Leicester have sacked women’s first-team boss Willie Kirk after the club determined the Scot had “breached the team’s code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable”.
The 45-year-old last took charge of the Foxes when they lost 4-0 in the Women’s Super League to Chelsea on March 3, before the club subsequently announced that Kirk was “assisting the club with an internal process” and would not be on the touchline for their March 9 FA Cup quarter-final.
Kirk’s then-assistant Jennifer Foster, supported by first team coach Stephen Kirby, oversaw that 2-0 victory and have remained at the helm since.
They will remain in charge until Kirk’s permanent successor is named.
A Leicester statement read: “Leicester City Football Club can confirm that Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position as LCFC Women Manager.
“Following an extensive internal disciplinary process and respecting the Club’s obligations to individual privacy, Willie was determined to have breached the team’s code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable.
“Established and implemented ahead of the start of the current season, the code forms part of the Club’s ongoing commitment to professionalising the women’s game since the takeover of LCFC Women in 2020, promoting a performance-led culture among players, coaches and technical staff.
“First Team responsibilities for LCFC Women will continue to be led by Jennifer Foster, supported by Stephen Kirby, while the Club begins the process of appointing a new permanent manager.”
Steph Houghton hopes she leaves the game “in a better place than when I started” and few could disagree that she has achieved just that.
The significant contribution she made will be recognised far beyond her 2016 MBE for achievements in women’s football.
After she announced that this season will be her last as a player, current Manchester City coach Gareth Taylor described her as “without question, an icon of the game”, while England wrote: “From leading the Lionesses to growing the women’s game – your impact will never be forgotten. A true icon.”
Houghton’s haul of eight major trophies with City – four Continental Cups, three Women’s FA Cups and the FA Women’s Super League title – makes her the club’s most decorated player.
But she also won the WSL twice with Arsenal, along with two FA Cups and three WSL Cups. In addition she has 121 England caps, having announced her international retirement last summer having failed to make Sarina Wiegman’s World Cup squad.
She is a bona fide England great but it was with Great Britain that the Durham native made her breakthrough as a star of the women’s game as she announced herself on the world stage at the 2012 London Olympics, scoring three times – including a winner against Brazil in front of a Wembley crowd of 70,000 – despite playing left-back.
It represented quite the turnaround for a player who had sat out the 2007 World Cup and 2009 European Championship with a broken leg and cruciate knee injuries respectively, a curse which was to strike again most painfully when she missed England’s historic triumph on home soil at Euro 2022 after surgery on an Achilles problem.
But, despite those setbacks, Houghton’s international career had its high points, captaining the Lionesses to a third-place finish at the 2015 World Cup and two subsequent major tournament semi-finals, reaching a century of England appearances and playing at another Olympics.
She was more successful, and less unfortunate, at club level as having progressed from Sunderland to Leeds in 2007, she made the move to Arsenal in 2010 and quickly started collecting silverware.
Initially a full-back with a keen eye for goal she would go on to be regarded as one of the finest centre-backs in the world and also a great leader, having captained Arsenal and City and assuming the Lionesses armband ahead of the 2015 World Cup.
But there was more international heartbreak to come in 2019 as she missed a late penalty in the 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to the United States having only been told on the day of the game she was assuming responsibilities from Nikita Parris.
She captained GB at her second Olympics, the 2021 Tokyo Games, but it was to be her last major tournament as the Achilles injury knocked her out of the reckoning for the 2022 Euros as a new England era began under Wiegman.
Away from the pitch, Houghton is married to former Bradford and Liverpool defender Stephen Darby, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2018.
Houghton has taken part in a host of fundraising activities, including running 100 kilometres in aid of her husband’s charity – Darby Rimmer MND Foundation – in 2020 and last week brought her Man City team-mates to join him and former Ipswich striker Marcus Stewart, who also has the disease, at the end of a ‘March of the Day’ from Bradford to Liverpool.
Houghton, 36 in April, will have the chance to end her career on a high with City level on points with WSL leaders Chelsea with five matches remaining.
