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Manchester United were held to a third consecutive draw, following their goalless stalemate with Aston Villa at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday.
United remain unbeaten in the WSL this season but are now in fifth place, seven points adrift of table leaders Manchester City. The Reds have a game in hand.
On yet another occasion, Marc Skinner’s side were flat and uninspiring against a team that was bottom of the standings before the late kick-off but moved back out of the relegation zone immediately after the 0-0 result.
Villa started on a high note, with striker Gabi Nunes almost punishing Phallon Tullis-Joyce. The United goalkeeper, in an effort to play out from the back, failed to get the ball away quick enough. Nunes almost tacked her on the goal lines but fortunately, the United shot-stopper managed to hold on to possession.
The visitors seemed up for it and United were seemingly happy to stay back and try to hit them on the break. At around the quarter-hour mark, United could have threatened the Villa goal when Melvine Malard was presented with the opportunity to play in Ella Toone down the right. Malard failed to make something of this chance and it snuffed out.
On the other end, Tullis-Joyce was forced to intervene after Rachel Daly fired one from range.
Villa were at it again moments later when their high press forced Tullis-Joyce into an awkward pass. Former Red Kirty Hanson reacted the fastest to latch onto it before attempting a shot that the United goalkeeper swatted away. The rebound fell to Nobbs but Tullis-Joyce brilliantly recovered to tip it over the bar.
United got a little bit of a foothold in the game via Celin Bizet, who curled in a cross into the path of a diving Malard. Malard’s header went just wide. Soon after, Malard set up Elisabeth Terland but yet again, the header didn’t hit the target.
Another good opportunity came about for the visitors when United lost possession while attempting to play out from the back. Chasity Grant’s cross found Nunes in the six-yard box, but Tullis-Joyce was quick to gather her shot.
Two minutes were added on and United were certainly lucky to head down the tunnel with the score still level. To highlight this, Terland – who cut a lonely and frustrated figure up front – attempted just three passes in the opening 45 minutes.
Skinner’s players started the second period slightly better. Malard charged down the right and sent a cross that was headed back to summer signing Dominique Jannsen, who fired narrowly wide. Ella Toone also put in a dangerous cross but it was punched away before it could develop any further.
Geyse was thrust into the action and looked to make an immediate impact as she pinched the ball from Dani Turner to find Toone inside the box. Toone aimed a shot at the Villa goal but Sabrina D’Angelo denied her.
Tullis-Joyce also tipped a Hanson corner over the crossbar while United were under pressure from the visitors.
Both teams pushed to try and get the winner but ultimately, had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Up next for United is a trip away to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City in a week’s time.
Feature image Matt McNulty via Getty Images
