I leave you with the WSL table as it stands. Manchester United now up to 21 points, while Aston Villa still on 12.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea Women | 12 | 26 | 31 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 12 | 23 | 26 |
| 3 | Arsenal Women | 11 | 15 | 25 |
| 4 | Man Utd Women | 12 | 13 | 21 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur Women | 12 | -4 | 19 |
| 6 | Liverpool FC Women | 11 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Leicester Women | 12 | -6 | 13 |
| 8 | Aston Villa Women | 12 | -10 | 12 |
| 9 | Everton Women | 12 | -12 | 11 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove Albion Women | 12 | -14 | 11 |
| 11 | West Ham Women | 12 | -14 | 6 |
| 12 | Bristol City Women | 12 | -17 | 6 |
Thanks for tuning in! See you next time.
More WSL action continues this afternoon …
And you can follow along with our live scoreboard, with Spurs taking on Manchester City and West Ham visiting Bristol City.
Liverpool host Arsenal later this evening and you can follow with our dedicated live blog.
Full-time: Manchester United 2-1 Aston Villa
Parris continued her fine form with two goals in the opening half that put Manchester United ahead. A soft penalty scored by Daly in the second-half gave Aston Villa some short-lived momentum but Skinner’s side managed to see out the game and secure the three points.
90+6 min: Naalsund has an ambitious shot from well outside the box but it actually loops down and is heading on target. Van Domselaar tips it over just enough so that it heads over the bar.
90+5 min: Patten gets booked after a foul on Blundell as she tries to win the ball back.
90+3 min: It’s scrappy in these final minutes which is exactly what United want. The brief momentum Villa had after their goal is long gone.
Updated
90 min: We’re getting seven minutes of added time.
88 min: A pause in play here as Daly and Le Tissier clash heads. The latter seems fine but the former needs some treatment. She seems OK though, and we’re back to close out the final minutes.
86 min: CLOSE! Riviere puts a good ball in and Williams’ header goes wide.
Updated
83 min: We have a delay as there seems to be some commotion in the United technical area as they prepare for a change. Riveria then gets booked for time-wasting for not taking the throw-in. It looks like we’re finally going to get to the United sub but then the referee has a stern talking to with Hansen. I am not sure what happened, and neither does the commentator. Anyway, all of that to say Toone has come off for Guerrero.
81 min: Dali crosses the ball in but Earps collects. She goes down in a bid to run down the clock, I’m sure.
78 min: Villa make another change with Salmon coming on for Leon.
76 min: Naalsund does well on the right and looks for Galton but Van Domselaar collects the ball with ease.
72 min: Leon gets booked for an elbow on Blundell.
71 min: Toone and Geyse combine for some nice flick-ons but Villa are doing better now to keep United at bay. The attack ends once Toone strays offside.
68 min: Some United substitutions. No hat-trick for Parris as she comes off for Williams and García makes way for Galton.
64 min: Villa are really chasing the game now but they fall into United’s offside trap in their latest attack.
62 min: Daly almost gets her second but the ball gets caught under her feet.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Aston Villa (Daly 60')
Great penalty from Daly straight down the middle and suddenly the two-goal cushion is gone. Immediately after the pen goes in, Daly fist pumps before gathering her team around in a huddle. They believe that they can get back in this.
Updated
Penalty for Aston Villa
From a corner, García and Daly get into it, and the former takes down the Villa striker in the box right in front of the referee. It’s a bit soft but so unnecessary from García when the ball isn’t even in play. United are fuming and the players crowd around the referee but he’s made his decision.
Updated
54 min: A good spell from Villa! Daly and Dali combine before the ball gets to Nobbs who attempts a low shot that has Earps stumbling a bit to get to. Can they continue this pressure?
54 min: Leon whips the ball into the box, but Earps catches it easily.
51 min: Villa finally get forward with some great play from Nobbs but Dali’s final pass finds Blundell instead of her own teammate, killing the attack.
46 min: CLOSE! A through ball finds Parris and it’s a great run from the striker, who positions herself well to get a shot off, but it’s saved. The resulting corner does not lead to much. Villa, once again, cannot deal with simple passes that open up their defence completely.
46 min: “We love you Carla, we do!” rings loudly from the away fans despite the scoreline.
We have a half-time substitute for Villa, with Lehmann coming off for Hanson.
Second-half: Manchester United 2-0 Aston Villa
We’re back! Will United continue their dominance or is there a way back in this for Villa? Let’s find out.
In case you missed the massive WSL news …
Chelsea have signed the Colombia forward Mayra Ramírez from Levante for a reported British record transfer fee of £384,000 plus £42,000 in potential add-ons. The extras in the deal would make the transfer a world-record fee for women’s football.
The forward made a substitute appearance in Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Brighton last night.
Half-time: Manchester United 2-0 Aston Villa
A double from Parris has given the hosts the lead at the break.
45+2 min: Villa win a free-kick and Dali’s delivery is absolutely fantastic. It’s Villa’s best chance of the game, but Toone sticks out a foot to prevent the goal before United launch on the counter. A flurry of white shirts get back and manage to deal with the danger.
45 min: We’re getting three minutes of added time. The half-time whistle could not come soon enough for Ward and Villa.
42 min: United win a corner that Zelem takes. The ball finds Le Tissier but her first-time shot is well wide.
38 min: An Earps sighting! That has been rare. Leon lurks at the far post after Riviere stumbles but the United keeper parries the ball away. A rare moment of wobbling for the hosts that Villa needed to capitalise on.
36 min: BIG SAVE! Once again Van Domselaar comes in clutch for the visitors. A ball from the right flashes across the face of goal and the Villa keeper gets a touch before a red shirt can get a touch.
