Guardiola struggles for answers as City suffer sixth defeat in eight EPL games

Aston Villa scored once in each half to secure a well-deserved 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Villa Park on Saturday.

Man City, reigning English Premier League (EPL) champions, again looked like a shadow of their dominant past, and goals by John Duran and Morgan Rodgers punished their rudderlessness.

City were missing injured Ruben Dias in defence and the benched duo of Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku in attack. Phil Foden scored a scant consolation for City, who have only one win in eight league games.

Aston Villa ripped into the EPL champions from the first whistle and should have taken the lead on 20 seconds, but Duran’s shot was saved when clean through on goal.

Stefan Ortega, Man City goalkeeper, produced an even better save on Pau Torres’ header two minutes late, pushing the Spanish defender’s effort unto the bar to keep the score level.

Villa Park erupted when their side eventually took the lead in the 17th minute with a superb team move. Youri Tielemans released Morgan Rogers, and the midfielder unselfishly squared for Duran to slot into the net for 1-0 to Unai Emery’s side.

City had been underwhelming for most of the half but sprang to life in the latter stages. Foden tested Emiliano Martínez with a routine shot before a glancing header from Josko Gvardiol cleared the wrong side of the bar, and the hosts went into the break 1-0 ahead.

Man City improved briefly in the second period, but Villa soon resumed control. Duran had a goal disallowed, Matty Cash could only find the side-netting, and Rogers hit the post as the hosts looked more likely to score.

Rogers, a former Man City player, doubled the lead with an angled finish from a low shot for 2-0.

Villa, unbeaten at home this season, conceded in added time as Foden lashed a shot into the net, but it was scant consolation as the visitors fell to consecutive league defeats for the second time this season.

Man City have also conceded two or more goals in eight consecutive away matches for the first time since a similar record in 2001.

The defeat means Man City lost six league games before the season’s midpoint, the club’s highest number of defeats in a season since the 2020/21 campaign.

Aston Villa moved up to fifth position with 28 points from 17 matches, displacing Man City, who dropped to sixth place with a point less.