Former England captain Steph Houghton has announced her intention to retire at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old defender, who won 121 caps for the Lionesses, hopes to see out her career by winning the 2023/24 Women’s Super League title with Manchester City.
Houghton began playing for Sunderland in 2002 and also represented Leeds and Arsenal before moving to City 10 years ago.
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She made her England debut in 2007 and last featured in 2021 as injury ruled her out of the title-winning Euro 2022 squad.
She said on her official website: “There is no easy way to say it, but I am retiring from football at the end of the current WSL season.
“Taking the decision to retire, is such a difficult thing to do. Whilst age comes to every player, it makes it no easier having to say the words out loud. Football has been my life; my passion and I have loved the career I have had.
“I would like to thank every team-mate I have ever played with, I have continued to learn every day and appreciate the support each has given me and the friendships I have made along the way.
“To my managers, coaches and all the staff that I have worked with and under, I appreciate the time, effort and work you have dedicated to improving my game and the standards of women’s football.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to represent Sunderland, Leeds Utd, Arsenal and to have been on the incredible journey that I have been on, with Manchester City over the past 10 years.
“I will always be humbled to have made so many domestic appearances, to have captained my country and to have represented England and Team GB in so many international tournaments. I will always be very proud of everything that I have achieved in the game.
“I am excited for whatever comes next but, in the meantime, I remain focused on giving everything I have left for Manchester City, over the next two months.”
Houghton is gunning for a second WSL title with City, having also won the league twice with Arsenal.
City head coach Gareth Taylor said: “Steph is – without question – an icon of the game. Although her professional career on the pitch is now coming to an end, her legacy will be felt for so many years to come. She’s paved the way for so many to thrive in the future.
“Steph has lived and breathed football for such a long time, and she leaves it in the strongest place it has ever been – a true testament to her leadership, hard work, talent, and dedication.
“I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to work with her since 2020 and know her name will be written into the history books as a true footballing great.
“Steph will excel in whatever she puts her mind to, and on behalf of everyone here at Manchester City, I’d like to express our immense gratitude and wish Steph all the very best for the future.”
Chelsea returned to the top of the Women’s Super League with a controversial 2-0 win over second-bottom West Ham.
Aggie Beever-Jones’ second-minute strike put the visitors’ in control but West Ham should have been level through Honoka Hayashi only for the equaliser to be ruled out for offside.
Replays suggested the goal should have stood but without VAR there was no opportunity to overturn the decision and Erin Cuthbert’s 88th-minute effort saw Chelsea reclaim top spot, level on points with Manchester City but with a goal difference two superior.
Liverpool’s winless streak against neighbours Everton was extended to a fifth league game after a goalless draw at Goodison Park, although the point moved them above Manchester United into fourth.
Beth England’s first league goal of the season saw Tottenham beat bottom side Bristol City 1-0 to move within four points of Liverpool.
The 29-year-old striker, who has struggled with injury, struck in only the second minute to increase Bristol City’s woes as they are now six points adrift with top-three sides Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal still to play in their remaining five matches.
Elisabeth Terland volleyed a fine winner five minutes from time as Brighton edged a five-goal thriller with Leicester.
Lena Petermann had equalised moments earlier for the hosts, who had opened the scoring through Jutta Rantala only for Madison Haley and Katie Robinson to turn things around for Brighton before the late drama.
Everton and Liverpool were forced to share the spoils at Goodison Park in Sunday's Merseyside derby in the Women’s Super League with a 0-0 draw.
Liverpool dominated the early proceedings in what was a cagey affair at the home of Everton, but both sides were defensively organised leading to a lack of chances in the first half.
As the game opened up after the break, there were more opportunities to break the deadlock, and Hanna Bennison came inches away from finding the back of the net, but her whipping effort struck the bar and came out.
Ceri Holland had a golden opportunity for a winner in the dying seconds, but her deflected effort went just past the post and the sides ended up taking a point apiece in what was the first ever goalless women's Merseyside derby in the league.
