Hayes and Kirby win January gongs as the best manager and player
By Paul Lagan
Chelsea forward Fran Kirby and manager Emma Hayes have won the January awards as Chelsea record a 33 game unbeaten streak in the Barclays FA Women's Super League.
Fran Kirby enjoyed a great start to January, scoring four against former club Reading.
But the best was still to come.
The following weekend, Chelsea took on Manchester United, then top of the table. Kirby created a series of chances in the first half, to no avail. Just as Chelsea's dominance began to fade and United levelled, 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.
