United Women slip to disheartening 0-1 defeat to Aston Villa, lose ground in title race

Manchester United Women slipped to a disappointing first loss of the season to Aston Villa. Sadly, they could not take advantage of Chelsea and Arsenal’s draw in the title race. First half United started well in possession and almost opened the scoring when Jess Park’s cross almost drifted into the top corner of the Villa net. United struggled to create many clear-cut chances as Villa defended well in numbers and it was actually the visitors who forced the first save of the match. Villa’s Georgia Mullett forced Phallon Tullis-Joyce into a low block from close range. Unfortunately, the American was powerless to stop Villa’s opening strike at the end of the first half. Tullis-Joyce punched clear a corner kick but Miri Taylor guided the ball into the back of the net to give the away side the lead. Second half United came racing out to equalise but it was once again the Villans who carried the greatest threat. A long ball over the top sent Missy Bo Kearns through on goal, but Hinata Miyazawa managed to get back just in time to neutralise the threat. As the hour mark approached, United launched into life. Ella Toone was found at the back post and had an effort that was heroically cleared off the line when it looked United had grabbed an equaliser. Leah Galton also came agonisingly close but she had an effort blocked by the resilient Villa defence. Marc Skinner’s side continued to huff and puff but to no avail as the clock ticked towards the end of time. The veteran Rachel Williams was brought on and she had a header on goal that was well stopped by Sabrina D’Angelo. It wasn’t to be as United fell to a flat defeat but they will hope to recover soon as they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday night underneath the Old Trafford floodlights. Featured image Molly Darlington via Getty Images – The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.