Man United boss Marc Skinner FUMES that his team should have been awarded penalties against Chelsea 

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner was left raging after his team were denied two stonewall penalties in a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea that could have huge implications in the title race.

The victory saw the Blues go above United to top of the Women’s Super League table but Skinner’s side, who dominated possession, were unhappy with the officiating at Kingsmeadow.

Skinner stopped short of saying Chelsea get preferential treatment but referenced several refereeing decisions that have gone in their favour this season.

‘Two penalties in a game like this are massive,’ Skinner said. ‘When I look back over the balance of the last few games, Chelsea get a goal that’s offside the other day [against Brighton]. These are decisions that will make and break where you finish in the table. We say it balances out, I’m hopeful that we see it.

‘They’re stonewall when I watch them both. We have to invest in the officials, we have to invest in the surrounding technology that can help. We’ve come to the champions’ home ground and put our stamp on it, you need those things to go for you.’

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner was left raging after his team were denied two penalties

Nikita Parris was tripped by Kadeisha Buchanan after the United forward got to the ball first

Manchester United are yet to beat Chelsea having tried and failed on seven different occasions

Chelsea are seemingly the team United cannot beat. Seven times they have tried, seven times they have failed. This was arguably the best chance they have had since their promotion to the Women’s Super League. But United, who have been scoring for fun this season, were stifled in attack.

The moment of magic was once again provided by Sam Kerr, the Australian scoring the only goal of the game to make it six in seven against the Red Devils.

Chelsea were missing players through injury while others had come down with a stomach bug that had infected some of the squad, including boss Emma Hayes – who only just made it to yesterday’s game.

‘It’s three points, we’ve done it, we’ve had illness, we’ve had injuries in the squad, to do that, to perform like that, is exactly what I’ve said every week about why the squad matters,’ Hayes said.

‘We had to be structured defensively and we were and we could have won by more.’

Chelsea started strongly as Kerr sent a shot down the throat of Mary Earps in the ninth minute before the striker forced the goalkeeper into a fine stop with her feet. But the Australian would not be denied a third time as she opened the scoring in style mid-way through the half.

Sam Kerr scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea returned to the top of the WSL

Lauren James picked the ball up just inside her own half and hit a superb lofted pass that picked out Kerr in-between the two United centre backs. The striker chested the ball down then chipped a half-volley over Mary Earps.

United had failed to create any clear chances in the first 30 minutes but had two big penalty shouts just before half-time. Nikita Parris was tripped by Kadeisha Buchanan in the box after the United forward had got to the ball first. Then, two minutes later, Jess Carter clattered into Ona Batlle as the pair went up for a header. On both occasions referee Cheryl Foster waved play on.

Despite continuing to dominate possession, United failed to really test Ann-Katrin Berger in the Chelsea goal as Kerr, James and Melanie Leupolz all went close for the hosts.

The result leaves Chelsea two points clear of United with a game in-hand and firmly in the driving seat in the title race.