Arsenal go top, Chelsea edge Birmingham in Women's Super League

(Reuters) - Arsenal climbed back to the top of the FA Women's Super League with a hard-fought 3-1 win over bottom side Bristol City, while Fran Kirby's early headed goal gave champions Chelsea a narrow 1-0 win over Birmingham City on Sunday.

Arsenal went behind to an Abi Harrison effort after six minutes, but goals either side of halftime by Jordan Nobbs and Caitlin Foord put them back in the driving seat, with Dutch ace Vivianne Miedema adding a third five minutes from fulltime.

The win puts the Gunners top of the table with nine points from three games, the same total as Everton, who thrashed Aston Villa 6-0 on Saturday, and who are second on goal difference.

Chelsea's star-studded attacking lineup created plenty of chances at home to Birmingham, but only Kirby managed to get on the scoresheet in a 1-0 win that leaves them in third spot on seven points after three games.

Manchester City cruised to a comfortable 4-1 home win over Tottenham Hotspur and cross-town rivals Manchester United, also playing at home, made short work of Brighton & Hove Albion, winning 3-0.

In Sunday's late game, Lauren Bruton's first-half goal gave visitors Reading a gritty 1-0 win over West Ham, with Kenza Dali missing a second-half penalty for the Hammers.

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Toby Davis)