Chelsea have dropped points just once in the league this season
Sarah Mayling conceded a late own goal to deny Aston Villa a point against Women's Super League leaders Chelsea as the Blues continued their formidable winning run.
In the 82nd minute Mayling inadvertently poked in Maika Hamano's attempted square ball for Mayra Ramirez into her own net from six yards out.
It marked a frustrating end to manager Natalia Arroyo's first game as Villa boss after her side had gone toe-to-toe with the champions at Villa Park.
Arroyo said the result was a "cruel" welcome to the league, while Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor admitted her side had "a lucky win".
Kirsty Hanson had had the game's best chance for the hosts, striking the bar from range midway through the second half.
But Chelsea's late goal handed the Blues a 12th league win in 13 matches, although Manchester United cut the deficit at the top to seven points with their 1-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday evening.
- Published31 January
'The best teams find a way to win' - Bompastor
In midweek Chelsea paid a world-record fee for USA defender Naomi Girma and added England midfielder Keira Walsh from Barcelona in another big-money move.
Girma was not in the matchday squad at Villa Park but Walsh was used as a late substitute and impressed in the few minutes she was given.
It was fellow substitute Hamano, though, whose dangerous delivery into the area led to Chelsea's winner, with the Blues subsequently holding on to record a sixth straight victory in all competitions.
"I'm satisfied about the result but not about the performance," Bompastor told BBC Two afterwards.
"I think credit to Villa, they were really well organised and wanted more to have a good result today than us.
"Sometimes it happens in football, you cannot be any time 100 per cent but yeah we need to take this as a lesson and learn form that because today I think it was a lucky win."
Chelsea had created a number of chances in the first half with Lauren James having an effort blocked and defender Nathalie Bjorn heading a corner just over.
But, as the minutes ticked by in the second period, it appeared as if the visitors would drop points for the first time since they drew with Leicester on 14 December.
That was until Mayling's unfortunate intervention.
"When you are not able to perform at 100% you always have to find a way to win the game," added Bompastor.
"The best teams have the power to do that."
'We were so, so close' - Arroyo
Villa boss Arroyo said the result was "quite cruel" on the hosts and a harsh "welcome to the league".
Her team looked unrecognisable from the side that started the WSL season with just two points from their opening six games.
Interim boss Shaun Goater has steadied things in recent weeks, leading them to two wins from his five matches in charge.
Against the reigning WSL champions Villa produced their best performance of the season.
"We feel disappointed because we were so, so close," former Real Sociedad manager Arroyo told BBC Two at full-time.
"I'm unhappy because the girls were pushing really hard and it's a strange goal."
Villa pressured Chelsea from the off and almost took an early lead when Gabi Nunes' attempted lob was only just caught by back-tracking Blues goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
Hanson was inches away in the second period when she struck an effort from about 25 yards out, beating Hampton but hitting the underside of the crossbar.
"Even when we didn't get the points, to get the feeling that the strongest team in the league struggled at Villa Park is good for us," added Arroyo.
Villa are 10th in the WSL table - just four points clear of bottom club Crystal Palace - and face Leicester who are 11th in their next WSL match in two weeks' time.
A performance like the one they produced against Chelsea should be too much for the Foxes, though.
