Nicolas Jackson’s well-taken double for Aston Villa ended Manchester City’s 100% winning start to the Premier League season.
City had taken maximum points from their first seven league games but Enzo Maresca’s team fell to their first defeat against a Villa side who have an exceptional recent record against them.
This victory was Villa’s fifth in their past seven meetings against City, a fourth successive win against them at Villa Park and came on the fourth anniversary of Unai Emery’s appointment as manager.
Villa captain John McGinn pounced on a poor touch by City defender Marc Guehi to play in Jackson, who turned inside Elliot Anderson and finished high into the net past Gianluigi Donnarumma for the hosts’ opener.
Iliman Ndiaye hit the post as the visitors pressed for an equaliser, which eventually arrived early in the second period when Erling Haaland climbed highest to nod in Ndiaye’s cross from the right.
However, parity lasted only eight minutes as Jackson met substitute Ibrahim Mbaye’s low cross with a first-time shot that went in underneath Donnarumma’s left hand.
Another goalbound Haaland header late on was cleared to safety by Ian Maatsen as Villa registered their first home league win of the season.
City’s lead at the Premier League summit remains at three points, with second-placed Arsenal hosting Everton at 15:00 BST, while Villa have climbed into the top half of the table.
Villa analysis: Reshaped squad finding form
Villa lost their first two league games of the season but recovered well, taking 11 points from their subsequent six Premier League matches.
The turnover of players during the summer months has been well documented and, on recent evidence, their reshaped squad has the potential to continue the club’s success under Emery.
Four of their summer arrivals started the win against City and all played an important role – most notably Jackson, who has netted seven times in 11 games in league and cup for Villa.
The former Chelsea forward took his two goals extremely well. They were Villa’s only two shots on target in the game but he, along with Johan Manzambi, posed a threat on the break during spells of City pressure.
One counter-attack just before half-time led to Guehi pulling Jackson down on the edge of the box and receiving a yellow card.
At the other end, Joao Gomes broke up play on several occasions in tandem with fellow midfielder Boubacar Kamara.
Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made first-half saves from Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki and Abdukodir Khusanov, plus another crucial stop from Josko Gvardiol just after Haaland’s equaliser, which proved pivotal.
Soon after, Mbaye – another of Villa’s recent arrivals – made an immediate impact from the bench with the cross for Jackson to tuck home what proved to be the home side’s winner.
Man City analysis: City miss out on breaking club record
Manchester City have lost their past four Premier League games at Villa Park
