Everton stringing some nice football together at times but it's just falling apart a bit when they get near the Villa box.

Postpublished at 30 mins

30 mins

Aston Villa 0-0 Everton

Oof, Villa's Sarah Mayling takes a ball right to the face and that will smart.

Another stoppage.

Brosnan is down now, receiving treatment. Not sure if she hurt herself making that save as it was a pretty routine one.

The other players take the chance to get some fluids and have impromptu teamtalks.

That's the first save from Toffees keeper Courtney Brosnan.

Rachel Daly pounces on a misplaced Everton pass in midfield to drive at the visitors' defence and feed Kenza Dali, whose low shot is on target but comfortable for Brosnan.

Image source, Getty Images

These sides began today two points and one point off the relegation spot respectively.

Such lowly positions are mostly down to their lack of goals - Villa have just nine from eight games, Everton even fewer with five.

More needed in the final third from both.

Everton playing their goal-kicks very short and trying to build from the back.

The tactic is reaping rewards to be fair as they're beating the Villa press.

Bit of drama as Justine Vanhaevermaet and Maz Pacheco inadvertently bump shoulders and get into a bit of argy-bargy.

No yellows there but there is a booking moments later for Everton right-back Karen Holmgaard after she cynically brings down Villa winger Kirsty Hanson.

Villa's turn to win a corner thanks to the busy Kirsty Hanson down the left as her low cross is cut out and put behind.

Easily cleared. Defences on top, cliche alert.

As if to hammer home that point, Everton break but Sarah Mayling blocks a Heather Payne cross behind for a corner at the other end.

Danielle Turner does not heed the calls of Villa keeper Daphne van Domselaar and heads a near-post cross out for a corner when the stopper wanted to collect.

No matter - the Dutchwoman comes out to emphatically claim the flag-kick.

Image source, Getty Images

Villa's men's team won at Tottenham earlier today. Everton's men are behind against Manchester United.

But here, the two clubs' women's teams are locked level. The Toffees looking the more comfortable, mind.

Decent free-kick floated into the box by Villa's Kenza Dali with plenty of claret and blue shirts in the vicinity but Justine Vanhaevermaet rises highest to head the danger clear. Towering effort.

Image source, Getty Images

The Villa faithful are trying to get behind their side, who look a tad nervy - perhaps the hosts have their recent poor home record at the forefront of their minds.

They've posed no real danger to Everton as of yet, other than an overhit Adriana Leon cross.

Cracking turn in the box from Toffees striker Katja Snoeijs but she can't find the finish to match, curling straight at Villa keeper Daphne van Domselaar.

First threat comes from Everton down the right and Heather Payne's pull-back is begging to be put away but there's no one in a blue shirt in the right place to do so.

Let-off for Villa who have been vulnerable defensively this season.

Rachel Daly gets us under way as Aston Villa go in search of a first home WSL win of the season.

This game is being played at Villa Park - Villa's women split their games between there and Walsall.

Image source, Getty Images

There was surprise news out of Everton last weekend when midfielder Nicoline Sorensen announced she will retire during the WSL winter break, aged just 26, as she is no longer enjoying football.

Sorensen has made herself available for the three WSL matches before the break - including at Villa today - and Everton could well do with her help, having accrued just five points from their first seven league games.

Everton manager Brian Sorensen, despite sadness at her decision, praised his fellow Dane for stopping football due to her lack of enjoyment - saying he would do the same.

"If I was not happy coaching I would go back to building houses," he said. "You have to do what makes you happy.

"It sticks out. Not many make that choice, but she is a smart girl. She had an injury for 15 months, that changed something in her. She tried to find motivation but couldn't - not that she didn't give everything."

While Nicoline Sorensen is available, striker Martina Piemonte is not after the Italian was given a three-game ban on Friday for violent conduct during Everton's 2-2 draw with Bristol City last weekend.

• Aston Villa have won two of their six WSL games against Everton (L4), though both victories have come away from home.
• Everton have won all three of their WSL away games against Aston Villa, scoring eight goals and conceding none in reply.
• Having lost their first five WSL games this season, Aston Villa have now won their last two. However, both of these wins have come away from home.
• Since beating Leicester 5-0 in March, Aston Villa are winless in six WSL home games (D1 L5). They’ve conceded at least three goals in five of these games, shipping 21 goals overall.
• Everton are the lowest goalscorers in the WSL so far this season (5), while only Bristol City and West Ham (4 each) have fewer points than the Toffees (5).
• Aston Villa have conceded more goals in the final 30 minutes of WSL games than any other side this season (11). They’ve also dropped more points from winning positions than any other side so far (9).
• Everton have kept just one clean sheet in their last 15 WSL games, a 1-0 win at Liverpool last month.