WSL: Man City start season with win at Aston Villa - as it happened

1. Stanway taps in both Man City goals after defensive mistakes
2. Villa have goal incorrectly disallowed for offside
3. Opening game of 2020-21 Women's Super League season
4. Man City finished second last season on points-per-game after Covid-19 ended campaign early
5. Villa playing first top-flight game after promotion from Championship

Thanks for joining me

The FA

That concludes our live coverage of the opening game of the WSL season.

It's a winning start for Manchester City.

We'll see you again tomorrow for five more games.

Until then, take care.

Man City boss Gareth Taylor told BT Sport:

"I was pleased with some moments but I didn't think we played our game as progressively as we can.

"They had a goal disallowed that was onside so it could have been a lot closer but we're pleased to get the three points from our first game. I expect us to improve.

"Georgia Stanway will be pleased to have scored a couple of goals but she probably should have had a hat-trick."

Coming up tomorrow

Don't forget, you can watch Arsenal v Reading [12:30 BST] live on the BBC Red Button, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app tomorrow, as the opening weekend continues.

We'll have live text commentary of that game, and all the other four fixtures on Sunday, right here online tomorrow.

Man City goalscorer Georgia Stanway told BT Sport:

"We've not played for a long time so it's good to get that first game out of the way

"Scoring two was probably generous - I should have had about a hundred. Hopefully next week I'll bring my shooting boots."

Man City show 'glimpses'

Laura Bassett

Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

It was a really interesting performance from City. We saw flashes in the first half that when they went forward they looked really strong.

But they wasted so many chances in front of goal that it could have been six or seven up.

You can definitely tell they are under new management and are trying to imprint what he wants from them.

FT: Aston Villa 0-2 Man City

This is the part of the afternoon now that will arguably feel the strangest, in the WSL.

Normally, players would now mingle with fans, pose for selfies and sign autographs for at least 20, 25 minutes. It's normally a great sight, and a fairly unique offering that the WSL usually provides for supporters.

That's not possible today of course.

Both sets of players are warming down on the pitch with some stretches.

Positives for Villa

Laura Bassett

Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

We've seen glimpses from Aston Villa and they have really grown as a group through this game.

They can look back, reflect and learn from it. They must put this to bed, learn from the positives and promise themselves not to make those mistakes again.

Now the first game is over, when there was probably some anxiety and nervous energy around the game, they can take a sigh of relief and know they got through it as a team.

They can rebuild, reflect honestly and know they can't make those mistakes in the WSL.

FT: Aston Villa 0-2 Man City

The full-time celebrations from City are relatively low key.

Villa had some good spells at the start of the second half but the visitors - who finished second last season, 0.1 points per game off the title - were certainly the better side.

Villa will be frustrated that two woeful first-half errors - and an incorrect offside decision against them when Stine Larsen thought she had scored - have cost them today.

FULL-TIME

It's a winning start to the season for Manchester City here at Villa Park.

CLOSE!

Chloe Kelly picks out Sam Mewis, unmarked on the edge of the area, but Mewis' effort is deflected and loops just over the Villa bar.

DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION (Aston Villa)

As three minutes of added time are signalled, Villa make two more changes, bringing off Diana Silva and Scotland's Chloe Arthur.

Jodie Hutton and Nadine Hanssen come on.

Chloe Kelly plays a lethal-looking low cross in to the box but Ellen White just can't quite reach it.

England winger Kelly has had a very good game, I'd say, with national team head coach Phil Neville watching on here at Villa Park.

A late Villa comeback is looking very unlikely now, with Man City in control as the clock ticks ever closer to the 90th minute.

SUBSTITUTION (Man City)

Man City's new boss Gareth Taylor brings on player-coach Jill Scott in midfield for the latter stages of this game, with Caroline Weir getting a rest.

The FA

Worth noting that, having gone unbeaten in the Championship last season as they earned promotion, Villa haven't lost a league game since April 2019.

They've got a lot of work to do in the final 10 minutes or so if they're to keep that up.

DISALLOWED GOAL

Man City substitute Ellen White has the ball in the net, but the flag is up, it won't count.

Her feet looked level but some of her upper body was just in an offside position. Good call by the assistant referee there.

Get Involved

Don't forget you can have your say on this game via #bbcfootball on social media.

Plenty to talk about, not least the absence of VAR which you could argue denied Aston Villa a goal towards the end of the first half.

SUBSTITUTION (Aston Villa)

Shania Hayles comes on for the hosts now, with winger Emma Follis coming off.

That sees Hayles go to the left of the front three, and Portugal's Diana Silva switch from the left to the right flank.

DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION (Aston Villa)

Asmita Ale and Emily Syme come on for the hosts, as Marisa Ewers and Alisha N'Dow go off.

SUBSTITUTION (Man City)

Here comes England star Ellen White, who replaces Janine Beckie.

Moments later, White slips the ball through to Georgia Stanway, who is denied by another strong save from Sian Rogers.