Aston Villa secured a deserved and impressive 2-1 victory over struggling Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime in the Premier League, further plunging the reigning champions into crisis.
Villa were denied twice by visiting goalkeeper Stefan Ortega within the first minute but that didn't dissuade them in their bid to to take the lead. A sweeping move in the 17th minute was eventually converted by Jhon Duran, who scored for a fourth successive match.
Man City had several promising opportunities to get on the scoresheet during a disappointing first half for the reigning Premier League champions. Phil Foden kept Emiliano Martinez's palms warm before Josko Gvardiol headed over from close range.
The second half didn't offer much improvement from the visitors and it was Villa who struck first after the restart. The influential Morgan Rogers created and finished another excellent move, firing beyond Ortega in style having hit the post several minutes earlier.
Man City did finally reduce the deficit in stoppage time as Phil Foden scored his first Premier League goal of the season, but Villa held firm in the dying embers to secure a well-earned victory.
Jhon Duran was excellent / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
GK: Emiliano Martinez | 7.7/10 |
RB: Matty Cash | 6.5/10 |
CB: Ezri Kona | 6.5/10 |
CB: Pau Torres | 7.2/10 |
LB: Lucas Digne | 6.5/10 |
CM: Boubacar Kamara | 7.5/10 |
CM: Amadou Onana | 6.8/10 |
RW: John McGinn | 8.0/10 |
AM: Youri Tielemans | 7.2/10 |
LW: Morgan Rogers | 8.9/10 |
ST: Jhon Duran | 8.1/10 |
SUB: Ollie Watkins (80' for Duran) | 6.1/10 |
SUB: Emi Buendia (90' for Rogers) | N/A |
Subs not used: Robin Olsen (GK), Ian Maatsen, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Lamare Bogarde, Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, Leon Bailey.
Man City player ratings (3-2-4-1)
Man City were hopeless at Villa Park / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
GK: Stefan Ortega | 6.2/10 |
CB: John Stones | 6.7/10 |
CB: Manuel Akanji | 6.5/10 |
CB: Josko Gvardiol | 5.7/10 |
DM: Rico Lewis | 6.9/10 |
DM: Mateo Kovacic | 6.3/10 |
RM: Bernardo Silva | 6.5/10 |
CM: Phil Foden | 7.6/10 |
CM: Ilkay Gundogan | 6.1/10 |
LM: Jack Grealish | 6.7/10 |
ST: Erling Haaland | 6.4/10 |
SUB: Kyle Walker (46' for Stones) | 6.2/10 |
SUB: Savinho (73' for Gundogan) | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Jeremy Doku (84' for Kovacic) | N/A |
Subs not used: Scott Carson (GK), Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Nathan Ake, James McAtee, Nico O'Reilly, Kevin De Bruyne.