Emma Hayes’ side now sit two points behind top-of-table Arsenal with a game in hand over the Gunners. The Blues will host Arsenal at Kingsmeadow in a huge FA WSL clash this Friday, kicking off at 7.45pm.

Hayes made one change to the side that beat Manchester United midweek in the Continental Tyres League Cup semi-final, with Sam Kerr coming into the starting 11 for the first time since returning from the Asia Cup.

The Blues had the first real chance of the afternoon when Guro Reiten delivered a low cross for the on-running Kerr, but the Australian’s effort was well-blocked.

City failed to clear from a corner moments later, with the ball bouncing in the box landing at the feet of Millie Bright who looped her attempt just over the bar.

The Blues dominated possession at the beginning of the game, pressing City’s back line constantly. Jessie Fleming looked to get on the scoresheet, as she did against United midweek, when Cuthbert looped in a cross however our No.17 attempted header was well defended.

We opened the scoring just 13 minutes into the game when Jess Carter whipped in a perfect ball from the right to meet the head of Reiten. Our No.11 flicked the ball into the far corner past the reach of Ellie Roebuck to net her 18th Chelsea goal.

The Blues relentlessly pushed for a second and Reiten again was involved in the action. She cut the ball back for Sophie Ingle at the edge of the area but her strike was blocked, and the rebound trickled past Roebuck’s goal.

Harder almost scored a goal identical to her fantastic solo effort against United on Wednesday when the Dane danced her way past the City defence, but her strike was saved by the feet of Roebuck to deny us a second.

City created very little of their own in the first half. Lauren Hemp provided a threat down the left-wing however Carter did well to stifle her attacks.

Caroline Weir threaded the ball into the path of Bunny Shaw midway through the first half but Ann-Katrin Berger was quick off her line to collect the ball.

Shortly before the interval City captain Alex Greenwood whipped in a dangerous in-swinging cross which Berger bravely punched away, the rebound fell to the feet of Ruby Mace who blasted high and wide of the Blues’ goal.

Our No.30 made a world-class save just five minutes from half-time when Park aimed to curl a shot into the top-right corner, only for the strong hands of Berger to parry the strike out for a corner.

The game picked up exactly where it left off after the break as the Blues almost extended our lead through Kerr. Harder played a lovely ball into the Australian who beat the offside trap, but her driven effort rolled just wide of the goal.

Moments later we had another brilliant chance to make it two. Cuthbert’s driven cross reached Reiten in the box, the Norwegian’s strike was blocked by Lucy Bronze.

The pace of the game slowed down as the second half went on, but the Blues maintained control and saw the game out.

City had a number of consecutive corners but the Blues stood strong and aerially dominated the Manchester side.

Substitute Lauren James was denied her first Blues goal by a superb save from Roebuck. Our No.14 received the ball at the edge of the box and looked to curl it into the bottom, but Roebuck managed to get a strong hand to it.

The away side really ramped up the pressure as the game drew to a close, sending in a string of dangerous crosses. Bright was called into defensive action just a few minutes from time when she headed clear a powerful strike from Hemp.

It’s yet another quick turnaround for Hayes’ side as we host Arsenal at Kingsmeadow on Friday. The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, kicking off at 7:45pm.

Chelsea 4-4-1-1: Berger, Andersson, Nouwen, Bright, Carter, Ingle, Reiten (Spence 89), Fleming (Charles 67), Cuthbert, Harder (Kirby 67), Kerr (James 81)Unused substitutes: Musovic, Abdullina, Claypole, ThompsonScorer Reiten 14Manchester City 4-3-3: Roebuck, Bronze, Mace, Greenwood, Stokes, Walsh, Stanway (White 81), Weir, Park (Blakstad 58), Hemp, Shaw (Losada 58)Unused substitutes: Keating, Coombs, Beckie, Angeldahl, Raso, KennedyReferee: Amy FearnAttendance: 3,321