Aston Villa beat Man City 2-1 as Nicolas Jackson's double ends City's perfect Premier League start

Manchester City’s perfect start to the Premier League season is over. Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Aston Villa beat City 2-1 at Villa Park on Saturday, Oct. 24, handing Enzo Maresca’s side its first league defeat after seven straight wins.

Erling Haaland headed in an equalizer early in the second half, but Jackson restored Villa’s lead on the hour, and the hosts held on through a late City push. The match kicked off at 12:30 p.m. UK time (7:30 a.m. ET) and drew a crowd of 36,743, according to BBC Sport.

Aston Villa vs. Man City: the final score and goals

The Guardian’s report puts Haaland’s goal in the 53rd minute, while BBC Sport and City’s own match report list it at 52 minutes.

How Nicolas Jackson broke City down

Villa started fast. In the sixth minute, City defender Marc Guéhi took a heavy touch while City tried to build from the back, and Villa captain John McGinn pounced to send Jackson through. Jackson cut inside Elliot Anderson and fired the ball high past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, BBC Sport reported.

City then took control of the ball for long stretches. Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made a diving save on an Iliman Ndiaye drive and smothered a Rayan Cherki effort, and Ndiaye also hit the post, according to City’s match report. The Guardian noted that Ndiaye had a penalty claim waved away.

The Guardian described Jackson against Guéhi as “starting to look like a mismatch.” Guéhi was booked for pulling Jackson down near the edge of the area and was replaced at halftime, the paper reported.

Erling Haaland’s equalizer and Villa’s winner

City’s pressure paid off early in the second half, when Ndiaye beat Ian Maatsen and crossed for Haaland, who headed in from close range. The Guardian said it was Haaland’s 13th goal of the season, and Opta figures cited by the paper showed he has now scored in each of his last seven Premier League appearances.

The parity lasted about eight minutes. Jackson played the ball out to substitute Ibrahim Mbaye, then met Mbaye’s low cross with a first-time shot that slipped under Donnarumma. Both BBC Sport and The Guardian suggested the goalkeeper could have done better.

City sent on Phil Foden, Rico Lewis and Ryan McAidoo as they chased the game, and they went close through Joško Gvardiol and Jérémy Doku, The Guardian reported. In the closing minutes, Maatsen cleared a goal-bound Haaland header off the line to preserve the win. Jackson left the field with eight minutes remaining to a standing ovation.

Villa stayed dangerous on the break, and City’s report credited captain Rúben Dias with a key tackle to stop a counterattack involving Alysson.

Aston Villa vs. Man City stats and records

The result extended a remarkable run for Villa in this fixture. According to the match reports:

• Five of the last seven: Villa have won five of their past seven meetings with City, BBC Sport reported.
• Four straight at home: It was City’s fourth consecutive league loss at Villa Park.
• Three in a row: Villa are the first side to beat City in three successive Premier League games since Liverpool in December 2016, according to Opta data cited by The Guardian.
• A milestone day for Emery: The win came on the fourth anniversary of Unai Emery’s appointment as Villa manager, BBC Sport noted.
• First home league win: It was Villa’s first home win in the league this season.

The Guardian also pointed to a recent defensive dip for City: after conceding eight goals in their first nine matches in all competitions this season, they have conceded nine across their last four games, per Opta.

What it means for the Premier League table

Despite the loss, City remain top of the Premier League, three points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who had a game in hand heading into their home match against Everton later on Saturday, according to City’s report. Villa climbed into the top half of the table with the win, BBC Sport said.

What’s next for both clubs

City turn to the Carabao Cup next, hosting Brighton & Hove Albion in a fourth-round tie on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Etihad Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. UK time, the club said. The reports used here did not detail Villa’s next fixture.

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