It wasn’t the most convincing display as Chelsea Women beat Tottenham 2-1 at Kingsmeadow to maintain their grip on top spot in the table… but it was enough.

The frustration of manager Emma Hayes was clear on a nippy Thursday night under the floodlights in Norbiton, but it was hard to criticise the players.

When Jonna Andersson floated over a delightful cross from the left after 19 minutes, Beth England was in the right place to head the Blues ahead.

But a bizarre few minutes just before half-time turned everything upside-down. Kerrys Harrop levelled for Spurs in the 45th minute as the ball flew in from the touchline… but Chelsea responded brilliantly with Pernille Harder (spotted riding her bicycle around Surbiton this week) controlling and crossing for Sam Kerr to head in as stoppage time began.

It was stalemate in the second half. The Blues simply looked too tired to score a third goal, to give them a cushion to relax.

“The win is all that matters, and no one remembers the performances come the end of the season; it’s the result that counts,” said Hayes. “We’ve done the job.”

Jess Carter is a blur as she wheels away from a Spurs attacker

“When it’s 2-1 of course the opposition is still in the game but you just have to try and see it out and I thought we did that.”

Chelsea face bottom side Birmingham City on Sunday, with a final, trickier, home match against Manchester United on the final day. “There are two games to go. We’ve got to get fresh for Birmingham because we’ve played some hard football these last two games,” said Hayes, adding that it was important to shield Harder as she comes back following an injury lay-off.

Hayes also praised Kerr. “Her workrate is phenomenal; she ran her socks off and she’d do anything for the team,” she said.

There were 3,660 spectators at Kingsmeadow – an impressive total considering the men were away at Old Trafford in a televised match.