Villa dominate but held to draw by dogged Leicester

Aston Villa could not take their chances despite a dominant performance as Leicester City held them to a goalless Women's Super League draw at Villa Park.

Villa dominated the first half but could not break the deadlock despite taking 13 shots and recording an expected goals rating of 2.59.

Natalia Arroyo's side quickly identified Leicester's vulnerability to balls over the top of their defence, but Ebony Salmon and Chasity Grant were both denied early on by visiting goalkeeper Janina Leitzig.

Leicester gained a foothold in the game as Sam Tierney launched some promising moves from midfield, but Rick Passmoore's side did not muster an effort on target.

Villa enjoyed the lion's share of possession after the break, and should have taken the lead in the 76th minute when an unmarked Georgia Mullett headed over from Kirsty Hanson's cross.

Leicester appeared to take encouragement from that close call and asked questions of the Villa defence with some dangerous crosses, but did not register an attempt on target until the 89th minute.

A third draw of the season leaves Villa eighth in the table with six points after five games.

Leicester - now without a win in 19 WSL away games, a run that began in February 2024 and has seen four managers in the Foxes dugout - move up to ninth in the standings with five points from six games.

Analysis: Villa lack final touch and Leicester need to offer more

Aston Villa ended the match with a xG rating of over 2.9 goals

While on the face of it Villa's start to the campaign looks underwhelming for a side that finished sixth last season, Arroyo's side look a stronger and more cohesive team than last term.

It was poor finishing that cost them two points against Leicester, which is perhaps not surprising for a team that has scored just four goals this season.

Salmon could have scored four goals herself in the first half, and also failed to cut the ball back to an unmarked Rachel Daly.

Villa's build-up play was varied and incisive - the sooner they find some confidence in front of goal, the sooner they will make lighter work of defence-minded opposition.

Arroyo has made her side hard to score against - three clean sheets in five games is unmatched in the WSL this season - but needs that finishing touch at the other end of the pitch.

Passmoore can take positives from his first match as Leicester's permanent manager.

His side did not buckle under the weight of an early Villa onslaught, though they were indebted to goalkeeper Leitzig who made eight saves in total.

While the Foxes were much improved in the second half, opposition more clinical than Villa would have already put the game to bed.

Three goals scored in six league games is another cause for concern.

What's next for these teams?

Next up for Villa is a trip to Bristol to face Bristol City in the Women's League Cup on Sunday, 19 October (15:00 BST), before the international break.

In the same competition, Leicester travel to the capital face London City Lionesses on Sunday, 19 October (14:00 BST).

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