Aston Villa Women returned to Super League action for the first time in 2024 as they made the short trip to Burton to take on Leicester City at the Pirelli Stadium.
Supporters looked at this as a must-win game and an opportunity to kick-start what has largely been a disappointing campaign. Villa were able to come out on top on both occasions last season and would have been hoping for the same this time around.
Unsurprisingly, Carla Ward opted to make changes from the side that lost last weekend to Everton in the FA Cup. First-choice keeper Daphne Van Domselaar returned in between the sticks while Alisha Lehmann and Laura Blindilde-Brown replaced Jordan Nobbs and Kirsty Hanson who dropped to the bench. Young goalkeeper Sophia Poor, who joined the club in the summer was also named on the bench for the first time this season after returning from injury. Report: Leicester Women 0-1 Aston Villa Women
Villa started the game strong with Lucy Staniforth being fouled within the first minute of the game but the resulting free-kick came to nothing.
The first chance for the visitors came in the 6th minute when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box following a foul by Staniforth but their effort was headed over the bar.
Villa’s first chance of note came after 15 minutes when Blindkilde Brown played the ball through to Maritz on the corner of the box but her shot went slightly wide of the post. After a poor goal kick from Leicester goalkeeper, Janina Leitzig, Villa w...