Aston Villa End Man City's Perfect Start as Jackson Brace Seals 2-1 Victory at Villa Park

Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Aston Villa beat Manchester City and ended City's perfect start to the Premier League season.

City had won all of their first seven league games, but Enzo Maresca's side lost for the first time at Villa Park. It was Villa's fifth win in their last seven meetings with City and a fourth in a row against them at home. It also came on the fourth anniversary of Unai Emery taking over as Villa boss.

Villa went ahead when captain John McGinn pounced on a poor touch from City defender Marc Guehi and played in Jackson. He turned inside Elliot Anderson and finished high past Gianluigi Donnarumma. Iliman Ndiaye hit the post as City pushed for an equaliser, and it came early in the second half when Erling Haaland rose highest to head in Ndiaye's cross from the right.

The score stayed level for only eight minutes. Substitute Ibrahim Mbaye sent in a low cross and Jackson hit it first time, sending the ball in under Donnarumma's left hand. Haaland had another header late on, but Ian Maatsen cleared it to safety. It was Villa's first home league win of the season.

The result handed City their first league defeat of the season and gave Arsenal the opportunity to move level on points at the top, which they took with their victory over Everton.

Villa lost their first two league games but have taken 11 points from their next six. Plenty of players left in the summer, but the new-look squad is starting to click. Four of the summer signings started against City, and all of them played a big part. Jackson, the former Chelsea forward, has now scored seven times in 11 games in league and cup for Villa.

His two goals were Villa's only shots on target, but he and Johan Manzambi were a threat on the break whenever City were on top. One counter just before half-time ended with Guehi pulling Jackson down on the edge of the box and getting a yellow card. At the other end, Joao Gomes and Boubacar Kamara broke up a lot of City moves in midfield.

Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki also played his part. He made first-half saves from Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki and Abdukodir Khusanov, then another big stop from Josko Gvardiol just after Haaland's equaliser, which turned out to be a key moment. Soon after that, Mbaye, another new signing, made an instant impact off the bench with the cross for Jackson's winner.