OXFORD United skipper Ellis Hillman could not hide her frustration as their poor run was extended by a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

Ebony Salmon’s finish 14 minutes from time separated the sides at Tamworth in the FA Women’s Super League 2.

It left United third bottom in the table, and they have won just one of their last 18 games in all competitions.

Top-scorer Kayleigh Hines was ruled out with a serious knee injury last week, but Hillman felt the defeat was an all-too familiar story.

She said: “They deserved the win and we didn’t pull our finger out, which seems to be the theme of the last couple of games for us.

“We’ve got the talent, but we just can’t grind out the results and that is something that we are constantly looking at.”

She added: “Obviously we’ve had a blow with injuries but we can’t use that as an excuse.”

U’s goalkeeper Demi Lambourne had a busy afternoon against Villa, denying Salmon and Tash Baptiste early on.

Salmon also fired wide with chances either side of the interval, before the visitors went on to enjoy their best spell.

Substitute Flo Fyfe forced an excellent save from Aja Aguirre 20 minutes from time.

Salmon then struck, robbing Danielle Carlton before beating Lambourne and United’s last chance to grab a point vanished when Emily Allen steered Chloe Chivers’ cross into the side netting.

United visit Sheffield FC on Sunday.

Oxford Utd: Lambourne, Franklin-Fraiture, Casley, Carlton, Hillman, Lancaster (Noble 87), Baker (Fyfe 59), Chivers, Oliver, Allen, Short.

Unused subs: Thomas, Balloch, Graham.

Attendance: 127.

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