Villa End Man City’s Nine-Match Unbeaten Run

Unai Emery celebrated three years as Aston Villa manager with a hard-fought victory to end off-colour Manchester City’s nine-game unbeaten run.
Villa are unrecognisable since the Spaniard took over from Steven Gerrard in 2022 and, after a sticky start this season and shock defeat by Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday, the battling victory over City was their fourth on the bounce in the league.
The hosts netted the winner on 19 minutes courtesy of Matty Cash’s precise left-foot finish from the edge of the box after a corner, but the visitors were unhappy with the set-piece being awarded, feeling Lucas Digne had fouled Matheus Nunes in the build-up.
City had the opportunity to level just two minutes later when Phil Foden found a pass through to the usually-reliable Erling Haaland, but the striker’s low shot was smothered by Emiliano Martinez.
Pep Guardiola’s men were disjointed following Tuesday’s trip to Villarreal in the Champions League – and could have fallen further behind in the second half.
But John McGinn’s thumping volley was blocked and City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a double save to deny Jadon Sancho after he had wriggled his way through.
At the other end, winger Savinho’s volley was brilliantly hooked off the line by Pau Torres and Haaland had a late goal ruled out for offside which summed up his and City’s disappointing day as they missed the chance to go second.
Villa failed to win any of their first six games this season, scoring just twice during that run, but have improved markedly since with six victories in their last seven matches.
They became the only team in top-flight history to have a five-game winless start in the league and then win the next four games since Preston in 1936-37.
The only blot was Thursday’s loss in Europe, but they put that behind them with an impressive shut-out against one of the division’s form teams.
Villa have been transformed since the arrival of Emery from Villarreal, taking a side that were three points above the relegation zone to the Champions League – and narrowly missing out on doing the same last term.
This was their third straight league victory over City at a buoyant Villa Park – last doing so in 1960 and 1975 – and the fans are fully behind their manager after their slow start to the campaign.
Centre-halves Ezri Konsa and Torres were solid at the heart of the defence and needed to be to shackle the imperious Haaland, while Amadou Onana provided a shield as an enforcer in front of the backline.
Villa’s defence will take much of the plaudits and it was fitting right-back Cash scored the decisive goal – his second this term – with an erring finish that left Donnarumma rooted to his line.