3 Takeaways from Chelsea Women’s victory over Brighton

Jess Carter collects yet another quality performance on the left side of the defense.

Every time Hayes puts English international Jess Carter into the starting XI, she knows what she is getting. 100 percent effort combined with elite one on one defending. In just her third start in the WSL this season, Carter made her presence known in the backline. She was the perfect player to slot in during a time when the defense was seeking to get back on track.

Her hard work is paying off on the score sheet, netting a goal in each of her last two appearances in the English top-flight. Carter was tied with Reiten, and Kadeisha Buchanan for the team lead in interceptions on the night at three. In the passing department, Carter completed nine of her 10 long passes down the field, collecting six final third passing entries.

With her thumping strike in the first half, Carter has now scored more goals in a WSL season than any of her previous campaigns in west London.

Many of the things that Carter does usually does not show up on the stat sheet at the end of the game. Her tenacity, and energy is clear every time she steps between the white lines. She did not put a foot wrong, clearing the ball when it was necessary, and even taking on multiple Seagull wingers as she glided up the flank.

With Niamh Charles struggling in one on one duels recently, Carter is the perfect replacement that still has shown her ability to bring the ball forward at times. There is a chance she could start this upcoming weekend in the battle between the WSL’s top two teams, but even if she doesn’t, Hayes always knows what she is going to get from the former Birmingham City defender.