Manchester City suffered its first loss since August as Matty Cash’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 victory for Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, the host’s fourth straight win in the competition.
City fell to fourth in the standings after its nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end, six points behind leaders Arsenal. Villa rose to seventh, a point below City.
Villa looked to find Ollie Watkins with long balls and counters early on, while Emiliano Buendia’s shot went too high in the third minute. Tijjani Reijnders almost put City ahead in the sixth minute but the midfielder’s shot went over the bar.
The host took the lead in the 19th minute from Buendia’s corner, as Cash received the ball just outside the box and fired with his left foot into the bottom right corner past a helpless City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Norway international Erling Haaland ran through Villa’s defensive line and nearly equalised two minutes later, but keeper Emiliano Martinez denied his attempt.
ALSO READ | ‘Quality’ Liverpool will overcome slump, says Van Dijk
Villa kept up the pressure despite losing Buendia to a right-foot injury near the half-hour mark, with Watkins’ header off Lucas Digne’s corner being blocked and Morgan Rogers heading wide off John McGinn’s cross 10 minutes later.
After the break, Villa’s defence survived a chaotic moment near the hour mark as Savinho fired two shots on target, but his first effort was blocked and the second attempt was scooped over the bar from the edge of the goal line by defender Pau Torres.
Villa had chances to extend its lead as Jadon Sancho, who replaced Buendia, cut in from the left in the 69th minute and fired two shots at Donnarumma but the Italian keeper blocked both times.
Watkins just had the keeper to beat as he chased a through ball into City’s box six minutes later, but Donnarumma was quick to drop down and keep it out.
Haaland, who had scored in his last 12 matches for club and country, found the net near the 90th minute but it was ruled out due to an offside in the build-up, as City failed to find an equaliser and succumbed to their third loss at Villa Park in a row.
City visits Swansea City in a League Cup clash on Wednesday, while Villa continue its league campaign at title-holders Liverpool on Saturday.
Published on Oct 26, 2025