The first half saw minimal chances for either side with a lengthy stoppage due to a Courtney Brosnan injury halting the momentum. The Everton goalkeeper went down under a challenge from Ceri Holland, but eventually got back to her feet and was able to continue.
Nervous gasps echoed around Goodison Park in the 28th minute as Sophie Haug pounced on a mistake at the back by Everton’s defence before spotting Brosnan off her line. Her long-range effort was goalbound, but the Republic of Ireland international managed to get back in time to prevent the Reds from finding an opener.
Everton’s best chance of the first half came as Bennison picked out Emma Bissell on the left-hand side of the box, and the English wide player got it out of her feet before unleashing towards goal, but her effort slammed into the side-netting.
After half-time, the Toffees looked to take the game to Liverpool and despite their lack of opportunities, the home side got into some advanced positions, but that final pass wasn’t quite there.
Bennison found herself in space just outside the penalty area and looked to test Rachael Laws from range, but her ambitious curling effort cannoned off the bar and away from danger. That was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock up to that point, and it was a superb strike from the Swedish international.
The momentum shifted in favour of the Toffees for the final stages as they pushed to grab a winner, and Justine Vanhaevermaet stung the palms of Laws between the sticks with a thunderous striker from outside the box, but the Liverpool goalkeeper parried it away, preventing a certain goal.
It appeared Holland would strike a hammer blow in additional time, but a couple of converging Everton defenders got back in the nick of time to deflect her shot wide and ensure the game ended goalless.
Everton unable to do the double over rivals
The Toffees went into the game hoping to do the league double over their Merseyside rivals for the second time after the 2012 season. Brian Sorensen’s side were looking to end a disappointing run of form at home having won just one of their last eight games in the Women’s Super League on their own turf.
Everton struggled to create much of an attacking threat in the opening 45 minutes, failing to produce a shot on target, with their rivals on top before the break.
After the interval, the Blues looked the more likely to find an opener, but a late onslaught on the Liverpool goal wasn’t enough for them to come away with the three points.
Haug kept quiet as Liverpool struggle to create
Matt Beard’s team were looking to extend their unbeaten run of four games in the league, hoping to enhance their chances of catching third-placed Arsenal for a spot in the Champions League qualifiers.
With five goals already to her name in the Women’s Super League, all eyes were on Sophie Haug to produce the magic for Liverpool, with the Norwegian striker looking to score in three consecutive league matches for the first time in her career with the club.
The Reds were unable to create too many clear-cut chances for Haug, and it was a relatively quiet outing for the 24-year-old by her standards.
Khadija Shaw became Manchester City’s all-time leading goalscorer for Manchester City Women as Gareth Taylor’s side ran out 3-1 winners over Manchester United Women in Saturday's derby.
Shaw netted her 68th goal in just 81 appearances for the club early in the second half to help ease the Citizens to their 11th straight league win, taking them top of the WSL.
Jessica Park's first-half double had put the hosts in control at the Etihad Stadium, as she took advantage of slack United defending.
An own goal from Kerstin Casparij gave United hope in the latter stages, but the Red Devils' comeback attempt proved fruitless.
City weathered United's early pressure well in a cagey start, with Khiara Keating making two vital saves to deny Nikita Parris and Lucia Garcia before the hosts found their rhythm.
Their 37th-minute opener was Park's first-ever goal in the WSL – a composed finish that she slotted into the bottom-right corner.
Park then found the same spot with a close-range volley to double City’s lead on the stroke of half-time.
It could have been 3-0 at the break, but Shaw was denied her record-breaking goal by the offside flag.
The Jamaican did take the next opportunity that fell to her feet, just 35 seconds after the restart.
Having latched onto Park’s throughball, the 27-year-old curled a low finish around Mary Earps and into the far post, bringing up her 17th goal of the WSL season.
Hannah Blundell, who was perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch having escaped a second booking for a foul on Shaw in the first half, orchestrated the visitors' consolation after City failed to clear their lines, with her cross deflecting off Casparij and out of Keating's reach at the near post.
It could have set up a nervy finish, but City got over the line with the minimum of fuss.
