Chelsea Ladies manager Emma Hayes reckons it is a case of so far, so good as the Blues maintained their strong start to the Women’s Super League One season.

The Londoners made it three wins from three in the league with their latest victory, against Liverpool at Kingsmeadow last weekend, after Maren Mjelde’s early strike gave the Blues a narrow 1-0 win.

Hayes said: “To have another clean sheet, another victory, validates the decisions to keep selecting a different team every game, and the squad are aware of that and they accept that they’ve got to produce performances when they are given the opportunity.

“Defences win championships, goals win games.”

After scoring the only goal against Liverpool and having scored three already this season, Hayes was very impressed with midfielder Mjelde – both in attack and defence.

The Chelsea boss added: “That’s why we’ve brought her in, it’s not just her defensive qualities, she’s always been capable of goals, she’s got a great goal scoring record for Norway, not just from set plays but from outside the box.

“We’ve been encouraging the midfielders to do that. Today she took her chance in the right situation and I’m really pleased with her all round play.”

Chelsea captain Katie Chapman backed up her manager’s words, insisting Hayes’s decision to keep the side on their toes is very much the right way.

Chapman said: “We’ve got a great squad and that’s great for the boss, with the players she’s brought in.

“It’s nice to have a strong bench and we know that anyone of those players can come on the pitch and make a difference in any game.

“No one knows what will be our starting 11 and I think that’s great for competition in training and for games.”

The table-topping Blues are without a game this weekend, returning to WSL action on Sunday, October 29 with a home clash against bottom side Yeovil Town.