Aston Villa 0-2 Everton

Aston Villa are forced to wait another week for their first league win of 2025 as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Everton at Villa Park this afternoon.

The Toffees struck either side of the break through from Maren Mjelde and Honoka Hayashi to pick up the three points in the Women’s Super League contest.

Natalia Arroyo made three changes to her side that were last in action two weeks ago as she brought Dan Turner, Miri Taylor and Chasity Grant into her starting 11.

Jordan Nobbs sent a teasing cross into the box in the sixth minute searching for Rachel Daly but Courtney Brosnan collected the striker’s glancing header.

But the Villans quickly found themselves on the back foot as it was the visitors who took the lead in only the 16^th minute. The side were punished for failing to clear the lines on multiple attempts after a dangerous cross was whipped into the area with the ball eventually finding Mjelde inside the box who blasted a shot on the half volley into the back of the net.

Katie Robinson was presented with an opportunity to level the scoring seven minutes later as she received a pass from Noelle Maritz before turning and shooting from the corner of the box, but the keeper got down to smother the shot.

Villa continued to dominate the ball and chances in front of goal with their next attempt falling to Jill Baijings in the 31^st minute. Daly rolled a short pass back out to the midfielder but her swinging first time strike sailed over the target.

Nobbs was next to try her luck in front of goal as she lifted an effort from 15 yards out, but Brosnan was equal to the effort.

Sabrina D’Angelo took a nasty blow to the head shortly after the restart and was forced off with Katelin Talbert replacing the keeper to make her debut for the club.

Everton doubled their lead in the 59^th minute as Villa were punished again for a mistake at the back as Hayashi was gifted the ball to turn and bury home to make it 2-0.

Missy Bo Kearns and Ebony Salmon were both introduced from the bench just after the hour mark and injected a fresh energy into the side and as they attempted to help the team salvage something from the contest.

Kearns picked up the ball in the 69^th minute and took a touch before lifting a great shot from long-range but her effort landed the wrong side of the post.

Daly met a great cross from Salmon at the far post three minutes into stoppage time, but her first time attempt somehow fell just wide of the goal.

Kearns tested Brosnan from distance less than a minute later as she drilled a strike along the box, but the keeper got down to meet the ball.

The Villans continued to push deep into stoppage time to try and pull a goal back with Salmon teeing up two strong efforts in both the 96^th and the 97^th minute but neither of her shots were able to cause any real danger as time ran out for Villa.