Aston Villa 1-0 Man City: Report, result, goals as controversial Cash strike earns hosts fourth straight Premier League win
City lost at Villa for their first defeat since August 31
Matty Cash’s superb 19th-minute strike from distance sent Aston Villa seventh in the Premier League as Manchester City’s nine-match unbeaten run came to an end at Villa Park.
Full-back Cash teed himself up to fire in from Emiliano Buendia’s corner after City complained the set-piece should not have been given because Matheus Nunes appeared to have been fouled by Lucas Digne.
The touch and finish from Matty Cash 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/E6AIaLj5HW
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 26, 2025
Top-flight top scorer Erling Haaland thought he had equalised and scored his 12th league goal of the season with second-half added time looming, only for Omar Marmoush to be adjudged offside in the move.
The Villans, who have won their last four league games, are next in action away to Liverpool on November 1 (20:00 GMT), while fourth-placed City visit second-tier Swansea City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday (19:45) before travelling to a Bournemouth side who are two points above them on November 2 (16:30).
You can relive live text updates from Aston Villa vs Manchester City in the Premier League here.
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Aston Villa vs Man City: Cash goal settles contest
Cash proved his long-range capabilities again with a memorable winner for his fourth goal in his last nine matches in the league and for Poland, although City’s appeals that the corner should not have been awarded because of a foul by Digne on Nunes seemed credible.
City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a double save to deny Jadon Sancho and Villa defender Pau Torres cleared Savinho’s volley off the line in an underwhelming Cityzens performance.
“You’ll have to ask him,” City manager Pep Guardiola told BBC Match of the Day when he was asked for an update on Haaland’s welfare after the striker collided painfully with a post.
“We made a lot of chances but, unfortunately, we couldn’t score. [The problem] was the finishing, but I am happy with the overall performance.
“We performed really well. After we dropped a little [before half-time], the second half was much better. In general, our game was good.”
"They were better than us…"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 26, 2025
Pep Guardiola reflects on Man City's defeat to Aston Villa 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/keXyREBr5h
Aston Villa team vs Manchester City
Villa boss Unai Emery made six changes to the team who lost 2-1 at Dutch club Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday, bringing in Cash, Ezri Konsa and Digne in defence and Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Morgan Rogers in midfield.
Victor Lindelof, Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Jadon Sancho and Evan Guessand made way.
Aston Villa starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara, Morgan Rogers, Amadou Onana, Emiliano Buendia
Aston Villa substitutes: Marco Bizot, Ollie Watkins, Victor Lindelof, Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, Donyell Malen, Jadon Sancho, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Evann Guessand
Man City team vs Villa
City coach Pep Guardiola made three changes in midfield to the side who began the 2-0 at Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Tijjani Reijnders replaced Nico Gonzalez, while Phil Foden and Oscar Bobb came in for Rico Lewis and Jeremy Doku.
Man City starting XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Matheus Nunes, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Oscar Bobb, Phil Foden, Tijjani Reijnders, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Erling Haaland
Manchester City substitutes: James Trafford, Nathan Ake, Omar Marmoush, Mateo Kovacic, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, Nico Gonzalez, Nico O’Reilly, Rico Lewis
Premier League results and fixtures this weekend
Matches start at 14:00 GMT / 09:00 ET / 06:00 PT unless stated otherwise.
Friday, October 24
Leeds United 2-1 West Ham
Saturday, October 25
Newcastle 2-1 Fulham
Manchester United 4-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Sunday, October 26
Bournemouth 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
Wolves 2-3 Burnley