Shaw spearheading City's title charge
Heading into the weekend, City had gone toe-to-toe with Chelsea in the title race this season, with both sides having identical winning records, and Emma Hayes' team only sitting top due to their superior goal difference, but with the Blues not in action until Sunday, Taylor's team took the advantage.
Key to their sustained pressure at the top has been the form of Shaw, who now tops City's all-time scoring chart as well as leading the race for the Golden Boot.
Georgia Stanway held City's record before her, with 67 goals in 186 appearances between 2015 and 2022, but Shaw has surpassed that haul in 105 fewer outings.
Shaw had chances to double her tally, with a header shortly before the hour and then two great opportunities following United's goal, but she had to settle for one.
United's Champions League hopes slip away
United have struggled to hit the heights of last season, which saw them finish second after taking the title race to the final day, as well as reaching the FA Cup final, which they also lost, going down to Chelsea.
This defeat surely means United will not be playing in the Champions League next season, as they remain six points adrift of Arsenal in third with just five games remaining.
United's away form has caused them problems this year, and they are winless in four on the road for just the second time in their history, having last gone on such a run between November 2019 and February 2020.
Sunderland forward Mary McAteer admitted it would be an “unbelievable experience” if the club earned promotion to the Women’s Super League.
The Black Cats sit top of the Championship table with 34 points going into the final four games of the season, but the race for promotion remains incredibly close.
Several teams are still in the running as Crystal Palace, Southampton and Charlton all sit just a point behind the Wearside outfit, while Birmingham are three points further back.
It is a remarkable turnaround for Sunderland, who avoided relegation last season after finishing second-bottom, and McAteer believes this year has been the “most competitive season” as the club aim to secure promotion to the top flight for the first time since 2018.
She told the PA news agency: “It would be unbelievable (to be promoted), an unbelievable experience.
“I think it’s where the club belongs and as a group of players, it would mean the world to us, to do it together would be an unbelievable experience.
“I think it’s the most competitive season there’s been in a long while, especially Championship and WSL in the women’s game.
“It’s amazing to have so many teams up there competing and being that competitive, I think it just shows how far the women’s game has come to have five teams up there and within points of each other.
“I do think for us it’s just exciting to be up there and be a part of it, we’re just going to keep our focus, not get carried away with it and take it game by game.
“We’re taking each game by game and we just know if we win all four games we win the league and that’s going to be our mindset going forward, so each game we have to win. So yeah, crunch time.”
Sunderland’s final stretch kicks off with a huge clash against local rivals Durham and as part of Women’s Football Weekend, the FA are highlighting four derbies including the River Wear derby taking place at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground on Sunday.
This season’s River Wear clashes saw Sunderland take three points in their league meeting back in November thanks to Katie Kitching’s strike, but Durham emerged victors in the Continental Cup group game just three days later with a penalty shootout win after drawing 2-2 in regular time.
Durham are currently four points from safety in the standings, but long-serving defender Sarah Wilson is looking forward to Sunday’s game.
The Durham skipper told the PA news agency: “It’s exciting, there’s been a lot of hype around it and I think the past couple of years, the derbies are growing so it’s a good one. We’re all looking forward to it.
“We’re not playing down our situation but every single game that we’re going into, every team we’re playing, there’s pressure coming from all over.
“You’ve got to go in and focus on yourself, I know it’s cliche, but in a derby everything goes out of the window. It’s going to be scrappy and it’s whoever wants it most will come out on top on the day.”
McAteer, who joined Sunderland last summer, was also “buzzing” for another derby contest.
She added: “I absolutely can’t wait, we’re all buzzing, we have been all week.
“I know every game’s important for us but being a derby, there’s always a little bit something extra so we’re really excited for it.”
Robert Vilahamn has tipped Tottenham captain Bethany England to return to her best soon and force her way back into national-team contention.
England returned from hip surgery in December and scored to help Spurs beat Manchester City to reach the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals earlier this month, but has been restricted to a substitute role in the club’s last three fixtures.
