Emma Hayes falls off the ‘circus’ high wire as Chelsea end their run of 33 matches without defeat
Emma Hayes emerged from the tunnel, in the shadow of her Chelsea players, and immediately retrieved a woolly hat.
She dragged it over her ears and, with a snood covering her nose and mouth, took a seat among a row of quilted jackets and skin-tight tracksuits.
But any hopes the Chelsea boss held of sneaking out of the spotlight were always in vain.
Emma Hayes’s (above) Chelsea side were beaten 2-1 by Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday
Not after this week. What started with tentative reports linking her with AFC Wimbledon spiralled into a ferocious debate about the standing of women’s football — and the treatment of one of its crown jewels. This match ensured a stormy few days ended with no little bang, either.
The glass ceiling in the men’s game remains pristine, but Chelsea’s record-breaking unbeaten run has been shattered. After 33 WSL matches without defeat — and 14 consecutive home wins — they were undone by a side that had lost five of their past six games.
This, Brighton’s first win since November, came with no small slice of luck. But it was built on dogged defending and unyielding spirit.
It breaks Chelsea’s record of 33 WSL matches without defeat — and 14 consecutive home wins
Megan Connolly scored the winner to see Brighton win their first game since November
Megan Connolly netted the winner 12 minutes from time, when her corner flew all the way in. Earlier, Sam Kerr had given Chelsea the perfect start, only for Aileen Whelan to equalise minutes later.
Only time will tell how vital this could prove in Chelsea’s push to retain the league and Brighton’s battle to stay in it.
‘An insult’ was Hayes’ verdict on suggestions that swapping a potential quadruple for League One represented a step up.
It was nevertheless testament to her achievements that she was being tipped to become the first woman to manage a professional men’s team in English football.
But if Chelsea’s performances earned those plaudits, this result illustrated how quickly standards can drop.
‘It wasn’t good enough from us on any level,’ Hayes said.
‘This serves as a reminder that no one is invincible.’
‘You have to get beaten at some point,’ she added, refusing to blame this week’s circus. ‘We’ve had a lot of good days. This is a bad result, it’s not the end of the world.’
Connolly netted the winner 12 minutes from time, when her corner flew all the way in (above)
Brighton manager Hope Powell has said their ‘celebrations will go on for a bit of time’
Chelsea managed 30 shots to Brighton’s three, not that the visitors will care one jot.
‘I think the celebrations will go on for a bit of time,’ manager Hope Powell said. ‘It had to end for them sometime. I’m really glad it was us.’
Swirling winds and relentless snow made for tough conditions but the pitch held up brilliantly. Chelsea have made this place so inhospitable to visitors that everyone and everything struggles to settle. Yet Brighton played with a character which belied recent history — at least from minute five onwards.
Chelsea were immediately on the front foot. From a corner, Kerr rose highest and sent a header in off the bar. Three minutes later, however, Wheelan responded in kind. It was the first sniff that something could be amiss. And even though Chelsea dominated the ball and chances thereafter, Brighton would not crumble.
A first defeat since September will not undo all the good work Hayes has amassed in these parts.
It will not stop her being wanted elsewhere — be it step up or step down.
But what of the impact it could have on Chelsea’s push for more honours this season?
Perhaps that is where she — and her players — will show what they are really made of.