34 min: CLOSE! Parris almost gets her hat-trick! Villa are over the place defensively and United are carving them open. Would have been three if not for the efforts of Van Domselaar.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Aston Villa (Parris 33’)
García and Toone combine with some quick play, and the former’s right-footed shot from out on the left rattles against the far post. The ball falls kindly to Parris and Villa are slow to react allowing the striker to get her second of the day after poking it home.
Updated
30 min: Parris wants a call after being brought down by Maritz right outside the box. It looked like a foul to me but the referee gestures for a goal kick to be taken after the ball rolls out of play.
28 min: Blundell is everywhere for United. She curls in another great cross but before it can find a red shirt, Van Domselaar comes out to catch it.
25 min: A bit of a lull in the game now, as United seem happy to be patient now that they have the lead. The away supporters are in full voice, with a fun dig at the home fans that Leigh Sports Village is as quiet as a library.
23 min: We’re back under way. United so far have had 53% possession and three shots compared to Villa’s one.
21 min: Van Domselaar goes down and she’ll need some treatment. Both teams take the chance to head to their respective dugouts and receive instruction.
18 min: CLOSE! Le Tissier’s long ball is headed wide by Parris to Naalsund, whose quick feet manages to give her some space to get into the box. She finds Toone, who takes a shot that goes just over the bar. It's astonishing that she has that much space in the box to attempt that. Villa lucky there.
15 min: The referee has a word with Maritz, who has had quite a few tussles with Geyse in this opening quarter of an hour.
13 min: United are on the attack once again with some nice buildup play through Toone, García and Blundell. The United defender opts to go for goal but Van Domselaar has it covered.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Aston Villa (Parris 7')
It felt like Villa had dealt with the pressure but García and Blundell manage to pressure the visitors to sloppily give the ball away. The latter hits a cross to an unmarked Parris, and her glancing header gives United the lead.
Updated
4 min: Dali whips the ball into the box for Daly, and while under pressure from Le Tissier, the Villa striker misses the target.
2 min: Le Tissier attempts a long ball over the top, but Villa’s press is relentless in the opening minutes. They go on the attack and a cross comes into United’s box but it’s handled by Earps and cleared by Riviere.
Kick-off: Manchester United 0-0 Aston Villa
Here we go!
The teams are out and we’re moments away from kick-off!
A look at the league table before kick-off.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea Women | 12 | 26 | 31 |
| 2 | Man City Women | 11 | 23 | 25 |
| 3 | Arsenal Women | 11 | 15 | 25 |
| 4 | Man Utd Women | 11 | 12 | 18 |
| 5 | Liverpool FC Women | 11 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur Women | 11 | -4 | 18 |
| 7 | Aston Villa Women | 11 | -9 | 12 |
| 8 | Everton Women | 11 | -11 | 11 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion Women | 12 | -14 | 11 |
| 10 | Leicester Women | 11 | -7 | 10 |
| 11 | West Ham Women | 11 | -14 | 5 |
| 12 | Bristol City Women | 11 | -17 | 5 |
Away from league action, the FA are investigating Aston Villa for fielding an ineligible player during their 7-0 victory against Sunderland in the Conti Cup, which could see the result being overturned.
Villa manager Carla Ward brought on Noelle Maritz as a substitute in the second-half. Maritz, who joined Villa in January, played for Arsenal three times in the Conti Cup this season, contrary to competition rules.
Villa believe it was an administrative mistake that caused the error.
The FA released this statement:
We can confirm that we are investigating an alleged breach of Cup Rule 8.19 by Aston Villa during their FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup fixture against Sunderland on Wednesday 24 January.
In accordance with competition rules, this matter has been referred to Sport Resolutions UK for consideration by an independent tribunal.
Further updates will be confirmed in due course.
An email from Torran:
“It’s starting to fill up here at LSV, and fans are in a decent mood – although half the chats I’ve had this morning so far with fans have been about wanting Marc Skinner out.
“Rumour is he’s lost the dressing room, and he’s certainly lost the regard of many fans.
“In terms of the match today, I’m expecting a win, although a hard-fought one. Hoping for Toone to get two goals to bring up an extra special day for her – it’s her 150th appearance for the club, and the second would be her 50th domestic goal for all clubs. It’s also Le Tissier’s 50th appearance for the club, so special days all round!”
Enjoy the game!
United coming through ➡️#MUWomen || #WSL pic.twitter.com/f3iORsxoQP
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) January 28, 2024
Have any thoughts, questions or musings you want to share? Send me an email!
Negative supporter reception and calls for Marc Skinner to be sacked have been at the forefront of United’s campaign this season.
Here, Sophie Downey explains how high-profile departures and WSL defeats have led to unhappy fans.
Team news
📋 Lining up for our first home league fixture of 2024...
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) January 28, 2024
🔴 Come on United! 🔴#MUWomen || #WSL
Your Aston Villa team at LSV. 🤓 pic.twitter.com/f7WgDg4m2e
— Aston Villa Women (@AVWFCOfficial) January 28, 2024
Preamble
It hasn’t been smooth sailing for either Manchester United team this season, and the women’s side will be hoping to rectify that today against Aston Villa.
A 3-1 defeat in last Sunday’s league fixture against Chelsea was followed by an edgy 2-1 loss against Manchester City that saw them crash out of the League Cup on Wednesday.
The Red Devils have ways to go if they are to qualify for the Champions League next season. They currently are in fourth, seven points off the top three.
Meanwhile, Villa, who have won three of their last four league matches, will be keen to cause an upset at Leigh Sports Village.
Kick-off: 12pm GMT
