The top tier opposition, who arrived in Lancashire, sat in 10th place in the league, posed a tough challenge.

Jackie Bachteler made three changes from the side that secured a late win over Durham Women at Turf Moor on Saturday, with Jackie Burns, Jess Hennessy, and Maddi Wilde in from the off.

The Clarets got off to a challenging start with Villa showing their strength early on four minutes in when forward Georgia Mullett put the Midlands side ahead.

However, the home side responded well as they settled into the game.

Maddi Wilde made a run down the flanks but her ball across goal couldn't find a Claret forward.

Not too long afterwards, Alethea Paul made a driving run through midfield, but her pass couldn't find Jamie Finn.

Wilde was in the thick of it again as the clock approached the 20-minute mark, finding Emma Siddall in the box but she was quickly closed down by the Villa defenders as she looked to get her shot away.

Whilst Aston Villa pressed the Clarets defence, they were kept at bay well.

It was Paul who came closest to finding the equaliser in the first half when her well-taken effort had to be tipped over the bar by keeper Emily Ramsey.

As the half-time whistle blew Villa took a one-goal lead into the break but with the Clarets holding their own it was all to play for in the second half.

Bachteler made two changes at the break with Brooke Cairns and Kiera Sena introduced in place of Paul and captain Christie Harrison-Murray.

The Clarets started the second half brightly and created a good chance when half-time substitute Cairns laid the ball off to Wilde with her shot sailing just over the bar.

Villa showed their quality again, however, when Lily Murphy grabbed the visitors' second with a tidy finish as she weaved her way into the box and found the bottom corner.

With a two-goal cushion, Aston Villa made a triple substitution with Mathilde Harviken, Justine Kielland and Lynn Wilms replaced by Anna Patten, Maya Hijikata and Océane Deslandes.

Bachteler turned to her bench once again in the 76th minute with Maddi Wilde making way for Deanna Cooper and Brenna McPartlan was replaced by Rachel Williams for her home debut.

Villa followed suit with a double substitution of their own, with Georgia Mullett and Katie Scott making way for Imogen Seymour and Rofiat Imuran.

Williams showed her experience and made her presence felt with a well taken effort, but Ramsey got down well to save.

Shortly after, Jackie Burns was called into action to make a sharp save to deny Villa a third and the Clarets had a chance of their own when Naomi Hartley's header went just wide of the post.

With three minutes added time the Clarets continued to push but they couldn't make a breakthrough, and it was Aston Villa who secured the win on the night.

Burnley: Burns, Docherty, Siddall, McPartlan (Williams 76), Toland, Finn, Harrison-Murray (Sena HT), Hennessy, Wilde (Cooper 76), Paul (Cairns HT), Hartley

Unused Substitutes: Levell

Aston Villa: Ramsey, Harviken (Patten 59), Kielland (Hijikata 59), Wilms (Deslandes 59), Maritz, Mullett (Seymour 80), Murphy, Taylor, McAulay, Scott (Imuran 80)

Unused Substitutes: Okuma, Jean-François, Grant, Vangsgaard

Goals: Mullett 4', Murphy 56'