Thank you for joining me this afternoon for an absolute corker of a match! We will be back for live coverage of Liverpool v Chelsea with the blog getting started at 4pm. But before that have a read of Suzy Wrack’s report:
There is still more WSL action to come. West Ham v Everton and Leicester City v Tottenham both kicked off at 3pm, both games still 0-0 at the moment. And defending champions Chelsea get their title defence underway against newly promoted Liverpool at 5pm.
Aston Villa boss Carla Ward also spoke to the BBC after the record win, saying: “I’ve lost my voice. I’ve ran up and down I don’t know how many times. I fell to my knees I don’t know how many times as well.
“The girls were sensational today. I think the thing that pleased me the most was the resilience when we went behind.
“All week what we’ve said to them is be brave, be front-footed, be aggressive and they’ve done that today.”
And she added on Player of the Match Rachel Daly: “[She will be] massive. Believe it or not she was unwell yesterday and this morning. We didn’t know after team breakfast if she was going to play and she’s gone out and produced that today.
“She’s a winner, she sets standards, she gets after people but she can play for sure.”
Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor has told the BBC: “It’s a tough one to take and I think that shows everything. I thought we were off it a little bit in the first half, got a lifeline just before half-time and then turned the game around in ten minutes of the second half.
“At that point we looked like we were finding our rhythm but if you come away and score three goals and still don’t get anything out of the game - even a draw - it tells you everything about what we were like without the ball.
“It’s a tough start, it’s not the start we wanted but we’ve been in tough positions before but we fight back, roll our sleeves up and get back to work next week.”
I have just seen an impressive stat on Twitter, coming from Jessy, who wrote Villa scored 30.7% of the number of goals they slotted last season in today’s match. Carla Ward must be so happy with the performance.
Here’s a look at Daly’s second of the afternoon and what proved to be the match winner:
A rapid counter from @AVWFCOfficial and @RachelDaly3 has her second!#BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/u2k1WjExgf
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) September 18, 2022
Daly had the dream debut for Villa with a brace and great game management from the England international. When Villa signed her this summer everyone knew it was a great bit of business and she didn’t waste any time in providing evidence as to why.
The season has started awfully for Man City, being booted out of the Champions League by Real Madrid and now losing their WSL opener. Criticism will come for Gareth Taylor with a substitution call in the match against Villa being questionable. After City went ahead he took off Chloe Kelly, who had been a key part of their comeback. City didn’t score again and there was a shift in their dominance in Kelly’s absence. Let me know your thoughts via Twitter and email.
The only way to sum up the match is the caption on this Villa tweet:
What. A. Game. #BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/VTjGKGNkko
— Aston Villa Women (@AVWFCOfficial) September 18, 2022
Oh my! The BBC have just said that is the first time City have lost their WSL opener since 2014. That has got to hurt for City, especially after getting into the lead.
Full time: Aston Villa 4-3 Manchester City
Aston Villa have beaten Manchester City for the first time in the Women’s Super League! They went into half-time 2-1 up but City came out the blocks firing with Gareth Taylor’s side coming back 3-2. But Villa did not let it affect them and they scored two more to make sure they came away with three points. A cracking win for Villa and a stunning game.
90 + 8 min: Daly has been subbed to a standing ovation with McLoughlin on in her place.
90 + 6 min: Daly was on the floor with an injury but she will remain on the pitch. Villa have a free kick as Daly is fouled, the game management here is so good. They want this piece of WSL history, they are so close.
90 + 4 min: Hemp, who has been stellar for City today, gets in another great position but it doesn’t connect in the box. They do win a corner though, Castellanos puts it in but it is headed away. Villa go on the counter but Raso wins it back. City are desperate to get a point here but they run it out of play.
90 + 2 min: Fans in Villa Park booed that announcement for seven minutes added but it does feel justified given the breaks for medical treatment in this second 45. Nearly 7,000 in Villa Park today.
90 min: City win a free kick but they will have to build from deep here. In their build-up they win a throw but it is stolen by Villa and Gielnik comes through. Her attempt is soft an City are on the attack once more. There will be seven minutes added.
