The Blues had won our previous 22 home matches in the competition, the longest such run in its history, but we fell behind early in this game to a goal by the WSL’s leading scorer Bunny Shaw, and there proved to be no way back.

Having gone behind, it took time to find our attacking threat and when we did, we had good reason to be aggrieved not to be awarded a first-half penalty for a trip on the flying Mayra Ramirez.

Fran Kirby and Erin Cuthbert then went close but it was a below-par first half from a side that have been so impeccable at Kingsmeadow, and we knew a second-half step-up would be needed to prevent Manchester City closing the gap at the top of the table.

The second half proved to better by the Blues but as tight as the first on chances, and unlike the away meeting between these sides when we snatched a point in the 96th-minute, no leveller came.

Cuthbert went close for the home side with a dipping shot and a late double save denied substitutes Jelena Cankovic and Sjoeke Nusken. Earlier, Hannah Hampton in our goal made a good save from Chloe Kelly.

With this defeat today, the Blues miss out on setting a new all-time WSL record for home games unbeaten. Our run ends at 33 matches, tied with Manchester City who set their best three years ago.

Now this season, it is only the more goals scored by Chelsea that separates the two sides at the summit of the WSL table.

Shaw shocks Blues

Tonight’s game brought to an end a run of four February games at Kingsmeadow and with the Blues having won the earlier three this month, and our previous 10 games in all competitions, two in-form sides were going toe to toe. Manchester City had won seven WSL games in a row before kick-off.

Emma Hayes was able to restore Lauren James to her side after the top scorer missed the previous game due to illness.

Chelsea came into this game knowing a win would double our lead over closest-challengers City and the first shot in anger came from the Blues. Cuthbert’s drive struck the head of Alex Greenwood with such force that it sent the City captain falling backwards. However, it was the visitors who found the net first when they made the most of winning the ball back inside our own half.

There were 13 minutes played when the Citizens’ pressing paid off with the ball wrestled from Cuthbert by Jess Park. Her pass put Shaw through to fire past Hampton for her 14th league goal of the season and her first strike against Chelsea on her fifth attempt.

Another powerful shot by Shaw five minutes later was kept out by the Blues keeper. We needed to steady the ship.

It took until half-an-hour played for the sell-out crowd to be roaring in anticipation. Ramirez was sent racing away down the right and having reached the penalty area, a challenge came in from behind from Greenwood. There was contact as our centre-forward’s run was halted with a fall, but the referee waved play on.

No penalty given but the moment sparked more life into the Chelsea display. A slick move ended with a Kirby shot touched wide. Cuthbert, our long-range goal specialist, only just cleared the crossbar with a clean strike.

Frustration continues

Lauren James, not greatly involved in the first half, crossed dangerously at the start of the second 45, the beginning of better use of the wide areas by Chelsea. But City continued to carry a threat and Shaw was worryingly close to getting her head to a low cross by Leila Ouahabi.

At the other end, City keeper Khiara Keating only just beat Kirby to a Cuthbert cross but with an hour gone, Hayes made two attacking changes in an attempt to turn second-half domination of possession into more chances.

The goal threat of Aggie Beever-Jones was introduced, as was the creativity of Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, but it was Hampton who was called upon to make another good save, this one from close range from Kelly.

There was a half-chance for Beever-Jones out wide but she could not hit the target.

With just under quarter-of-an-hour to play, many in the packed crowd thought the Blues had equalised. Given the quality of Cuthbert, they had every reason to do so as the Scot scooped a shot goalwards from wide on the right, but to her anguish, it dropped just wide of the far post.

Inside added time, substitute Jelena Cankovic’s shot threatened a repeat of the late goal against City back in October but their keeper excelled in keeping it out, and then saved a follow-up from Nusken. It all emphasised that it was not the Blues’ night.

What it means

This defeat means Chelsea are now tied on points and goal difference with Man City. Arsenal are a further six points back, although the Gunners play this Saturday lunchtime when they host fourth-place Man United. There are eight league games left for Chelsea and City to play.

What’s next?

After a crowded first half of the month on the domestic scene with Chelsea playing in three competitions, there is now a shift in focus to international football. When we return on Sunday 3 March it will be to visit Leicester in the WSL.

Chelsea Hampton; Lawrence (Nusken 72), Carter, Bjorn, Charles; Cuthbert (c), Leupolz (Cankovic 79); James, Kirby (Rytting Kaneryd 63), Reiten (Beever-Jones 63); Ramirez
Unused subs Musovic, Buchanan, Perisset, Mjelde, Ingle.
Booked Cuthbert 52, James 84

Man City Keating; Casparij, Aleixandri (Kennedy 90), Greenwood (c), Ouahabi; Park (Fowler 90), Hasegawa; Kelly (Angeldahl 79), Coombs (Stokes 90+4), Hemp; Shaw.
Unused subs MacIver, Morgan, Blindkilde Brown, Mace.
Scorer Shaw 14
Booked Kelly 54

Referee Abigail Byrne