With the events of the January transfer window now behind us, Villa can look towards the second half of the season and aim to finish as well as possible following a difficult start.
Things will be made harder by the loss of Laura Blindkilde to Manchester City and Lucy Staniforth to an ankle injury, but Villa fans were treated to a deadline day announcement of Miri Taylor to join us on loan.
Saturday afternoon saw bottom-place Bristol City join us at the Bescot Stadium, with a couple of familiar faces in Emily Syme and Shania Hayles amongst the visitors. Carla Ward was forced to play Noelle Maritz at centre-back and Rachel Corsie moved into midfield once again, with Nobbs and Dali. Daly was supported up front by Hanson and Leon.
Head of WSL Content: Georgia Homer
It was clear from the opening minutes that Villa would be dominating possession, but would need to resolve the struggle for goals that we have seen throughout the campaign. Adriana Leon made an early attempt from close range after 5 minutes, after a cross from Hanson unexpectedly travelled all the way through to her, but Yañez stopped it at stretch. Leon had another chance when Nobbs dribbled through midfield and played a ball over the top; the winger was expecting the pass to come sooner but still forced another save.
Villa’s attacks continued until Jordan Nobbs found the opener in the 13th minute. Maritz worked hard to keep a corner alive and carried the ball to the byline, cut back to Dali and it was Corsie who set up Nobbs just outside of the box. The shot took a slight deflection and travelled past Yañez into the bottom right corner.
Villa weren’t able to keep the lead for long and a misplaced pass from Anna Patten in Villa’s own half meant that Amalie Thestrup was quickly through on goal and slotted past van Domselaar into the corner of the net.
The game continued in the same way, with Villa repeatedly winning back the ball and creating chances. Dali, Daly, Hanson, and Martitz all had notable opportunities to put the team back in front, but each missed the target. Aside from the final moments of the half, which were suddenly end to end, the first 45 should have seen Villa comfortably in front.
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Things picked up from where they left off before the break, with more efforts from Daly, Nobbs, Dali, and Maritz. It wasn’t until the 60th minute that Villa found themselves ahead once more, this time through Adriana Leon. Anna Patten sent in a cross to the back post from the right, which Rachel Corsie brought down into the feet of Leon. Leon shot high and powerfully to find the roof of the net from a difficult angle, and brought the scoreline to 2-1.
For the next 10-15 minutes, Villa attacked relentlessly but could not extend the lead. Completely against the run of play, Carrie Jones levelled things up for Bristol City with an incredible goal from outside the box. Napier’s cross bounced off a couple of players in the penalty area, then Kenza Dali cleared the ball directly to Jones. The 25-yard shot soared past van Domselaar into the top right corner.
Ward responded by freshening up the attack, switching out Leon and Corsie for Salmon and Magill. The intensity of the game was heightened with both teams sensing a result and Villa’s approach became quicker and more direct.
Control remained firmly with the hosts, but Bristol City had another rare opportunity when Abi Harrison was able to get a shot away. It was low and easily saved by van Domselaar.
Villa’s chances were almost too many to count. Dali had another long-range effort, Salmon aimed wide, and Nobbs lifted a shot over the bar from a corner. Hanson and Magill both had headers off target. The final minutes of injury time brought chaos in Bristol City’s box, with a scramble that featured shots from Pacheco and Salmon – both saved. The game ended with a final effort from Rachel Daly, whose header forced another save from Yañez.
With so much possession and endless attempts on goal, it is difficult to see the result as anything other than two points lost. It was an opportunity to put 10 points between ourselves and Bristol City and despite the positives, there is still something not fully clicking within the team. Villa have their Conti Cup quarter-final on Wednesday to look forward to next, with a trip away to Brighton.
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AUTHOR | GEORGIA HOMER
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