Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the Women's Super League season with a 4-0 thrashing of 10-player West Ham in Dagenham.

The Blues got off to a flyer at the Chigwell Construction Stadium with goals from in-form Aggie Beever-Jones, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Erin Cuthbert inside the opening 15 minutes.

The Hammers then saw midfielder Inès Belloumou shown a straight red card in the 23rd minute for pulling back Alyssa Thompson's ponytail.

Following a frantic first half, the tempo dropped after the break before Wieke Kaptein slotted in Chelsea's fourth with 20 minutes left to leave the Blues two points clear again at the top of the table.

There was a minute's silence before kick-off in memory of former manager Matt Beard, who died last weekend and had spells in charge of both clubs.

Chelsea made a fast start and took just eight minutes to go in front through a fine 25-yard free-kick from Beever-Jones, who clipped the ball up over the wall and into the top corner to make it four goals in as many WSL games this term.

The Irons almost got back on level terms straight away when Katrina Gorry's 20-yard effort smashed against the outside of the post.

But Chelsea doubled their lead in the 13th minute when Rytting Kaneryd converted Wieke Kaptein's cross from the left.

Before West Ham could regroup, the ruthless visitors added a third just two minutes later.

Chelsea turned possession over in midfield and the ball broke to Cuthbert, who strode forwards onto a backtracking home defence before drilling her shot into the top corner past Kinga Szemik.

West Ham's miserable afternoon went from bad to worse in the 23rd minute when Belloumou was sent off for tugging the back of Thompson's hair as they tussled for possession.

In added time at the end of the first half, Rytting Kaneryd saw her angled shot come back off the post.

Chelsea number one Hannah Hampton -- who won the Yashin Trophy for best female goalkeeper at the Ballon d'Or awards earlier this week -- was finally called into meaningful action just before the hour when she tipped over a long-range free-kick from Viv Asseyi.

England stopper Hampton was alert again to save from Ffion Morgan after she burst clear.

Chelsea scored a fourth with 20 minutes left when Netherlands midfielder Kaptein slotted in following a one-two with substitute Catarina Macario -- who was denied a goal herself late on when a rising strike crashed against the bar.