Noise has been building on social media over the past two weeks as Chelsea’s title challenge collapsed with costly defeats by Arsenal and Manchester City, leaving them off the pace.
Fans have debated manager Bompastor’s tactics and the Frenchwoman had to answer questions about her position at the club last weekend.
But Chelsea showed their faith in the coach who led them to an unbeaten domestic treble in her debut season by announcing her long-term deal on Friday.
While that was already agreed before their form took a significant dip, the timing of Chelsea’s announcement felt deliberate and probably done with the intention of quietening noise.
It was important, therefore, they produced the goods at Tottenham and maintained control of their Champions League qualification hopes.
The first-half performance did little to silence the critics as Tottenham were the better team and created more chances until Walsh’s strike.
Bompastor, consistently understated and calm in the dugout, was picked up by a member of her staff and spun around in celebration while Chelsea players embraced goalscorer Walsh.
It put them in control, having spent the majority of the match on the back foot, and Chelsea showed their enduring class with the second through Thompson.
With pressure on and results a necessity, this was much needed by Chelsea, but the overall performance did little to ease concerns that they are falling behind their rivals this season.
Bompastor stressed a key part of their regression has been a lack of squad depth, caused by injuries, and it was shown at Spurs as teenagers Lexi Potter and Chloe Sarwie came off the bench, while captain Millie Bright hobbled off late on with a foot issue.
There is still work to do to ensure Chelsea finish in the top three, with Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal not leaving any room for error – and they need players back to full fitness quickly if they hope to progress in Europe.
