Aston Villa 2-1 Man City: Nicolas Jackson double ends leaders’ perfect Premier League start

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Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2–1 at Villa Park, ending the leaders’ seven-match winning start to the Premier League season.

Jackson struck after six minutes and restored Villa’s advantage on the hour, eight minutes after Erling Haaland had headed City level. Zion Suzuki’s saves helped Unai Emery’s side secure their first home league victory of the campaign.

The result takes Villa to 11 points from eight games. City remain on 21 after dropping their first league points under Enzo Maresca.

Jackson punishes City’s early mistake

Villa took advantage of an error as City tried to play out from defence. Marc Guéhi’s heavy touch allowed John McGinn to find Jackson, who finished to give the hosts an early lead, as detailed in Manchester City’s official report.

City responded with opportunities of their own. Suzuki denied Iliman Ndiaye and Rayan Cherki, while Ndiaye also struck the post.

Villa nevertheless carried a threat when they broke forward. Guéhi was booked for bringing down Jackson near the penalty area and was replaced at half-time, incidents covered in the Guardian’s match report.

The visitors reached the interval a goal behind despite their efforts to find an equaliser.

Mbaye helps Villa answer Haaland

Haaland brought City level in the 52nd minute, heading in Ndiaye’s delivery.

The equaliser lasted only eight minutes. Substitute Ibrahim Mbaye supplied the cutback for Jackson’s second, putting Villa back in front before City could turn their recovery into a lead.

Jackson’s finish escaped Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose failure to keep out the shot proved costly. City Xtra’s report identified the goalkeeper’s error as the decisive setback after City had worked their way back into the match.

Suzuki helped preserve Villa’s advantage, while Ian Maatsen cleared a late Haaland header as the hosts resisted the search for another equaliser.

Villa’s recovery gathers pace

This was Villa’s fourth successive victory in all competitions, following wins over Fenerbahçe, Newcastle United and Viking.

Their official pre-match assessment had highlighted the contrast between that improving form and their wait for a first home league win. Beating the leaders supplied that missing result.

Emery had acknowledged the sizeable points gap in his pre-match press conference. Villa reduced it with a performance built around Jackson’s finishing and their ability to withstand City’s response.

For Maresca, the defeat follows the 5–1 Champions League win over AEK Athens. City remain strongly placed, but their perfect league record is over.

The result and match coverage are available in our Aston Villa–Manchester City match centre.

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