4-0 Aston Villa Women defeat comes against top WSL side | OneFootball

It was always going to be a difficult task for the Aston Villa Women. Losing to the Manchester United team under Marc Skinner isn't unexpected or alone cause for concern. In the 4-0 defeat at home, however, the team found it hard to get into the match.

AVFCW showed a lot of energy and pushed to at least break the opposition's clean sheet, even deep into the 90. It was, however, clear that the two sides are on opposite ends of the league table for a reason. That being said, even in a lopsided defeat, however, there were some moments of positivity.

Sabrina D'Angelo had good moments in net. She was under a constant attack from the United players throughout the day at Villa Park. Still, she had two incredible saves in particular that stood out. A looping header that realistically should have found the back of the net was punched out by the Canadian. Later on, her quality was once again showcased with a diving block to her left side.

No keeper wants to see four scored against them. She will likely take ownership and look for areas of improvement for herself in terms of positioning and command of her box. The same will equally be true of defenders who were involved and midfielders to help retain possession better. Having someone back there that can still show flashes of brilliance, even in a poor outing, has to be encouraging for Villa fans.

Mayumi Pacheco also came on and showed some willingness and ability to challenge the opposition off the dribble. It can be easier sometimes to provide a spark off the bench, so this isn't to criticize those who were part of the starting XI. Facing this Skinner side was always going to be difficult. Her finding some success down the left-hand side could result in seeing an increased run of play.

Words from the Aston Villa Women manager

Speaking after the match, Natalia Arroyo shared with Sky Sports her assessment of the current situation. She seemed more encouraged than not and urged her players to show the same spirit as what she saw in the second half. Playing loose and like there isn't anything to lose can work in a situation like what AVWFC is in.

With Crystal Palace also dropping a result over the weekend and having a tougher slate ahead, avoiding relegation is still possible for this team. They will, however, need to have moments on the pitch that aren't seen as sparks and instead have those good moments become a more regular part of their play. Sometimes, with backs against the wall and playing more with a reckless abandonment, particularly up front, it can prove to be the difference and catalyst for a mid-season WSL turnaround. Arroyo and the players are searching for answers, but they also know reversing their current fortunes is possible with this current group on the roster.