Jackson brace fires Aston Villa to 2-1 win over Man City

Aston Villa ended Manchester City’s winning run with a 2-1 victory at Villa Park, strengthening Unai Emery’s growing reputation as one of the Premier League’s shrewdest tacticians.

Enzo Maresca had become the first manager to win his first seven Premier League games in charge of a new club, but he could not find a solution to City’s struggles at Villa Park, where they have now lost for four consecutive seasons.

After Nicolas Jackson fired Villa ahead in the sixth minute, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki produced an outstanding performance to keep City at bay.

Erling Haaland briefly restored parity early in the second half, but Villa responded on the hour mark when Jackson drilled home Ibrahim Mbaye’s cross to secure the points.

“A fantastic day to share with our supporters at Villa Park,” Emery said. “We felt that this is our fortress, and the energy the supporters gave us was really fantastic.”

Four years after Emery’s arrival transformed Villa from an underachieving club into a Champions League contender, the Spaniard continues to work his magic despite losing key members of his squad in recent seasons.

“He’s just a tactical genius,” Villa full-back Matty Cash said of his manager. “He’s always got a new plan for something. He’s always coming up with new ideas.”

Six players who started Villa’s victory in last season’s Europa League final departed during the transfer window. However, the recruitment of Jackson, Suzuki, Mbaye and Johan Manzambi is already paying dividends after a slow start to the campaign.

“I think we deserved more from the game for the number of chances that we created and for the chances we conceded,” Maresca said. “We lost because we probably are not being clinical enough in their box.”
A heavy touch from Marc Guehi gifted Jackson possession for the opener. The forward cut inside Elliott Anderson before blasting a powerful finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Man City dominated much of the remainder of the first half but struggled to beat Suzuki. Iliman Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki and Abdukodir Khusanov were all denied before Ndiaye struck the post.

City’s pressure finally paid off in the 52nd minute when Haaland powered home a header from Ndiaye’s cross for his 13th goal in 10 appearances this season.

Josko Gvardiol nearly completed the turnaround moments later, but Suzuki tipped his blistering drive onto the crossbar.

Instead, Villa struck again. Mbaye exploited space behind City’s defence and delivered a cross that Jackson converted with a low effort Donnarumma should have saved.

City pushed for another equaliser but could not find a way through, leaving Arsenal with the opportunity to move level on points at the top of the table when they host Everton later on Saturday.

The victory, Villa’s sixth in seven games across all competitions, lifted Emery’s side to sixth place.