EPL: Man City’s perfect start ends with 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa

Manchester City’s perfect start to the Premier League season came to an end after a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, with Nicolas Jackson scoring twice to continue Unai Emery’s side’s impressive run of form.

City manager Enzo Maresca had made history by becoming the first manager to win his first seven Premier League matches in charge of a new club.

However, he was unable to prevent his team from suffering another setback at Villa Park, where City have now lost in four consecutive seasons.

Jackson gave Aston Villa an early advantage, firing home the opening goal just six minutes into the encounter.

Villa then relied on an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, whose impressive saves frustrated City and helped the home side maintain their advantage.

Erling Haaland breifly levelled early in the second half only for Villa to respond on the hour mark when Jackson drilled home Ibrahim Mbaye’s cross.

Four years on from Emery’s arrival, which has transformed the club from a sleeping giant into the Champions League, the Spaniard is working more magic despite seeing the spine of his squad in recent seasons decimated.

Six of the side that started Villa’s victory in last season’s Europa League left during the transfer window.

But the recruitment of the likes of Jackson, Suzuki, Mbaye and Johan Manzambi is already paying dividends after a slow start to the campaign.

Until now City have managed to shrug off the cloud hanging over the club’s Premier League future to keep winning on the field.

The 10-time English champions are appealing a guilty verdict on over 100 charges of breaking financial rules between 2009 and 2018 that could lead to swingeing sanctions, including relegation.

There was little sign of that distraction affecting Enzo Maresca’s men, but they were made to pay for two sloppy defensive errors.

A heavy touch by Marc Guehi presented Jackson with possession for the opening goal as he cut inside Elliott Anderson and blasted high past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

City largely dominated the remainder of the first half, but could not find a way past Suzuki.

Iliman Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki and Abdukodir Khusanov were all denied before Ndiaye struck the post.

City’s pressure finally told on 52 minutes when Haaland powered in a header from Ndiaye’s cross for his 13th goal in 10 appearances this season.

Josko Gvardiol nearly completed the comeback when Suzuki turned his blistering drive into the crossbar moments later.

Instead, it was Villa to got the decisive third goal.

Mbaye was played in behind the City defence and from his cross, Jackson’s low effort should have been saved by Donnarumma.

The visitors pressed in vain for another equaliser to allow Arsenal the chance to move level on points at the top of the table when they host Everton later on Saturday.

A sixth win in seven games in all competitions for Villa lifts them up to sixth.

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