CHELSEA maintained their perfect start to the new Women’s Super League season with a 1-0 win over Leicester today, when tributes were paid to former Liverpool manager Matt Beard.

The Reds had postponed their scheduled fixture at Aston Villa following Beard’s death, which was announced late on Saturday.

Beard, 47, had two spells in charge of Liverpool, guiding them to back-to-back WSL titles with the Reds in 2013 and 2014, and left the club in February before a brief stint at Burnley.

The Clarets earlier confirmed their Women’s National League match against West Brom had also been postponed. A minute’s silence was held before kick-off in the games taking place in both the WSL and WSL2.

Beard took charge of Chelsea and also West Ham following his first role at Millwall Lionesses in 2008.

Having paid tribute to Beard ahead of kick-off at Kingsmeadow, defending WSL champions Chelsea made a fast start against Leicester.

England forward Aggie Beever-Jones struck in the seventh minute for her third WSL goal of the new campaign.

The Blues, though, could not build on their early lead, with Foxes keeper Janina Leitzig producing fine saves to deny both Erin Cuthbert and Keira Walsh.

Elsewhere, Brighton got their first win of the new WSL season after beating West Ham 4-1 at Broadfield Stadium.