Vilahamn talked up the leadership of his three-goal forward ahead of Sunday’s trip to Bristol City in the Women’s Super League, with Sarina Wiegman set to name her latest England squad on Tuesday.
“With a player like Beth as soon as she comes over that line where she scores a few goals and the self-confidence is flying again, she will probably be back there,” Vilahamn said.
“That could take one game now or a few more games.
“You see her progress every week and how hard she works.
“I’m not sure where Sarina sees her right now but she is getting back. She is not really back yet I would say but she is looking very good in training this week so she is getting there.
“She has been a great leader the whole time and she is very professional.
“For me to work with that kind of player is very important for the other players to see you don’t have to start every game to still be important to the team.
“I think she is taking steps every week now and you see in the games she is more sharp. Hopefully we can keep going with her so she can score goals and be amazing on the field as well.”
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Vilahamn also hailed the progress of England Under-23 attacker Jess Naz, who set up Matilda Vinberg’s winner against Leicester last weekend.
He added: “She is very athletic, very quick, she is very good with the first-touch, she can use both feet, she can press very intense and sprint back as well. If you look at everything there, she is doing everything the right way.
“She is probably the next Lioness in this team. When you look at the last game, she showed that. For her, it is to be consistently doing this.
“This was a big step for her because she showed for 90 minutes that she can be excellent. She is taking steps every week and the potential in her is enormous. She is already now showing that and that makes me happy.”
Matilda Vinberg’s first goal for Tottenham on her first start was enough to secure a 1-0 Women’s Super League win at home to Leicester.
The Sweden international, who joined Spurs on a two-and-a-half-year deal in January, struck less than two minutes after kick-off at the Gaughan Group Stadium.
Leicester grew into the contest, coming close to an equaliser in the second half when Jutta Rantala’s effort came back off the underside of the crossbar.
Sixth-placed Tottenham restored their three-point advantage over Aston Villa with the win, just under a month before they face the Foxes again in their FA Cup semi-final.
Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn made two changes from their quarter-final shootout victory over Manchester City, bringing in Vinberg in place of the injured Martha Thomas and swapping Olga Ahinten for Drew Spence.
There were two changes for Leicester, with Lena Petermann and Yuka Momiki in the starting line-up, while first-team assistant manager Jennifer Foster and coach Stephen Kirby oversaw the contest in the continued absence of Willie Kirk over what the club has said is an “internal matter”.
Vinberg fired Spurs into an early lead, tapping Jessica Naz’s delivery from the left past Lize Kop.
The hosts kept applying pressure and came close to doubling their advantage through a crossbar-clipping effort from Spence, who had a second chance blocked by a visiting defender shortly afterwards.
Leicester’s first real chance came through Saori Takarada, claimed by Spurs goalkeeper Becky Spencer, who then denied Petermann a minute later as the visitors began to find a foothold in what had been a dominant start for the hosts.
Leicester enjoyed the bulk of what few chances came late in the half, Momiki stinging Spencer’s palms, Janice Cayman directing an effort wide and Spencer smothering the ball from a goalmouth scramble before making a big save from Aileen Whelan’s effort to preserve Tottenham’s lead at the break.
By early in the second half the visitors had overcome their quiet start and overtaken their opponents for the possession advantage, nearly drawing level when Rantala hit the bar.
Vilahamn made a double change, introducing Rosella Ayane in place of goal-scorer Vinberg while Celin Bizet was replaced by Bethany England, who forced Kop into a low save four minutes after her introduction.
The hosts missed a golden opportunity to double their lead when Naz squared the ball across to Ayane who was through on goal but somehow she directed her effort wide from the edge of the six-yard box.
England had the ball in the net in stoppage time but the offside flag was raised.
Manchester City moved back level on points with Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea by thumping Brighton 4-1 at the Broadfield Stadium.
Lauren Hemp and Mary Fowler scored in the first half for Gareth Taylor’s second-placed side before Golden Boot front-runner Khadija Shaw, with her 16th WSL goal of the season, and Laura Coombs added efforts after the break.