88 min: Daly has been named Player of the Match with Fara Williams on comms saying Corsie almost got the award. But Daly has scored two goals on her debut. Villa are so close to winning this but you can never count City out …
86 min: Villa wins another free kick, this is good game management from the hosts. Roebuck was off her line and Daly quickly triggers a shot but it needed more control to be on target.
84 min: Jeez that was close! Morgan puts in a powerful shot which just grazes over the bar. Daly is fouled and wins a free kick, just six minutes for Villa to make WSL history as they have never taken a point off of City in the league. Gielnik almost has Villa’s fifth but Roebuck manages to collect.
82 min: For neutrals this is an absolute thriller, for Villa and City fans it will be exciting but nervous! This game could still go either way. Villa are on the press after sloppy work from City but Gielnik’s shot is caught by Roebuck.
80 min: Fowler puts in a shot, Hampton comes out to collect and she collides with Hemp. Villa win a free kick from that and Hemp comes over to apologise to Hampton. Villa are making changes with Lehmann and Blindkilde are off for Gielnik and Gregory.
78 min: Roebuck blocks a shot and it rebounded off her legs, Daly was there to tap it home. Can City get back into this again? A cracking match! There is a lot of time to get back into it and City are coming through! Hemp put in a great cross but again no one can connect.
GOAL! Aston Villa 4-3 Manchester City (Daly, 76)
A howler for Roebuck! She saves a shot but doesn’t control and Daly pounces on it! What a debut for the star.
Updated
74 min: Pacheco is staying on the pitch, Raso receives a yellow card for the challenge. City are coming forward but a miscommunication between Raso and Castellanos means an opportunity is missed. City came through once more but Turner puts in a great atckle on Raso to close down the chance.
72 min: Pacheco is down and that looks painful. AS she receives treatment the crowd applaud Queen Elizabeth II in the 70th minute to honour her 70 years on the throne. Pacheco is still not back to her feet, it looks as though she hit her head on the floor.
70 min: Both sides are vying to find the winner at Villa Park, City on the prowl. Hemp puts in a pinpoint cross for Shaw, who again can’t get it in the net. She was inches away there with Hampton nowhere near being able to save it. That was the last action for Shaw as she is subbed off for Castellanos.
68 min: Hemp again gets the ball in a great position, Shaw gets a head to it but again she can’t put it in target. Morgan fouls Hanson and so there’s a Villa free kick. So much action in this one, it is sizzling! The set piece is awful for Villa and City get an opportunity but Taylor’s side can’t capitalise.
66 min: Villa steam forward, Dali takes a shot but it’s blocked. Villa are patient on the ball and are taking their time in building attack, they don’t want to settle for a draw.
64 min: Raso makes a good run into the box but Villa defend well. City wrestle it back, Hemp takes a shot but Corsie blocks and concedes a corner. Greenwood belts the ball in but Shaw’s header goes over the bar.
62 min: Shaw is limping slightly but she isn’t being taken off. Villa are doing well to press City, they have ran them back to their keeper but the visitors are still in possession.
60 min: This is a tasty match! Dali will be awarded that goal as it was on target but, frustratingly for City, if Greenwood hadn’t got in the way Roebuck could have saved it. There’s a slight break in play as Daly and Shaw receive some treatment but they will both remain on the pitch.
Updated
GOAL! Aston Villa 3-3 Manchester City (Dali, 58)
Wow!! That came from a goal kick and Dali reads it well whose strike from outside the box goes in! It deflects off of Greenwood but I think it will be awarded to Dali. What a match!
Updated
56 min: Kelly put a great cross in and Coombs took a touch and hits home. Hampton should have done better there. Taylor is almost laughing in disbelief at how quickly his team have gone ahead here. Villa are in trouble.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-3 Manchester City (Coombs, 55)
Oh my! Two minutes later and City are ahead, a great finish from Coombs. Wow.
Updated
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 Manchester City (Shaw, 53)
Whatever Taylor said at half-time has worked with City coming to life! Turner concedes a corner to give the visitors another opportunity to level the game. Kelly takes the kick and it’s a soft one for Villa to conceded. Houghton heads it to Shaw, whose header slots into the bottom corner.
