On the face of it, these two sides are enjoying very different seasons. Manchester United are unbeaten in the Women’s Super League while Aston Villa are winless. Yet this match highlighted one common link: their inaccuracy.
In 103 minutes of play and with 16 shots on goal, neither side could find the net. Villa were unable to capitalise on their dominance while United, seen as early title contenders, were forced into a third consecutive draw, putting them seven points behind Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City, albeit with a game in hand.
Villa entered the match as one of only two WSL teams without a win this season, an uncharacteristic start for a team expected to push for a mid-table finish. Manager Robert de Pauw expressed confidence ahead of the game, saying it was only a “matter of time” before Villa secured their first victory. However, that time was not to be tonight, despite the team’s promising performance.
Villa dominated the first half, controlling 65 per cent of possession and creating seven chances to United’s two, yet they failed to convert those opportunities into a lead. This season has been defined by such performances for Villa: dominant in play but toothless in front of goal.
Their tally of three points marks their lowest total after seven WSL games in the club’s history, leaving them tied with Everton as one of only two teams still searching for a win. Additionally, Villa have dropped a league-high eight points from winning positions, a troubling statistic that reflects both a lack of finishing and an inability to maintain leads.
De Pauw said: “What frustrates me is that I see that we do all the things in the right way, but it is just the last pieces we are missing – like the shot, the chance or sometimes the decision-making in some moments.
“The players are allowed to make mistakes, as long as they learn from them, because they are human. But that’s the frustrating part, because we should reward ourselves in those moments.”
One of Villa’s biggest issues has been their over-reliance on Rachel Daly, the 2022-23 Golden Boot winner. Since joining Villa, Daly has shouldered much of the team’s attacking responsibility, but this season has shown the limits of such dependence. Daly has been moved into wider and defensive roles, weakening her impact in front of goal and highlighting Villa’s need for a dedicated striker.
Without reinforcements Villa could find themselves in an unexpected relegation battle. Bringing in a new forward during the January transfer window might be de Pauw’s top priority if he hopes to turn the season around, although he insisted he has belief in his existing squad.
“I have full confidence in the players that we have at the moment,” de Pauw added. “If you have a good team, you spread the goals all over the team. Rachel [Daly] is known for goals, Gabi [Nunes], Adrianna Leon, Kenza Dali, they can all deliver, but in the end it’s about the efficiency.
“Now I have all the puzzle pieces and I have to find the right system for that. But you only learn when you have time to work with the players. In this league, you have 22 games so you don’t have a lot of time and the pressure is on because every team is competitive.”
For Manchester United, who finished fifth last season, this match was a missed opportunity to solidify their standing. While they sit in fifth place, six spots ahead of Villa, they struggled to produce convincing chances and looked far from a team competing with the likes of Chelsea and City for the top spots.
United’s scoring has been a concern, with just nine goals this season – tied for the fewest among the top seven WSL teams. Facing a winless Villa at home seemed an ideal chance to add to that tally, but their attack was largely ineffective, apart from a straightforward second-half strike by Ella Toone that was comfortably saved by Villa’s Sabrina D’Angelo.
Skinner said: “First half, we weren’t good enough. We couldn’t get our forwards to press and we were too disjointed.
“We want to have more goals and win more games of football, but we’ve kept another clean sheet and you have to start from a solid base. It’s about getting our balance back and we have Leah Galton and Anna Sandberg coming back next week, which will help with cohesion.
“We need to make sure we continue to close the gap, it’s a better league now. I know we’ll get more goals, we’ll be in that position, we just have to be more aggressive.”
United and Skinner booed at half-time
Some United fans have questioned the extension of manager Marc Skinner’s contract over the summer, and sporadic boos echoed around the stadium at half-time. Although Grace Clinton’s creativity, Elisabeth Terland’s runs, and Ella Toone’s passing have been highlights for United, none of those qualities shone today.
“It’s part and parcel of being Man United,” Skinner added. “Everyone can have their opinion but I know I will deliver winning football for this team.
“We know what the challenge is and we know where the teams are ahead of us. We want to push up this table, qualify for Europe, win leagues and win trophies.
“But we are also a brand new team moving again for a fourth season to sign players to try and close the gap. We have to accelerate in the time we’ve had together – there’s not many teams in world football who have to do it that quick. We know where we are heading.”
Ultimately, both Aston Villa and Manchester United have work to do to unlock a sharper edge in the final third. While United hope to chase the league’s top spots, Villa’s priority will be to climb out of the bottom, avoiding a relegation fight as the season progresses.
