Cash on the money as Villa stuns City
Matty Cash's fine first-half strike was enough for Aston Villa to defeat Manchester City 1-0 in their Premier League clash at Villa Park.
The Poland full-back executed from a well-worked corner to settle a close encounter in the Midlands and steer Villa to a fourth straight Premier League win, while rebounding from the Europa League loss to Go Ahead Eagles.
City had not lost since a 2-1 reverse at Brighton at the end of August and Erling Haaland – who had a late goal ruled out – will be ruing missing a golden opportunity not long after Cash's winner.
It was just reward for a Villa side that defended superbly throughout and frustrated City on a day in which its big-hitters were lacking a clinical nature in attack.
Cash drilled home from the edge of the box in the 19th minute after a fine corner routine taken by Emiliano Buendia.
Haaland was thwarted one-on-one by Emiliano Martinez shortly after, while John McGinn saw an edge-of-the-box effort deflected wide when the play opened up for him on his 200th Premier League start.
City certainly had more verve to its attack to start the second half and Tijjani Reijnders wastefully dragged wide of the left-hand post at the end of a mazy run.
McGinn then saw a close-range volley blocked from another low Villa corner, while at the other end Pau Torres brilliantly cleared from just off the goalline from the second of two Savinho efforts.
Gianluigi Donnarumma immediately redeemed himself after spilling a Jadon Sanco centre to stop his follow-up shot and City thought they had found the leveller when Omar Marmoush's low centre was bundled home by a sliding Haaland, but Villa were relieved to see the former pinged for offside.
