Aston Villa 1-0 Man City: Cash's goal ends Blues' 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.

Match Report

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 cleared 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.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

6' Reijnders has a bit of space and hits a powerful shot just over the bar

15' Watkins' cross is cut out by Oscar Bobb

19' GOAL! Matty Cash puts hosts in lead with a low shot! Aston Villa 1-0 Man City

21' Haaland races clear and hits it well but Martinez makes the save

29' Buendia is limping off the pitch and is replaced by Sancho

31' The ball comes to McGinn and his shot is deflected inches wide off Stones

37' Gvardiol is pushed over by Rogers but it's not a penalty

40' Savinho is booked yellow because of a harsh tackilng

54' Reijnders blocks off Watkins and is booked yellow

61' Nico, O'Reilly and Doku replacing Stones, Oscar Bobb and Bernardo

64' Nico González goes into the book for a challenge on John McGinn

70' Sancho gets a chance off Donnarumma's spill but the Italian makes himself big

71' Haaland's header is saved by Martinez

Line-ups

Aston Villa XI: E. Martinez, Digne, McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Buendia, P. Torres, Kamara, Ngoyo, Matty Cash, Morgan Rogers, Amadou Onana

Subs: Lindelof, Marco Bizot, Barkley, Mings, Sancho, Malen, Evann Guessand, Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde

Man City XI: Stones, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Donnarumma, Haaland, Foden, Reijnders, Matheus Nunes, Gvardiol, Bobb, Savinho

Subs: Kovacic, Ake, Omar Marmoush, Nico González, James Trafford, Cherki, Doku, Lewis, Nico O'Reilly