Ninth-placed Brighton, still under Mikey Harris’ interim management, pulled a goal back in stoppage time via ex-City player Lee Geum-min.
It was a 10th successive league win for City as they bounced back from exits in the League Cup against Chelsea and FA Cup against Tottenham in their last two outings.
Meanwhile, victories for Manchester United and Liverpool, in fourth and fifth respectively, took them six points behind third-placed Arsenal.
Lisa Naalsund scored early on and in stoppage time as United won 2-0 at home against bottom side Bristol City, who had Jamie-Lee Napier sent off in the 82nd minute.
Liverpool recorded a third straight WSL victory as they defeated West Ham 3-1 at Prenton Park.
Former Hammer Leanne Kiernan put the hosts in front in the 41st minute and substitute Missy Bo Kearns doubled their lead with a header five minutes into the second half.
Sophie Roman Haug added a finish with 17 minutes of normal time to go, with Riko Ueki’s late reply a mere consolation for West Ham, who remain six points better off than Bristol City in 11th.
Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes has said she let herself down with comments on relationships between players and was wrong to use the term “inappropriate”.
Hayes said in a news conference on Thursday that player-coach relationships should be banned in the Women’s Super League and that player-player relationships were also “inappropriate”.
Chelsea defender Jess Carter, who is in a relationship with team-mate Ann-Katrin Berger, later liked a tweet claiming it was “beyond bonkers to bring player/player relationships into the conversation”.
Chelsea striker Sam Kerr announced her engagement with West Ham’s American midfielder Kristie Mewis last year.
After Chelsea’s WSL win against Arsenal on Friday night, Hayes, who has won six WSL titles since taking charge in 2012, said she regretted her comments.
Hayes said: “Of course Jess and I have had a conversation about that.
“I’m supposed to be the most non-clickbait coach and so I let myself down yesterday.
“I don’t think it was right for me to use the term inappropriate for the players.
“When I have honest conversations I don’t take things back but I have zero criticism of any player in my dressing room for anything regarding their status or who they’re in a relationship with.”
On Thursday, Aston Villa boss Carla Ward said a manager should be sacked for having a relationship with a player, calling it a “complete abuse of power”.
Hayes was one of several other WSL head coaches who claimed coach-player relationships should not be allowed.
When asked if a ban should be part of a wider WSL code of conduct, Hayes said: “Yeah, I think so. There are challenges that we should be moving past.”
Emma Hayes lauded “maverick” Lauren James’ performance in Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Women’s Super League title rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
James impressed once again and scored Chelsea’s opener when she latched onto a through ball, showed good skills to open up a shooting opportunity before drilling in a shot which Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger got her hands to but was unable to keep out.
Sjoeke Nusken then struck twice more in the first half to put the game beyond Arsenal as Chelsea moved three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.
It was an impressive display from the reigning WSL champions in a game delayed by a sock clash, and James’ performance in front of 33,000 fans in west London drew special praise from her coach.
“It’s a playground for her out there,” Hayes said.
“We coach many different players but Lauren is a maverick. It’s not always perfect, it’s not always on point, it’s not always consistent in every element but I understand her as a person and I know that when we get to Stamford Bridge she will 1000 per cent perform for the team here.
“She did her job out of possession with Nusken and I thought she played with joy and freedom when the ball was played to her feet.
“She can carry the weight of the crowd and knows she’s important for the team. I’m happy for her.”
James had been a doubt for the game after battling with illness earlier in the week but Hayes admitted she needed the 22-year-old England international.
She added: “She’d been sick all week. She came on against Everton and wasn’t very well, she came out for one training session and I told her that she has to go and play up top because we don’t have another striker.”
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall, whose third-placed side netted a late consolation through Catarina Macario’s own goal, said failing to deal with James contributed to their downfall.
“We allowed Chelsea to play (with) our organisation and that was their plan when playing James at nine,” he said.
“She’s very good and I thought we dealt with her very poorly and that was a big part of us not performing well enough to push for the result or the win today.”
