created some space for herself on the edge of the box but her low drive went inches wide of the post.

Kirby was then involved again as Chelsea came close to adding a second on the stroke of half-time.

This time the forward carried the ball deep into the Villa half before rolling it to Carter who cut inside before sending a fierce effort inches over the cross bar.

Chelsea started the second half like the first, dictating play and showing an intensity with the ball as they searched for the cushion of a second goal.

The Blues had to be patient, but their dominance paid off just before the hour mark as Kerr grabbed her second of the afternoon.

Kirby intercepted a poor clearance from Villa keeper Weiss before quickly finding Kerr in the box and the forward supplied a first-time finish into the top corner to give Chelsea a two-goal cushion.

With an eye on Wednesday’s second leg against Wolfsburg, Hayes then made four changes after Kerr doubled our lead as Kirby, Kerr, Carter and Cuthbert made way for Niamh Charles, Drew Spence, Pernille Harder and Melanie Leupolz.

Those changes didn’t influence the game, as Chelsea continued to dominate possession and although we didn’t manage to add a third, the Blues seen the game out comfortably to earn another vital victory in the race for the title.

Today’s win keeps Chelsea at the top of the table, two points ahead of second-placed Manchester City with four league fixtures left to play.

Up next for Chelsea is another trip to Budapest for the second leg of our Champions League quarter-final against Wolfsburg.

The Blues go into Wednesday’s away leg with a slender advantage after goals from Kerr and Harder helped Chelsea earn a 2-1 victory in last weeks first leg.

Hayes and her side will then turn attentions back to our WSL campaign, when we entertain Birmingham City at Kingsmeadow next Sunday before several Blues will report for international duty.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Musovic; Carter (Charles 59), Bright, Eriksson (C), Blundell; Cuthbert (Spence 59), Ji, Fleming, Reiten (Beever-Jones 72); Kirby (Harder 59), Kerr (Leupolz 62)

Unused subs Telford, Ingle, Andersson, Fox

Scorers Kerr 24, 57

Aston Villa (3-4-1-2) Weiss; Ale, Franklin-Fraiture, Asante, McLoughlin (Syme 79), Hutton; Follis (Hayles), Arthur (Silva 79), Ewers (C) (N’Dow 29); Iwabuchi (Gregory 78), Hanseen

Unused subs Rogers, West, Siems,

Booked McLaughlin 75

Referee Sarah Garrett