Chelsea 1-0 Man United: Guro Reiten scores from the penalty spot as United fans boo and hold signs saying ‘Skinner Out’

Perhaps the scariest thing for Chelsea’s rivals is that after eight wins from eight Women’s Super League games, it feels as though they are yet to hit third gear under Sonia Bompastor.

The Blues, who are now five points clear at the top of the table, have not put a foot wrong since the Frenchwoman took over in the summer. They have beaten Arsenal, Manchester City and now Manchester United have been added to that list.

The gap in quality between these two teams, who were both unbeaten coming into this, is far greater than the one goal that separated them at Kingsmeadow on Sunday.

United, who managed just one shot on target and 11 touches in the opposition box, did not look like scoring until Melvine Malard hit the bar in the 90th minute.

Injuries to Elisabeth Terland and Ella Toone in recent weeks have not helped but a lack of potency in attack has been a problem throughout the season.

Bompastor’s side also have players missing. Lauren James and Niamh Charles were sat in the stands alongside long-term absentees Sam Kerr and Aniek Nouwen.

Guro Reiten scored from the penalty spot in the 17th minute of the game at Kingsmeadow

Chelsea are currently sitting top of the table, while Man United are sitting in fifth place

Chelsea had several chances to double their lead but were thwarted by some fine goalkeeping from Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who redeemed herself after giving away the penalty, which Guro Reiten converted, that proved to be the difference between the two teams.

Bompastor will know that her side is not the finished article, but that does not matter. It is now 13 straight victories in all competitions, a sign of their strength in mentality.

United, by contrast, looked like a team who did not believe they could win.

The windy conditions did not help either team, but Chelsea were dominant from start to finish. 

They opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Reiten converted from the penalty spot after Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce had brought down Mayra Ramirez in the box.

The home side’s dominance should really have resulted in a second goal before half-time – with the stats showing they had averaged nearly 70 percent of the possession as well as having five shots to United’s zero. The visitors, to their credit, defended well – but rarely looked like scoring

Chelsea continued to dictate play into the second half with Tullis-Joyce forced into making two impressive saves, the first to deny Ramirez and a second to keep out an effort from Erin Cuthbert.

Ramirez sent another two strikes into the hands of Tullis-Joyce as Chelsea continued to search for a second goal. 

Maya Le Tissier pulled off an impressive block to deny Chelsea in the 68th minute of the game

Fans were holding posters that read ‘Skinner out’ as they protested against Marc Skinner

Skinner pictured giving instructions to his Manchester United squad during the game

They were nearly punished for failing to take one of those chances when substitute Malard struck the crossbar late on. 

It would have been a goal the visitors did not really deserve but one that would have been celebrated in the blue half of Manchester.

Chelsea’s five-point gap at the top of the table already feels significant for a team we are yet to see the best of this season. 

That is something which should strike fear into the rest of the league as they continue to look up at the reigning champions.