Manchester United were held to a goalless draw at home by Aston Villa as their winless run stretched to three matches.

The hosts were second-best throughout, managing just one shot on target and being dominated in possession by a Villa team who taken just two points from their first six fixtures and lost all three previous away matches.

Villa started the game at the foot of the table, courtesy of Everton’s draw at Crystal Palace earlier in the day, but began with a determination to rectify that and their first Women’s Super League point away to United ultimately moved them back up to 11th.

The visitors had much the better of the opening 45 minutes but a familiar shortcoming in front of goal – they had scored just six in as many matches prior to this game – saw them fail to capitalise.

Inside three minutes, Gabi Nunes put pressure on Phallon Tullis-Joyce after she dwelt on a backpass and the Manchester United goalkeeper only just managed to scramble the ball away a few yards from her own goalline.

The American was by far the busier, producing her best save to tip over Jordan Nobbs’ half-volley midway through the half, although she found Nunes’ ambitious backheel easier to deal with after Chasity Grant had won possession close to United’s penalty area.

Grant’s hopes of breaking the deadlock just before half-time were thwarted by a good block by Gabby George, whose challenge inside the area ensured the hosts went in at the break level.

United’s only chance of the half was probably the best either side created but Melvine Malard headed wastefully wide from Celin Bizet’s inviting 26th-minute cross.

The home side improved marginally after the interval but it was Tullis-Joyce who was extended again in the 69th minute when she was forced to tip over Kirsty Hanson’s inswinging corner which was dropping under her crossbar.

Such was Villa’s dominance of play it took until the 73rd minute for United to record a shot on target but even then Ella Toone chipped straight at Sabrina D’Angelo from substitute Geyse’s cross.

However, unsurprisingly it was Villa who had the chance to snatch victory in the 90th minute but George timed her tackle perfectly to prevent Katie Robinson converting a cross at the near post.

In the 13 minutes of added time, United finally ramped up the pressure but 10 touches in the opposition penalty area over the course of the entire game minutes told its own story after a third draw in a row.