Leon Bailey’s deflected shot gave Aston Villa a fully deserved victory over Manchester City as the visitors’ recent slump in form continued.
Villa were superior throughout against the lacklustre champions, who have now gone four Premier League games without a win for the first time in more than seven years.
City once again missed the influence of the suspended Rodri, having lost their last five games when the Spaniard has been unavailable, but nothing must detract from an outstanding Villa performance which confirmed their stunning development under the management of Unai Emery.
Villa were fearless going forward from the outset, with City keeper Ederson making two fine early saves from Pau Torres and Bailey, while opposite number Emi Martinez did superbly to deny Erling Haaland twice in quick succession.
City lacked composure and were ran ragged at times, and the Villa breakthrough came 16 minutes from time when Bailey’s shot from the edge of the area took a touch off Ruben Dias as it looped beyond the helpless Ederson.
The win moves Villa, who have now won 14 consecutive home Premier League matches, into third place in the table, while City are six points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
City’s fall off in form can hardly be described as a crisis, but this run of four league games without a win will undoubtedly be a source of concern to Guardiola.
Yes, City were without Rodri, but there was far more behind this defeat than his absence.
City, remarkably, lacked creativity and were over-run on occasions by Villa’s sheer hunger and determination in a fierce Villa Park atmosphere.
In their previous three draws – against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham – City could justifiably claim they played well enough to have won, but they can make no such case this time.
They were second best throughout and the increase in tempo and pressure most inside Villa Park expected to come after the break did not materialise.
City, obviously, are missing the world-class Kevin De Bruyne through injury, and former captain Ilkay Gundogan has not yet been adequately replaced. Perhaps there is something of a hangover from last season’s superb Treble, too.
Only a fool would question or write off a side as brilliant as Guardiola’s City, but there is no doubt something is currently missing from what is normally a slick footballing machine.
Source: BBC