Unai Emery celebrated three years as manager of Aston Villa with a hard-fought win to end the nine-game unbeaten run of Manchester City.
Aston Villa scored the winner on 19 minutes courtesy of Matty Cash’s precise left-foot finish from the edge of the box after a corner, but the visitors were unhappy with the set-piece being awarded, feeling Lucas Digne had fouled Matheus Nunes in the build-up.
City had the opportunity to level just two minutes later when Phil Foden found a pass through to the usually-reliable Erling Haaland, but the striker’s low shot was smothered by Emiliano Martinez.
Pep Guardiola’s men were disjointed following Tuesday’s trip to Villarreal in the Champions League – and could have fallen further behind in the second half.
But John McGinn’s thumping volley was blocked and City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a double save to deny Jadon Sancho after he had wriggled his way through.
At the other end, winger Savinho’s volley was brilliantly hooked off the line by Pau Torres and Haaland had a late goal ruled out for offside which summed up his and City’s disappointing day as they missed the chance to go second.
They became the only team in top-flight history to have a five-game winless start in the league and then win the next four games since Preston in 1936-37.