Jonas Eidevall revealed referee Rebecca Welch delayed Chelsea’s Women’s Super League clash with Arsenal when both teams were lined up in the tunnel.
Kick-off for Chelsea’s 3-1 victory was delayed by 30 minutes while Arsenal staff collected black socks from their opponents’ megastore, using blue tape to cover the Chelsea and Nike logos.
Arsenal had arrived to Stamford Bridge with the same colour white socks as the hosts and were forced to make a change.
“It was a clash of colour with the kits which came to mine, the players and the other team’s attention very late,” he said.
“We got told that we can’t go out and play with the kit we had so we had to adapt and that was definitely a first.
“I was not involved in the process in how it was resolved.
“We found out when we left the dressing room to go to the tunnel so it was a very late call and notice.
“It is what it is. It was the same for both teams.”
Emma Hayes admitted she was delighted with the incident and relished seeing Arsenal players wearing Chelsea lions on their socks.
Hayes also called for less criticism towards Arsenal’s kit man, acknowledging he was left red-faced after the mix-up.
“I’m not throwing the kit man under the bus,” Hayes said.
“He’s going to be feeling terrible tonight, it was a mistake. He’s a new guy, new into the position so please don’t slaughter him.
“Because we didn’t have our blue socks I couldn’t say ‘don’t worry about it, we’ll put blue socks on’.
“I was delighted to see lion crests on Arsenal players’ legs in the first half. Maybe that gave my players motivation, I don’t know.
“It was an earnest mistake and something which that poor guy is going home tonight and will feel bad about. I’m certainly not going to pile in on him.”
Chelsea dominated Arsenal 3-1 in the Women’s Super League in a game which was delayed by 30 minutes due to a clash of socks.
The league leaders moved three points clear of Manchester City, who have the chance to respond against Brighton on Sunday, and six ahead of the Gunners.
The reigning champions avenged their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal at the Emirates in December through goals from Lauren James and Sjoeke Nusken’s brace.
The German midfielder’s double put her on six league goals for the season and substitute Catarina Macario’s own goal was mere consolation for the north Londoners.
The first whistle at Stamford Bridge was paused while Arsenal staff collected black socks from their opponents’ megastore, using blue tape to cover the Chelsea and Nike logos. Arsenal’s white Adidas socks, the same colour as Chelsea’s, had been deemed not fit for purpose by referee Rebecca Welch.
Once the delay was over the hosts started aggressively in front of a crowd of 32,970.
They fought for 50-50 challenges and the physical James bullied her marker as she was unleashed down the right before Erin Cuthbert was unable to convert her inch-perfect delivery into the box.
Arsenal looked to counter but Blues full-back Eve Perisset won the applause of manager Emma Hayes when she showed great strength to hold off and turn Caitlin Foord, setting the tone for a competitive encounter.
James’ electric start went up a level when she opened the scoring in the 15th minute.
Guro Reiten found the England forward who surged forward into space before she showed her technical capabilities, turning Steph Catley inside-out with a feint before her powerful effort was parried into the net by Manuela Zinsberger, who should have done better.
Chelsea refused to sit back, instead continuing to pile on the pressure, and their efforts were rewarded with another goal.
A dangerous cross into the box from Reiten was teed up for Cuthbert, whose shot from the edge of the box was deftly diverted home by Nusken to make it 2-0.
If that finish was instinctive, Nusken knew nothing about her second as Chelsea stretched their lead before half-time.
Leah Williamson’s crossfield pass was intercepted by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, who drove forward towards back-pedalling defenders. Kaneryd chose to shoot and the ball fortunately deflected off the unaware Nusken into the left-hand corner.
James could have had a second but Zinsberger denied her from close range. The elusive winger picked up a neat pocket of space in the middle and went through on goal but her near-post effort was stopped by the Austria keeper’s quick reflexes.
Kim Little’s well-struck half-volley deflected in off the unfortunate Macario in the 85th minute to pull one back for Jonas Eidevall’s side but it was too late as Chelsea held out for a deserved 3-1 win.
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