On last chance for United to load the box as Phallon Tullis-Joyce comes up from her area to take a free-kick on the half way line.

Gilly Flaherty
Former Chelsea defender on BBC Three

Eva Nystrom has been an absolute rock at the back for West Ham tonight. She has squeezed her lineup and been brilliant talking and organising.

She is my player of the match.

Julia Zigiotti Olme has just received a yellow card after giving too much of an opinion to the referee after being fouled herself.

In fairness to the midfielder she did catch a stray elbow in the mouth from Katie Zelem. If that was me I'd fight my corner.

The United skipper takes it herself, digging right under the dead ball and sending it high into the 18 yard box.

It looks dangerous but before a team-mate can hit the target the referee blows up for a foul.

Maya le Tissier is tripped just inside the Manchester United half giving them a set piece and an opportunity to launch it into the box.

There's just no urgency from the visitors. They continue their side to side passing without much umph and it's just going in circles between the wings and the halfway line.

In contrast, West Ham are looking lively whenever they get hold of it, getting the ball forward as quickly as they can at every opportunity.

The glum experessions have now spread from the away end to the Manchester United bench.

Should this result stay as is, it will be a second huge disappointment for that squad within four days. Talk about potentially season-defining.

Marc Skinner goes for one final roll of the dice by bringing on academy attacker Layla Drury for midfielder Lisa Naalsund.

That's quite the show of faith in the 16-year-old.

Amen to that Graham.

Another change for West Ham as Seraina Piubel replaces Shekiera Martinez up top.

That's a second positive change from Rita Guarino, suggesting that she thinks her side have a chance of taking all the spoils here.

West Ham have suffered the most defeats of any side in the WSL this season, with 11 from their 16 games played before tonight.

They certainly haven't looked like a team struggling at the bottom of the table, and but for some better finishing they may well have been in the lead.

Image source, Getty Images

Melvine Malard tries her luck from an acute angle but ends up smashing her shot into the side-netting.

There's quite a few glum faces in the away end at Chigwell Construction Stadium.

United fans will have been hoping for a response to Sunday's League Cup final defeat, but they've only shown what they are capable of in fits and starts tonight.

Rita Guarino turns to her bench for the first time as we reach the 75th minute mark, bringing off captain Viviane Asseyi for the fresh legs of 19-year-old Leila Wandeler.

Edgy? Yes.

Tight? Yes.

But probably just about the right result. And who knows how huge that could be in the context of Chelsea's season.

Maya le Tissier looks to get Hanna Lundkvist in behind on the right but she sprays the cross-field pass out of play.

Story of Manchester United's evening really.

Yes I know I just broke my own 'As it stands' table rule from earlier.

Look away now, Manchester United fans.

Chelsea's narrow win coupled with your side being held at West Ham means that they have temporarily leapfrogged you in the table.

It's all over.

Chelsea win a third league game in a row for just the second time this season, sealing a vital three points in the race for the Champions League places.

Brighton gave it all they had and almost snuck a leveller late on, but it wasn't to be as they are condemned to a third league defeat in succession.