Updated
51 min: Kelly puts in a cross but it’s headed away by Turner, who is down after clearing that ball. She collided with Shaw but it is the power of the ball that has the player down, play has been paused as she receives treatment. She is remaining on the pitch as play gets back underway.
49 min: That defence from Daly saw a corner, it bundled round the box and came to Shaw for a header. Somehow her close range effort sails over the bar. It’s all City so far in this second 45.
47 min: City are building slowly but the cross in from Kelly has way too much on it it and sails out of play. City have another free kick as Dali fouls Kelly, Greenwood took the kick but Daly covers well.
Back underway! Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester City
Villa Park is back in full voice for this second half! Can Villa get their first WSL win over City or will Gareth Taylor’s side pull off a comeback? City have made a change with Fowler on for Angeldal.
The best goal of the game so far has to be by Villa debutant Rachel Daly. The celebration was great too, have a look:
Like she never left!@RachelDaly3 gets her first goal for @AVWFCOfficial in the #BarclaysWSL! pic.twitter.com/A6nFMROlyq
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) September 18, 2022
Half-time: Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester City
Well City will be happy to pull a goal back there after being completely dominated by Villa. Lehmann and Daly saw the game 2-0 up but Coombs got City back into the match. An interesting second 45 to come.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester City (Coombs, 45)
Hampton got a hand to that but she can’t control the strike and it goes in!
Updated
44 min: City are yet to get a real foothold in this match, Villa have been great in defence and attack so far. Lehmann fouls though and City have a free kick. They are using it to play out from the back.
42 min: Villa come forward again, this is an impressive performance by the hosts. City win it back though and they look to play out from their own half. Villa wrestle it back int he midfield but Daly’s pass has too much on it.
40 min: It is still all Villa and they are hunting for their third of the afternoon. Lehmann puts in a slick pass to Mayling who wins a corner. The ball is drilled in and Patten gets a head to it but it goes wide.
38 min: City win a free kick after Pacheco fouls Hemp. Kelly takes the kick with a good delivery but Villa head away. The ball comes back in but Hampton again collects, the goalkeeper sends Villa back on their way. Daly is dispossessed outside the area and City look to find their way onto the scoreboard.
36 min: City are playing loose in the midfield and it isn’t paying off. They are losing possession here, there and everywhere – so unlike City.
34 min: Daly was happy with that! If Villa can win today it will be the first time they have ever beaten City in the WSL. City need to do something and soon. Kelly looks to do just that with a cracking shot from outside the box but Hampton collects.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-0 Manchester City (Daly, 32)
Villa come forward again and Hanson, who is on loan from Man United, wins a corner for the hosts. City look as though they had cleared it but Villa recover it well, it finds Daly who spins and scores! Debut goal for her.
Updated
30 min: City are going through the motions but it is the last touches that are letting them down. Shaw gets the ball in a good position, she gets a header away but Hampton collects.
28 min: Roebuck has a sloppy kick out which is almost closed down once again by Villa. Carla Ward’s side’s high press is proving the difference so far. Coombs puts in a pass to Kelly but she is offside. Jill Scott is present here and she is sharing her Euro 2022 medal with the children sat by her.
26 min: City are coming to life a bit here, they need to be the next to score. But they give the ball away again in the midfield, missing that defensive streak from Keira Walsh. Hemp came steaming forward but she is judged offside.
24 min: Roebuck will be disappointed with that, she didn’t even get a fingertip to Lehmann’s deft touch. Daly was instrumental in that goal, nabbing the ball in a fantastic position. Hanson is now coming forward, it comes back out for Daly whose shot sails over the bar.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City (Lehmann, 22)
Well, well, well! Daly nabs the ball and Lehmann has a great strike to beat Roebuck!
Updated
20 min: Shaw should have had the opener there! Hemp does what Hemp does and creates a great cross but it skims across her toes. So close! City come forward again but Turner defends well and she chests the ball to Hampton.
18 min: Kelly storms forward but she puts a bit too much on the ball and Villa come away with it. Again City come forward but new signing Dali nabs it away.
Updated
16 min: Villa steal the ball in a great position through Daly but Lehmann loses it. Villa are starting to grow into this, City still have the majority of possession but Villa are clinical in defence.
