Aston Villa get into the Bristol City half for the first time but the move soon breaks down as Jordan Nobbs' wayward pass gifts possession back to the visitors.

Most of the game is being played in the Aston Villa half at the moment with Bristol City pressing high up the pitch.

It's been very scrappy, though, with neither side able to keep hold of the ball for more than a few seconds.

Bristol City kick-off and we're under way in Walsall.

The teams are out at the Poundland Bescot Stadium with Aston Villa in their traditional claret and blue and Bristol City wearing their yellow and green away kit.

Stacey Pearson is the referee for today's game. Kick-off is just a few moments away.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Since the start of last season, only Khadija Shaw (33) has scored more WSL goals than Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly (28).

The only side she has faced in that time without scoring against is Bristol City (one game earlier this season).

However, Daly being on the scoresheet isn't necessarily good news for Villa. The striker has scored in six WSL matches this season and lost four of them.

In fact, she now shares the league record for most games (9) scored in but still ending up on the losing side with Fara Williams.

Image source, Getty Images

Despite a disappointing season in which they have lost eight of their first 12 games, Aston Villa are still only six points off Liverpool in fifth.

While they will believe a strong finish to the campaign could get them there, they still have work to do to ensure they don't get dragged into a relegation scrap.

With that in mind, Carla Ward has made it clear how important she believes today's game is.

“I’ve said it a few times this season, it’s ‘must-win’,” she told reporters.

“Bristol City are fighting, I’ve seen comments that every game is a cup final for them now.

"They need to find points, they need to pick points up from anywhere to try and stay in the division, so it won’t be easy, it wasn’t easy when we went there neither.

“It’s going to be very difficult. We have to be prepared to be frustrated because I think they will definitely try to do that.”

Image source, Getty Images

Bristol City manager Lauren Smith insists that her side are "not down and out" as they fight to stay in the WSL.

The Robins are bottom, three points from safety, with just five points from 12 games.

“We had a few honest conversations about where we are, but I think keeping it positive in the fact that we are still only one win away from where we already were," Smith told reporters.

“It’s not like everything suddenly slipped away from us and we are talking about being down and out. There is a real kind of bit between the teeth of the players on the [training] pitch.

“It [getting off the bottom] is within touching distance because it is only three points. Are we going into battle every single weekend? Absolutely.”

• Aston Villa are unbeaten across their three WSL meetings with Bristol City (W2 D1), including a 2-0 away win earlier this season.
• This will be just the second time Bristol City have travelled to face Aston Villa in the WSL after April 2021 when the Robins came from 2-0 behind at half-time to draw 2-2.
• None of Aston Villa’s last 13 WSL games have ended as a draw (W5 L8) since a 3-3 draw with Liverpool last May. Villa are the only side without a draw in the WSL this season.
• Bristol City have just five points in their 12 WSL games this season (W1 D2 L9), the fewest at this stage by a newly promoted side since Yeovil Town had no points in 2017-18.
• Aston Villa halted a four-game home WSL losing run with victory over Brighton in their last game of 2023. The Villans have never won consecutive home games in the competition, with this their 39th home game.

Both sides find themselves in the bottom half of the WSL table with Villa in eighth and Bristol City three points adrift at the bottom of the table...

Image source, BBC/ Getty

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa signed Liverpool's Miri Taylor on loan until the end of the season and the midfielder is on the bench this afternoon.

The 23-year-old Englishwoman scored only one goal in six games for Liverpool since joining from Angel City in January 2023.

Laura Blindkilde Brown left Villa for Manchester City earlier on Wednesday.

Villa made only one permanent signing in the January transfer window, bringing in Switzerland defender Noelle Maritz from Arsenal.

"Miri is someone we looked at in the summer," said Villa boss Carla Ward.

"She's someone who has a great physique and can break up play. She can play in a number of positions. She's a very welcome addition at this point."

On Blindkilde Brown's exit, Ward added: "When the call came in, the first thought was 'absolutely no chance'. But as you are all aware, I've seen it reported and I think we said it ourselves, she had a clause in there.

"I think she's an unbelievable talent. I'm personally gutted she's no longer here."

Aston Villa make two changes to the side who were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United last weekend.

One of those is enforced, with Laura Blindkilde Brown having left to join Manchester City on transfer deadline day, while forward Alisha Lehmann is benched.

To replace them, Villa manager Carla Ward starts Kirsty Hanson and Maz Pacheco.

Aston Villa XI: Van Domselaar; Mayling, Patten, Corsie, Nobbs, Daly, Dali, Hanson, Leon, Maritz, Pacheco.

Subs: Poor, Leat, Lehmann, Gregory, Salmon, Mullett, Magill, Taylor.

Image source, BBC Sport

January signing Lisa Evans makes her full debut for Bristol City as the Women's Super League's bottom-placed side look to move up the table.

She came on as a substitute in the Vixens' defeat by relegation rivals West Ham on Sunday, and there are four changes from that match.

Satara Murray, who went off with an injury, is absent from the squad, while Sille Struck, Mari Ward and Abi Harrison drop to the bench.

Naomi Layzell, Emily Syme and Ffion Morgan - who registered an assist last weekend - are introduced alongside Evans.

Bristol City XI: Yanez; Powell, Connolly, Layzell, Napier, Jones, Syme, Rodgers, Morgan, Evans, Thestrup.

Subs: Clark, Struck, Harrison, Hayles, Bull, Stratigakis, Ward, Slocombe.

Image source, BBC Sport

Before we go any further, let's have a look at the line-ups...

Image source, Getty Images

After a flurry of late deals and a shock manager sacking, it is back to the action on the pitch in the WSL.

The Bescot Stadium is the venue for today's game as Aston Villa take on bottom side Bristol City.

It's been a frustrating campaign for Carla Ward's side after such a promising end to last season, while the visitors have struggled on their return to the top-flight.

But with 10 games to go, a positive run between now and May could make things look very different...