Aston Villa ended Manchester City’s 100 per cent winning start to the Premier League season on Saturday with a 2-1 victory at Villa Park, inspired by Nicolas Jackson’s brace.
Jackson scored in the sixth and 60th minutes to hand Villa their first home league win of the season, while Erling Haaland’s 52nd-minute equaliser proved insufficient to rescue City from their first league defeat of the campaign.
City had won their opening seven league matches and were seeking to extend their record to eight consecutive victories at the start of a top-flight season. However, Unai Emery’s side produced a disciplined performance to halt their impressive run.
Villa took the lead when captain John McGinn capitalised on a poor touch by City defender Marc Guehi before releasing Jackson, who turned inside Elliot Anderson and fired past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The hosts threatened to extend their advantage, while City gradually grew into the contest. Iliman Ndiaye struck the post as the visitors pressed for an equaliser, but Villa went into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.
City drew level seven minutes into the second half when Haaland rose highest to head home a cross from Ndiaye on the right. The goal extended the Norwegian striker’s scoring streak to seven consecutive Premier League matches.
Villa, however, restored their advantage eight minutes later. Substitute Ibrahim Mbaye delivered a low cross into the penalty area, allowing Jackson to strike first time and beat Donnarumma with a shot underneath the goalkeeper’s left hand.
City pushed for another equaliser, with Haaland threatening through a late header, but Ian Maatsen cleared the effort to preserve Villa’s advantage.
The victory continued Villa’s impressive recent record against City, marking their fifth win in seven meetings with the Manchester side and their fourth consecutive home victory over them.
The result also came on the fourth anniversary of Emery’s appointment as Villa manager, providing further evidence of the progress made under the Spanish tactician.
Villa had endured a difficult start to the campaign, losing their opening two league matches. However, they recovered to collect 11 points from their subsequent six games, with their latest victory moving them into the top half of the table.
Jackson, who joined Villa from Chelsea in August, has now scored seven goals in 11 appearances across league and cup competitions for the club. His latest performance further strengthened his growing influence in Emery’s reshaped squad.
For City manager Enzo Maresca, the defeat exposed defensive weaknesses that could prove costly as the season progresses. Both goals conceded at Villa Park were preventable, with Guehi’s costly error contributing to the opening goal.
City had controlled significant periods of the contest but struggled to convert their possession into enough clear-cut opportunities to secure a result.
Despite the setback, City remained three points clear at the top of the Premier League table ahead of Arsenal’s home fixture against Everton.
The Manchester side will turn their attention to Brighton, whom they face in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before meeting them again in the Premier League three days later.
Villa, meanwhile, will seek to build on their hard-earned victory as they continue their push up the league standings.
