Chelsea thrashed Bristol City with nine different goalscorers to register their first win of the 2020-21 Women’s Super League campaign.

Beth England added a sixth for the Blues from close range before Niamh Charles scored on her debut soon after.

Pernille Harder backheeled an eighth before Sam Kerr completed the rout.

It is Chelsea’s first win of the campaign after they drew 1-1 with Manchester United on the opening weekend while Bristol City have now conceded 13 goals across two games having lost 4-0 to Everton on 6 September.

Kirby opened Chelsea’s account early on and scored her first goal for 16 months after making her return from pericarditis, as Bristol City keeper Sophie Baggaley spilled her low strike.

The Blues doubled their advantage from the spot through Mjelde after Ji So-yun was fouled by Yana Daniels as Chelsea’s impressive performance continued.

Cuthbert was involved in two goals in six minutes after providing the free-kick for Leupolz to head home before she struck from outside the box for Chelsea’s fourth.

Bright continued their fine performance before the break as the England international nodded home Mjelde’s free-kick from close range.

Charles tapped in for their seventh goal moments after coming on as a 65th-minute substitute before Harder scored her first goal since joining for a £250,000 fee from Wolfsburg this month.

Ebony Salmon came closest to grabbing a late consolation for the visitors as she placed a shot just over the bar with eight minutes remaining but Kerr wrapped up a comprehensive Chelsea victory.

Chelsea are the second WSL team to score nine goals this weekend after Arsenal beat West Ham 9-1 on Saturday.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes:

“The fact that there were nine different goalscorers shows the diverse players that we have in our group. When it becomes about an individual at any point, you compromise on the biggest prizes.

“I’m hoping what happens at the top (of the table) will trickle down. Might there have to be some teething pains to get to that level? Yes. And is there a gap? Yes. But I want to focus on all the great things that women’s football does in this country and build on that in the hope we take it even further.

“Talent wins games but teams win championships. They have the experience of knowing that and it’s my job to point them to that on a regular basis.”