England international Rachel Daly fired Aston Villa to Women’s Super League victory at Leicester as the visitors survived a late onslaught.

Daly’s 16th-minute strike, her fifth league goal of the season, ultimately clinched a 1-0 win at the Pirelli Stadium. 

But the visitors were indebted to defender Sarah Mayling for a late goal-line clearance from City substitute Ava Baker and keeper Daphne van Domselaar for a string of fine saves.

Carla Ward’s side bounced back from their 3-0 FA Cup defeat by Everton on their return to WSL action, in the process extending Leicester’s run without a win to 11 games in all competitions.

Villa enjoyed the better of the early stages with Noelle Maritz going close with a 15th-minute shot after being set up by Laura Blinkilde Brown.

They went ahead second later when, after Daly’s first-time shot from Adriana Leon’s cross had been blocked, she followed up to drill the rebound past Janina Leitzig.

It might have been 2-0 within six minutes had Leitzig not got a hand to Alisha Lehmann’s shot after she had been played in by Leon.

The Foxes started to work their way into the game with Jutta Rantala prominent 

But the visitors looked capable of adding to their tally, although the failed to make the most of a 30th-minute free-kick in a promising area after Courtney Nevin had been booked for tugging back Leon.

Shannon O’Brien had a chance to level 10 minutes before the break when Yuka Momiki’s cross reached her at the far post, but she headed tamely at keeper Van Domselaar.

Leon smashed a 44th-minute shot just over the angle of bar and post after Anna Patten had played her in over the top, and Villa went in at the break a goal to the good.

The home side went close within five minutes of the restart when Van Domselaar had to make a fine save to deny Momiki, but opposite number Leitzig had to be equally resilient to keep out Leon’s 59th-minute attempt.

Rose blazed wastefully over the top with 19 minutes remaining. 

But the Foxes came desperately close to an 87th-minute equaliser when Van Domselaar saved Rose’s initial attempt before full-back Mayling was perfectly placed on the line to block Baker’s follow-up.