Six minutes in, Villa Park already had its goal. Nicolas Jackson collected possession from John McGinn down the left of the box and curled a right-footed finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma, punishing a loose City build-up and setting the tone for an afternoon Enzo Maresca will want to forget.

Erling Haaland’s response came in the 53rd minute, when the Norwegian met an Iliman Ndiaye cross and headed City level. The equaliser lasted seven minutes. On the hour, Ibrahim Mbaye drove at the City back line, fed Jackson in the middle, and the striker’s first-time finish squirmed under Donnarumma to restore Villa’s lead for good.

Maresca’s unbeaten run is over

Manchester City had arrived in Birmingham having won every Premier League match since Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola in the summer. The Italian signed a three-year contract at the end of June, and Saturday was his first league defeat in charge.

He did not reach for excuses afterwards.

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“We lost because we were not being clinical enough in their box,” Maresca told Sky Sports. “We learn from the game, try to move on and improve.”

Haaland started as expected and delivered the equaliser, but his touches were limited for long stretches as Villa pressed hard in midfield and squeezed City’s full-backs out of the pitch.

“He was shooting like he was playing rugby”

Unai Emery’s side made more tackles in the opening 45 minutes than in any first half this season or last, and the Spaniard’s second-half substitutions, including Mbaye, helped close out the win. It was Villa’s first home league victory of the campaign.

Jackson has now scored six goals in his last six games for Villa since arriving from Chelsea in the summer. Emery was keen to credit the striker’s work rate as much as the finishing.

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“At the beginning of the season he was shooting so much as though he was playing rugby, so he is progressing as well,” Emery told Goal. “He is doing his tasks.”

City still top, Villa climb to sixth

Despite the defeat, Manchester City remain top of the Premier League on 21 points from eight matches, with their only loss of the season now on the board. Villa move up to sixth on 11 points.

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