BIRMINGHAM — Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Aston Villa ended Manchester City's 100% winning start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory at Villa Park. Jackson fired Villa ahead before stroking in a second after Erling Haaland had headed City level, securing a statement win for the home side.
Jackson brimmed with confidence to fire high into the roof of the net for the opener, created after John McGinn picked off Marc Guehi, before adding a second from Ibrahim Mbaye's low cross after the interval. Haaland had briefly restored parity with a towering header from Iliman Ndiaye's cross, while Zion Suzuki preserved Villa's lead with three important stops to deny Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki and Josko Gvardiol with a brilliant fingertip save and Ian Maatsen produced a vital header away to deny Haaland late on.
Jackson earned a 9 for his brace, the highest mark on the pitch, while McGinn also impressed with a 7 after creating more chances than anyone else. Boubacar Kamara was at the heart of everything good for Villa and scored 7 alongside Matty Cash, who was booked for a push on Jeremy Doku but managed more tackles than any other player, and 20-year-old Brazilian Alysson, who followed his eye-catching display against Viking in the Champions League with another 7. Suzuki also scored 7, Joao Gomes contributed three interceptions in a 6, and substitute Mbaye made an instant impact with a 7 after coming on in the 58th minute.
For Manchester City, Ndiaye was the liveliest player with an 8 after forcing Suzuki into a decent save, clipping the post and providing the assist for Haaland, who scored 7. Gianluigi Donnarumma scored 5 after conceding an early corner taking too long over a goal-kick and should have done better for the second goal, while Guehi endured another difficult afternoon with a 4 after being culpable for both of Ipswich's goals last weekend and making the error that led to Villa's opener before being booked for hauling down Jackson and taken off at half-time. Ruben Dias scored 5 despite a good block to deny Alysson, Gvardiol scored 5, Cherki scored 5 before being booked for a tug on Johan Manzambi and substituted at half-time, and Phil Foden scored 6 after little impact following Tuesday's Champions League hat-trick.
The result halts City's perfect league start and lifts Villa, who saw Pau Torres provide a calming presence, Victor Lindelof throw his body at everything and Manzambi show sparks of talent in performances rated 6. Abdukodir Khusanov was shaky at right-back before moving into central defence, while Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez and Doku all scored 6 and Rico Lewis scored 6 after replacing Guehi at the break.