Aston Villa 1-1 Brighton: Julia Olme snatches point for WSL strugglers

Brighton earned a potentially vital point at Aston Villa as they battle against relegation from the Women's Super League.

The visitors handed Villa the lead when Kayleigh Green turned a cross into her own net on 32 minutes.

However, they snatched a second-half equaliser through Julia Olme following a Villa defensive mix-up.

A draw lifts Brighton five points above bottom club Leicester, who were beaten by Manchester City earlier.

Jens Scheuer's side are on eight points from 10 games after earning their first point under the German coach, while Villa stay sixth in the WSL with 17 points from 12 matches.

Brighton are yet to win a game under new boss Jens Scheuer and sit right in the mix of the relegation battle.

They showed fight on Saturday, pressing Villa much higher up the pitch in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser.

Villa substitute Laura Blindkilde gave the ball away deep in her own half, allowing Brighton to advance.

Hannah Hampton parried away the first attempt from Veatriki Sarri but had no chance on the rebound from Olme, the Swede picking an ideal time for her first goal of the season.

Leicester losing also gives Brighton a helping hand - this was a largely uninspiring display, but as long as they pick up gifted points as they did here, they can avoid dropping into the Championship.

Villa, meanwhile, failed to put the game to bed, Rachel Daly uncharacteristically missing a simple chance in the 56th minute, volleying over the bar from six yards.

It will be frustrating for Villa coach Carla Ward, who won manager of the month for January after her side won three of their four matches.

On paper, it appeared this could be a goal fest. Villa are spearheaded by Daly, who with nine goals in 11 WSL matches prior to Saturday was level at the top of the league scoring charts with Manchester City's Khadija Shaw.

Both sides have also been liable to concede this season - Brighton had let in at least three goals in each of their past five WSL matches, 21 in total, while Villa had conceded 29 in their previous 13 WSL games.

However, neither side looked like scoring for the majority of the first half, as Daly was effectively targeted and shut down by a physical Brighton team who themselves lacked a cutting edge.

The game needed either a moment of magic or an error - and it got the latter. Sarah Mayling sent in a lofted cross and Brighton keeper Megan Walsh came out of her goal to try and punch it away.

She didn't manage to get a hand to it and it was rotten luck for Seagulls midfielder Green, as the ball bounced off her thigh and into the net.

Walsh redeemed herself slightly just before half-time, palming up a Kenza Dali shot, before getting a slice of luck this time as the ball dropped down on to the crossbar before bouncing behind.

It proved crucial for Brighton in this game - and could be vital come the end of the season.