Hayes and Kirby win monthly gongs

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes pictured top, has won the January manager of the month, while her striker Fran Kirby gets the gong for January player of the month.

Kirby enjoyed a great start to January, scoring four against former club Reading.

The following weekend, Chelsea took on Manchester United, then top of the table. Kirby, pictured right created a series of chances in the first half, to no avail. Just as Chelsea’s dominance began to fade and United equalised, Kirby made a deciding contribution. A long ball from goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger found Kirby and she chipped the ball over Mary Earps and into the net.

Chelsea maintained their excellent form throughout the month. Emma Hayes continued to get the best out of her team, with a 4-0 victory away at Aston Villa and another 4-0 at home against Tottenham. Chelsea currently sit five points clear of second placed Manchester City, having set a new record of 33 games without defeat in the Barclays FAWSL after their win against Tottenham.