Aston Villa Ends Manchester City Unbeaten Run With 1-0 Win

Aston Villa secured a significant 1-0 victory over Manchester City, with Matty Cash scoring the decisive goal, marking manager Unai Emery's third anniversary and continuing Villa's strong home record against City. This win ended City's nine-match unbeaten streak and extended Villa's winning run in the Premier League to four, moving them up to seventh place. Emery, who holds Pep Guardiola in high regard, has now beaten Guardiola in successive home meetings, having developed tactical solutions to City's style, particularly focusing on midfield structure. The match also highlighted Jadon Sancho's challenging performance, as he was substituted on early due to injury but then taken off before full time for fitness reasons, reflecting his ongoing struggles since joining Villa on loan. Post-match, Emery praised his team's energy, commitment, and tactical execution, emphasizing the importance of set-pieces and team confidence. Matty Cash, the goalscorer, credited rigorous training on set-pieces and the strong support from Villa Park fans for their recent defensive solidity and success.