14 min: Throw ins exchange hands, the game has slowed down in the last few minutes but Villa will be happy they have kept City out so far. Villa cross into the box but it only finds a City boot.
12 min: City are keeping the ball to take the buzz out of the hosts’ momentum but Pacheco wins another goal kick.
10 min: Kelly took the kick but again Villa close it down. Morgan passed back to Roebuck which doesn’t connect and City concede an sloppy corner. City deal with it well but that was uncharacteristic of City to concede a corner like that.
8 min: Villa have had their first sustained period of possession to steady the ship and halt some City momentum. But it’s not long until City are back in control with Lehmann conceding a corner from Hemp.
6 min: Turner makes a good challenge and wins a goal kick, Villa are stepping up to the defensive challenge so far.
4 min: Greenwood takes the kick but Villa clear it well. City win a free kick, Greenwood takes it but Villa again deal well and they launch a counter. Angeldal defends well but Villa get it back and Dali gets the first chance but it’s off target.
2 min: City have had the majority of the early possession but Villa put them under pressure in their box – but the visitors dealt with it well. Kelly looked to cross but it was blocked by Pacheco for the first corner.
Kick-off! Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester City
There was a period of silence followed by the national anthem for the late monarch. We are now underway at Villa Park.
We are just moments from kick-off but first there will be a tribute to The Queen.
Taylor has described Keira Walsh’s departure as a “big loss” on the BBC just now. Walsh left late in the window and it came after City had rejected an offer from Barcelona which meant the Spanish giants spent a record fee on the midfielder. It is intriguing to see how they play without, arguably, the best player in the world right now.
Jon has got in touch on Twitter and said: “Looking forward to more WSL games today, Villa showing desire to progress with some good signings namely Rachel Daly. I’d imagine Man City will be looking for a better season than last but it’s concerning that they have lost a few good players over the summer!” It will be so interesting to see how all the new signings impact today’s match.
Man City’s manager Gareth Taylor has asked for fans patience as they club has seen a huge turnover in players this summer.
Numerous stars have left or retired and Taylor says it will take time for the new squad to get in the flow. “I would ask them to be patient because we’ve really invested in the future with these [new] players,” he said. “There’s going to naturally be a fair-sized turnover at some point when you look at the nature of the group that left. They had given us really good service and three of the players had retired. With that, we had to be on the front foot with our recruitment and we were.” Read the full piece:
Ahead of the WSL season we wrote some previews on each team, including analysis of their transfer windows and what they are doing to increase ticket sales.
Have a read of Villa and City’s here:
Manchester United and Arsenal are joint top of the table after both recording 4-0 wins in round one but there are four matches in the league today so the clubs could be knocked off top spot.
Villa and City will both be aiming you do so but it will be a tough feat, they will have to win by five goals!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this afternoon’s match, the return of the WSL or even what you are up to today!
You can reach me on Twitter, @rendellx, or via email.
The teams
Apologies for the delay on team updates, my laptop had a meltdown! Here they are:
Villa: Hampton, Mayling, Patten, Turner, Pacheco, Dali, Corsie (c), Blindkilde, Lehmann, Daly, Hanson
Manchester City: Roebuck, Morgan, Houghton c), Greenwood, Stokes, Aleixandri, Angeldahl, Coombs, Kelly, Shaw, Hemp
Updated
Preamble
Good morning and welcome back to the first round of the 2022/23 Women’s Super League season. So far this weekend fans have seen two 4-0 results with Arsenal routing Brighton and Manchester United demolishing Reading.
We now turn to Aston Villa v Manchester City in what is set to be an interesting match. It will be a chance for supporters to see how City function without a multitude of stars who left during the transfer window. The likes of Caroline Weir, Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze departed with Ellen White and Jill Scott retiring.
City have done some shrewd work in the window bringing in players such as Laia Aleixandri and Leila Ouahabi. But how they line-up and how they perform will be an interesting watch this afternoon.
For Villa they get to test themselves against one of the ‘Big Three’ which will be a good challenge provided they are targeting a higher table position this season. Carla Ward’s side claimed ninth last campaign and their star signing of England’s Rachel Daly this summer should help them climb a few spots.
The team news will be out shortly so stay tuned for all updates ahead of kick-off at 12.30
