Villa Women 0-3 Chelsea Women

Aston Villa Women's unbeaten run came to an end with a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday evening.

Goals from Jelena Čanković, Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr proved too much for Villa as Chelsea's title charge continued.

Carla Ward made just one change from the side that started last weekend's emphatic win over Leicester City.

Laura Blindkilde Brown came back into the starting XI, while Evie Rabjohn was only fit enough to make the bench having struggled with an ankle injury during the week.

The visit of the champions was expected to be the toughest test Villa had faced during their long unbeaten run, and that was proving itself to be true during the opening exchanges.

On several occasions during the first 15 minutes, Villa's rearguard had to be alert to stifle the danger Chelsea posed.

That rearguard included Hannah Hampton, who saved brilliantly from Guro Reiten at point blank range.

Villa were undeterred by Chelsea's attacking threat, though, as they grew into proceedings.

A nicely worked move involving Kenza Dali and Alisha Lehmann resulted in the latter crossing for Rachel Daly across the face of goal.

Our star striker was lurking ominously inside the six-yard box and almost caught out Zecira Musovic with a nonchalant flick, but the stopper got down to turn the ball round the post.

The game continued to ebb and flow, and Chelsea would take the lead after 22 minutes.

Čanković rifled home from close range after Hampton had parried a downwards header into danger.

The visitors were close to quickly doubling their advantage when Johanna Rytting Kaneryd wriggled her way past Dan Turner, but her effort from a tight angle was thwarted.

Sam Kerr then sent a header towards goal from the resulting corner, but Hampton held on.

Chelsea were buoyed by drawing first blood and seemed intent on adding to their lead.

Kerr was sent through on goal but smashed an effort against the crossbar, much to the relief of Villa staff and players alike.

That relief would be short-lived, however, as Reiten put Chelsea into a commanding lead on 43 minutes.

Emma Hayes' side continued to put their foot down in the second half when Kerr smashed home a third.

Ruesha Littlejohn was brought on shortly afterwards, but much of the damage had been done.

Villa will go into the next couple of weeks plotting a plan to overcome the same opponents in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.