Jackson brace ends Manchester City’s perfect league start at Villa Park

Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-1, recovering the lead after Erling Haaland’s second-half equaliser and handing City their first Premier League defeat of the season.

Match played 2026-10-24 · Reporting reviewed 27 October 2026

Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-1 at Villa Park on 24 October, with Nicolas Jackson scoring twice around an Erling Haaland equaliser. The result ended City’s perfect Premier League start and gave Villa their first home league win of the campaign, according to Sky Sports’ match report. Villa’s official account also confirms Jackson’s brace and the team’s seven-match unbeaten run.

Jackson strikes early

Villa went ahead in the sixth minute. The Guardian reported that Marc Guéhi lost control of a pass before Jackson took advantage and finished, a costly opening error for a City side that had won every league match before the trip. The Guardian’s match report described Villa as quick to start and effective at limiting City’s room.

Haaland brought the visitors level after half-time with a header. Villa’s club report confirms that Jackson then restored the hosts’ lead; Sky records his second goal in the 60th minute. City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was involved in the error identified by Sky, while the Guardian also described the finish going under him.

City’s possession, Villa’s decisive moments

City had more of the ball, with the Guardian recording 62 per cent possession for the visitors and 38 per cent for Villa. That advantage did not prevent Villa from producing the match’s decisive finishes. Jackson’s second came after Haaland had drawn City level, and the home side held on to take all three points.

The win carried a milestone for each club. Sky described it as City’s first Premier League defeat of the season and Villa’s first home league win of the campaign. Villa said the result extended its unbeaten run to seven matches. Those records underline why the victory mattered beyond the immediate turnaround in scoreline.

A response after the equaliser

For Villa, the defining response came soon after conceding: Jackson scored again and restored the lead before City could build on their equaliser. The hosts then protected that advantage to the final whistle. City leave with their first league loss of the campaign, while Villa have a result against the previously unbeaten leaders and a home win to build on.