Jackson outshines Haaland: Aston Villa end City’s winning streak

Manchester City’s winning streak in the Premier League came to an end with a 1–2 defeat at Aston Villa. After Haaland equalised shortly after half-time, the Sky Blues came close to taking the lead, but it was Jackson who scored at the other end instead.

City manager Enzo Maresca relied on top scorer Haaland in his bid to secure a win at Aston Villa in the side’s eighth Premier League match of the season. The Norwegian had been rested during the week’s Champions League fixture. His replacement up front in the 5–1 win over AEK Athens had been German youth international Samba, who was not in the squad for the Aston Villa match.

Villa get off to a flying start thanks to Jackson – Ndiaye hits the post

His team-mates didn’t get off to a good start; instead, the Villans – who had rotated former Freiburg player Manzambi into the starting line-up, amongst others, compared to the 3–1 win against Stavanger – came out firing from the off. Jackson rewarded this effort with the opening goal as early as the 6th minute following a strong solo run. After Guehi carelessly gave the ball away, the striker left Anderson in his wake on the left of the penalty area and fired an unstoppable shot under the crossbar.

City were keen to respond quickly, but it took them a few minutes before they posed a threat themselves. Cherki was denied by Suzuki with their first clear-cut chance (22’), whilst his strike partner Ndiaye hit the left post a few minutes later (29’). Aston Villa, for their part, did not create any further noteworthy chances, but they also did not concede another until half-time.

City’s first chance after the break, however, led to a deserved equaliser. The Sky Blues took a free-kick quickly before Ndiaye crossed into the centre. There, Haaland made his trademark run and nodded the ball in unstoppably (52’). Gavrdiol almost turned the game on its head (57’).

Jackson’s one-two leads to a brace

But instead of 2–1 to the visitors, the score was suddenly 1–2. Jackson received the ball back after playing it out wide to Mbaye and restored the previous lead with a first-time finish (60). After that, it was virtually all City, but for a long time they struggled to create any real danger.

The Villans had everything under control and cleverly ran down the clock. Haaland did have a good header just before the start of stoppage time, but Maatsen came to the rescue for goalkeeper Suzuki (89th minute). So Aston Villa held on to the three points – and the Sky Blues’ winning streak came to an end, as they failed to win for the first time this Premier League season.

Action resumes for both teams as early as Wednesday in the League Cup. City will then face Brighton at home at 8.30 pm. Aston Villa’s match at Bournemouth kicks off a quarter of an hour later.