How Spurs can shock Chelsea and set up dramatic WSL final day

When Chelsea drew against rivals Manchester City last month, they set themselves on course for a successive Women's Super League title. All they have to do is win their final two fixtures - against Tottenham on Wednesday night, and Reading on Sunday - and they will lift the trophy this weekend.

But City's win in their penultimate game of the season last Sunday - while Chelsea qualified for the Champions League final - put them top of the table by a single point, if only for a few days. It ensured the pressure is firmly on Emma Hayes's side to deliver in their game in hand against Tottenham, in order to go into the final weekend as the league leaders.

This is a match Chelsea are expected to win routinely. Eighth-placed Spurs have never beaten the reigning champions, and Chelsea have been swatting aside mid-table sides all season. But the north Londoners also haven't got anything to lose from the safety of mid-table. If Rehanne Skinner's underdogs can muster a shock result - a draw would level the title race at 52 points, with just one goal currently separating Chelsea and City on goal difference - Sunday's final match-day will be one of the tightest in Women's Super League history.

Here's how Spurs could do it.

Take inspiration from Bayern Munich

In the first leg of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich they did not look like the free-flowing, easy-scoring team we have come to know. The 2-1 scoreline went Bayern's way, Chelsea limited to just one shot on target - their away goal a fluke after a rebounding ball caught Melanie Leupolz's face and found its way to the back of the net. The difficulty they faced was Bayern's unexpected shape - a five-player backline which snuffed out any creativity Hayes' side tried to rally.

Part of the effectiveness of the Bayern tactic was the element of surprise, something underdogs like Spurs will have less of if they turn up against Chelsea with a packed backline. But it is their only option if they want to shut down the Chelsea three-pronged attack - along with Pernille Harder - and stop Hayes' side from scoring in a competitive fixture for the first time in over two years. It will likely be more a case of damage limitation though.

Disrupt Chelsea's rhythm

As Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby broke away in the 10th minute of Sunday’s second leg against Bayern Munich, there seemed a telepathic understanding between the pair of each other’s positioning. Kirby opened the ball out wide to Kerr, as both invaded the away side’s half at full pelt, dragging three back-pedalling Bayern shirts with them. Then just as Kerr slowed down, going past her defender, Kirby cut into the box where Kerr could easily send the ball through to her. With a deft first touch Kirby had only the goalkeeper to beat - dinking the ball into the back of the net with her left foot.

It is the type of moment that sends shivers down watching defenders’ spines. Bayern had nullified that threat throughout the first leg, thanks to their defensive discipline and intense press, but only a few teams have been able to do it this season - and it shows in the numbers. Kerr and Kirby have assisted each other for nine goals in the WSL, mostly on the counter attack, and Kerr and Beth England have also combined for four.

Behind their pace and clinical finishing are key passing channels, usually stemming from a deep long ball from the likes of Millie Bright, or Ji So-yun and Sophie Ingle’s vision in midfield. Tottenham will have to apply pressure on those attempts to distribute the ball to the forwards, though must also be wary of fouling as Chelsea are the second-most dangerous side from set pieces this season, trailing only Manchester City.

Rekindle the bounce

When Rehanne Skinner replaced previous managers Karen Hills and Juan Amoros in November, Tottenham experienced a significant bounce - winning three of their next four games and racking up 10 of their total 17 points this season. It essentially saved them from a messy relegation battle at the bottom of the table. But Chelsea put a stop to their run in late January, inflicting a 4-0 loss at tonight's reverse fixture.

Since then Spurs are without a win in the WSL. Stealing three points off Hayes’ side on Wednesday is unlikely, Brighton are the only team to have done so this season in the WSL. Only the three other top-four sides have managed to share points with Chelsea either. One thing is for sure, Spurs will have to score in order to have a hope of grabbing a point, as keeping a clean sheet against Chelsea is close to impossible. For a Spurs side that has scored just four goals since mid-January, that is not the easiest ask.

But where Skinner’s side have excelled this season has been from set pieces, scoring more than half of their goals from free kicks or corners - Alanna Kennedy’s injury-time consolation goal against Manchester United last week a prime example. If they can take those opportunities they are in with a chance - Brighton proved it in February, both their goals in a 2-1 win at Kingsmeadow coming from corners.