Rachel Daly was on target as Aston Villa hold on to beat Leicester City in their first Women’s Super League match after the winter break.
England striker Daly brought down Adriana Leon’s cross in the 16th minute and fired an effort into the corner.
Leicester came closest late on when Deanne Rose’s shot was saved and Ava Baker’s strike on the rebound was cleared off the line by Sarah Mayling.
Villa’s victory was just their fourth in the league this season.
The visitors jump up to seventh in the WSL table, while Leicester, now winless in their past eight WSL games, drop to ninth.
Villa continue fine run in WSL
Aston Villa had a nightmare start to the season, losing their first five matches, but Carla Ward’s side have turned their form around, and have now won four of their past six in the WSL.
They started much brighter and should have been at least 2-0 up at half-time, with Canada international Leon looking particularly threatening going forward.
She set up Alisha Lehmann midway through the first half but the forward’s one-on-one effort was saved by Leicester keeper Janina Leitzig.
Leon had a shot whistle over the bar just before the break and was then twice denied by Leitzig when sent clean through in the second half.
Ultimately though, Villa’s poor finishing would go unpunished as they bounced back from their FA Cup exit at the hands of Everton last week.
Leicester struggle despite bright Momiki
While Villa started the season poorly but are now on a good run, the opposite is true of Leicester.
Having done so well to stay up last campaign, Willie Kirk’s side took seven points from their opening three matches. But they’ve since added just three more points from their subsequent eight games.
The Foxes did create plenty of decent chances at Pirelli Stadium, mainly through new signing Yuka Momiki, who was playing in her first WSL match.
The Japan forward crossed for Shannon O’Brien, whose diving header was palmed away by Villa keeper Daphne Van Domselaar in the first half.
And after the restart, Momiki forced Van Domselaar into a diving save, and also set up Rose who smashed a close-range effort over the bar as the hosts finished strongly.
Leicester and Villa are both in League Cup action next on Wednesday, facing Everton and Sunderland respectively.
Line-ups
Leicester City Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Leitzig
- 11Cayman
- 17Thibaud
- 5HowardSubstituted forGreenat 45′minutes
- 2NevinBooked at 28minsSubstituted forBakerat 86′minutes
- 15Takarada
- 3Tierney
- 29Momiki
- 8RantalaSubstituted forRoseat 45′minutes
- 27O’BrienSubstituted forGoodwinat 64′minutes
- 9PetermannSubstituted forWhelanat 74′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Palmer
- 7Rose
- 10Whelan
- 14Green
- 19Siemsen
- 20Goodwin
- 23Kop
- 32Baker
- 47Sherwood
Aston Villa Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 1van Domselaar
- 2Mayling
- 4Patten
- 6Corsie
- 26MaritzSubstituted forPachecoat 64′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 10DaliSubstituted forNobbsat 89′minutes
- 5Staniforth
- 19Blindkilde Brown
- 23LeonSubstituted forMagillat 82′minutes
- 9Daly
- 7LehmannSubstituted forHansonat 65′minutes
Substitutes
- 8Nobbs
- 11Gregory
- 13Poor
- 17Salmon
- 18Mullett
- 20Hanson
- 21Leat
- 22Magill
- 33Pacheco
Live Text
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Match ends, Leicester City Women 0, Aston Villa Women 1.
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Second Half ends, Leicester City Women 0, Aston Villa Women 1.
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Daphne van Domselaar (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Josie Green (Leicester City Women).
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Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women).
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Deanne Rose (Leicester City Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt missed. Sam Tierney (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ava Baker.
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Attempt blocked. Aileen Whelan (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nicole Momiki.
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Attempt blocked. Janice Cayman (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women).
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Mayumi Pacheco (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Deanne Rose (Leicester City Women).
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Hand ball by Janice Cayman (Leicester City Women).
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Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Janice Cayman (Leicester City Women).
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Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Jordan Nobbs replaces Kenza Dali.
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Attempt blocked. Ava Baker (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt saved. Deanne Rose (Leicester City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.