Own goal wins it for Chelsea in a disappointing performance against rugged Aston Villa - but they stay 10 points clear at top of WSL

By Paul Lagan at Villa Park
Aston Villa 0 v Chelsea 1
An own goal by Villa's Sarah Mayling gave Chelsea all three points in a match that the Blues did not deserve to win.
The champions struggled against Villa at the beginning of the season, but came away with a 1-0 win then.
This time round, while the home side were content to chance their luck on the counter-attack, they were determined not to let the Blues play their natural game.
Closing down space, playing high from the back when they had the ball and sitting deep with six across the back line when they did not have it almost worked.
It denied Chelsea any time to create any fluidity.
Those tactics by Villa meant it took a lot from their players and Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor, gradually turned the tide in their favour with timely substitutions – Mayra Ramirez in particular whose cross from the right was bundled over the line by the hapless Mayling eight minutes from time.
Chelsea remain on course to retain the title they are 10 points clear of Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Blues' attempt to score an early goal quickly dissipated after Villa's tactics of playing a high defence line prevented the west Londoners from getting into a smooth possession mode.
This caused the Blues defence to be stressed when Villa pushed forward, notably along the right flank.
This was clearly in evidence when on 14 minutes, goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made a hash of an attempted sliced clearance, instead the ball went directly to Gabi Nunes. The striker tried to loft the ball over Hampton's head, but she had recovered sufficiently to pluck the ball out of the air.
A Lauren James shot was deflected for a corner from which Nathalie Bjorn was unlucky to see her glancing header land on the top of the net.
Chelsea brought on Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (JoJo) for Reiten at half-time, but it made little initial difference to the Chelsea performance. This was easily the worst of the season. Villa were simple ,yet effective in their tactics. It required huge amount of energy, and Chelsea's best hope would be that the home side would get tired.
Sjoeke Nusken and Mayra Ramirez were brought on by Bompastor on 53 minutes, to add some pace, guile and strength to the west Londoners. Off went Aggie Beever-Jones and Wieke Kaptein.
Chelsea's first effort on goal came on 61 minutes when Catarina Macario created space for herself before having a shot from 20 yards. However it was straight at Sabrina D'Angelo who snaffled the effort.
She followed that up with a well-taken free-kick which D'Angelo, again did well to snatch at the base of her right-hand post.
That was the last action for Macario as she was replaced by Maika Hamano.
Villa were desperately unlucky on 72 minutes when a quick counter-attack saw Kirsty Hanson try her luck, on the left from 30 yards out. The ball sailed over Hampton by bounced out after hitting the crossbar.
Keira Walsh made her Chelsea debut with 14 minutes left on the clock – off went James.
With eight minutes left, the Blues took the lead and it was an own goal by Mayling. Ramirez, on the right cut the ball across the six-yard box, Hamano was challenging but the defender stuck her leg out and deflected the ball in to the net.
It was the luck of champions and Chelsea saw out the added six minutes successfully.
Teams: Chelsea Hampton, Bright, Cuthbert, Macario, James, Reiten, Lawrence, Bjorn, Kaptein, Charles, Beever-Jones
Subs: Liefting, Nusken, Ramirez, Rytting Kaneryd (JoJo), Hamano, Mpome, Jean-Francois, Walsh, Brown
Villa: D'Angelo, Mayling, Patten, Nobbs, Daly, Parker, Maritz, Hanson, Baijings, Grant, Nunes
Subs: Talbert, Tomas, Robinson, Turner, Salmon, Leon, Taylor
Referee: Lisa Bern
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