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6 min Pre-match, Arroyo told us she wanted her side to stay in the game early on, but they\u2019ve done plenty more than that. But Chelsea are awake now, Thompson running off Nightswonger, and collecting a pass into stride before crossing; in the middle, Patten does just enough to lever Kerr out of it before, backing up from the left, James again shoots wide.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5 min Back come Chelsea, Walsh having a shot blocked, then James fires wide.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min Chelsea have plenty of time to get that goal back, but Bompastor will be concerned by so lackadaisical a start.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa (Grant 2)<\/p>\n Oh my days! Bronze plays a blind, casual square-pass and Grant, in the no 10 position, collects possession and spreads right to Wilms. Her cross, low to the near post, is on-point, and Grant, goal-side and running off Girma, dashes to meet it, lifting a fine finish over Hampton. What a start!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min Chelsea look to bait Villa into pressing, knocking the ball about the back four as they settle into rhytnm.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min Chelsea get us under way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Chelsea look nice and relaxed in the huddle, plenty of laughter as Walsh gets them going. We\u2019re ready.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Our teams are tunnelled, and here they come. This is Chelsea\u2019s final home league game of the season.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n These two teams have met 11 times in the WSL; Chelsea have won them all.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It really is too long since we saw Kerr and James together. If they\u2019re at it today, I\u2019m not sure what Villa can do about it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Chelsea will know that, if they stop Hanson \u2013 only Khadija Shaw has scored more than her 10 league goals this season \u2013 they probably stop Villa. I\u2019d not be surprised to see her drift wide and see if she can get at the inexperienced Buurman.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Bompastor tells Skywanted to find the strongest starting XI and Kerr, as the only no 9 in the squad, had to be involved. <\/p>\n Natalia Arroyo knows her team face a difficult task, Chelsea probably angry after their midweek tousing, so in the first instance she wants Villa to stay in the game, then fight hard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Villa, meantime, will look to keep a low block, I expect, with Chastity Grant and Lucia Kendal breaking quickly and seeking to create for Kirsty Hanson. Villa currently sit eighth in the table, but will see sixth as still within reach.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So where is the game? Chelsea will look to play into Kerr and, if they can, get her turned and running either in behind or with the ball. while James wanders off the left in support. To make that happen, they\u2019ll use Keira Walsh to control the pace of the game, with Kaptein and Nusken in particular bombing on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n The big news, though, is the return of Kerr. A side that has her and Lauren James in it can do anything to anyone, but how quickly can they gel?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n This is a relatively young Chelsea XI \u2013 Veerla Buurman is 19, Wieke Kaptein 19 and Alyssa Thompson 21. I\u2019m really looking forward to seeing how they get on as Bompastor looks to refresh the club, and if any of them do well enough to earn a midweek start when Arsenal visit.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Also going on:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Villa won last weekend for the first time since Brighton since beating Brighton on 11 January; they make one change, Lucy Parker dropping out with Oc\u00e9ane Deslandes coming in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.33 EDT<\/p>\n Changes for Chelsea: out go Kadeisha Buchannan, Erin Cuthbert and Sandy Baltimore; in come Wieke Kaptein along with the returnees, Ellie Carpenter, starting after sitting on the bench in midweek, and Sam Kerr.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Teams!<\/p>\n Chelsea (4-3-3): Hampton; Carpenter, Girma, Bronze, Buurman; Walsh, Nusken, Kaptein; Thompson, Kerr, James. Subs: Peng, Spencer, Buchanan, Baltimore, Charles, Potter, Cuthbert, Shooter, Sarwie.<\/p>\n Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Roebuck; Wilms, Patten, Deslandes, Nightswonger; Jean-Francois, Taylor; Grant, Maritz, Kendall; Hanson. Subs: D\u2019Anglelo, Maltby, Scott, Seymour, Lea, Hijikata, Salmon.<\/p>\n Referee: Callum Jones (Bootle)<\/p>\n