Nicolas Jackson double sees Aston Villa end Manchester City’s perfect start

Manchester City added a loss in the Premier League to one to the Premier League, as their perfect record this season vanished without an independent commission in sight. Two of the most in-form strikers in England did battle and it was Nicolas Jackson’s double that meant his side came out on top against Erling Haaland.

City are certainly fallible, losing for the fourth time in a row here, and it was a reminder that life will not always be as simple as their first seven games. Mistakes cost City as Marc Guéhi and Gianluigi Donnarumma were punished by Jackson, who will have taken great pleasure in ending the winning run of his former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

Related: Maresca ‘not worried’ by Guéhi’s gaffes as Aston Villa end City’s perfect start

Zion Suzuki deserves almost as much credit as Jackson, making numerous saves to keep City at bay. On a day when there was little between the teams, those at either end of the pitch for Villa made the difference.

Aston Villa started at lightning pace while City cowered. City were so ponderous in the opening stages they even gave away a corner after being penalised for taking too long over a goal kick. After two mistakes gifted Ipswich goals last Saturday, Guéhi would have hoped for a more reassured performance but he was once again punished for the opener, miscontrolling a Rúben Dias pass to allow Jackson in, with the striker rifling home in the sixth minute.

City did not look like a side that had won every Premier League game thus far. The hosts, on the other hand, had forgotten their mid-table tag and were more reflective of the team sitting second in the Champions League standings with three wins out of three.

The inflatable fruit enthusiasts got to witness an improving situation on the pitch as City enjoyed plenty of possession in and around the Villa area, but Iliman Ndiaye, who had a penalty claim waved away, and Rayan Cherki, were thwarted by Suzuki’s reactions. Villa defended with commitment and discipline to limit the space available with great success, proving Unai Emery’s tactical acumen, doubling up on City’s wingers to keep them as subdued as possible.

While City constantly threatened and Ndiaye struck a post, there was always a nagging doubt Villa could cause problems on the counterattack. Jackson against the unfortunate Guéhi was starting to look like a mismatch with the defender unable to cope with the speed and physicality of the striker. Guéhi was booked for pulling down Jackson on the edge of the area to leave him in a precarious position before he was replaced at the break.

• Aston Villa are the first side to win three successive Premier League games against Manchester City since Liverpool in December 2016 (run of four).

• Three of Manchester City’s last five Premier League defeats have come against Aston Villa, while they have lost four successive away league games to a side for the first time since February 2023 against Tottenham Hotspur.

• Erling Haaland (pictured) has scored in each of his last seven Premier League appearances; it’s his joint-longest run in the competition along with between August and October 2022.

• After conceding eight goals in their opening nine matches of the 2026-27 season in all competitions, Manchester City have since conceded nine times across their last four games. Opta

The entertainment and exhilaration of the first half was always going to be difficult to sustain, but there was no backing down from either side. City’s endeavour was rewarded in the 53rd minute when Ndiaye got the better of Ian Maatsen and found Haaland who headed home from close range for his 13th of the season. It is hard to keep that man quiet.

There was a sense City could take control and went close through Josko Gvardiol and Jérémy Doku. Villa responded by moving the ball quickly from back to front, with Jackson sending a pass out to Ibrahim Mbaye before getting on the end of the cross for his second. Donnarumma should have done better, letting the ball slip under him.

Phil Foden, Rico Lewis and Ryan McAidoo were sent on to change things for the visitors and they provided energy but, despite dominating possession, passes and crosses were misdirected and needless bookings were collected. If City could point to perfection before this, the label was rapidly fading.

Jackson went off with eight minutes remaining to a standing ovation. Haaland had a very late chance to level, but Maatsen cleared off the line, to ensure Jackson and Villa claimed the glory, while City were left to ponder their flaws.