Man Utd beat Villa to ease pressure on Skinner

Nikita Parris fired home her 11th goal of the season in all competitions to put Manchester United 2-0 ahead against Aston Villa

Nikita Parris scored twice as Manchester United beat Aston Villa in the Women's Super League to ease the pressure on manager Marc Skinner.

Rachel Daly pulled one back for Villa from the penalty spot but United held on for their first league win of 2024.

United are 10 points behind WSL leaders Chelsea after inflicting Villa's first league loss since the winter break.

After weathering early Villa pressure, United took the lead after eight minutes when Parris flicked Garcia's inswinging cross from the left across goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar and inside the far post.

United then assumed control and doubled their lead as Garcia and Parris combined again.

The Spanish winger's curling shot from the edge of the area on 33 minutes was well tipped onto the post by Van Domselaar, but Parris was quickest to the rebound and slammed the ball into the empty net.

Villa improved after the break, and got back in the game after Daly went over in the area under pressure from Garcia following a corner. The England striker took the spot-kick herself and fired past Lionesses team-mate Mary Earps.

Parris at the double for United

It has been a tough few weeks for United manager Skinner so this victory - their first league win since 10 December - is a much-needed boost to their slim title hopes.

That lean spell has seen United slide out of the WSL title race and some fans call for the dismissal of Skinner, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

He needed a big response from his senior players and got it from Parris, now United's top WSL scorer this season with six goals.

England forward Parris was brought into the starting XI in place of Leah Galton and she led the line, with Brazilian forward Geyse pushed wide as United adopted a more attacking shape than they had away to Chelsea.

It paid dividends as they strode to a comfortable win against a Villa side whose dreadful record at United continues. Carla Ward's side have now lost all four of their WSL away games against United by an aggregate score of 15-1.

It also ends a bad week for Villa, who had won four of their last five fixtures to move away from relegation danger and came into this fixture with hopes of piling further misery on United.

Noelle Maritz started this fixture, after appearing in the League Cup win over Sunderland in midweek despite being cup-tied from appearances for Arsenal earlier this season in the competition, to leave Villa in hot water.