Manchester Metropolis will head into Christmas with some severe issues to unravel after their exceptional fall from grace continued at Villa Park this afternoon.
Pep Guardiola’s facet have now recorded only one win in 12 video games in all competitions after objectives from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers gave Aston Villa a well-deserved three factors.
In reality it might have been a a lot heavier defeat as Metropolis rode their luck earlier than Duran’s Sixteenth-minute opener with Rogers settling it halfway by way of the second half.
Phil Foden pulled one again in harm time for the four-time defending Premier League champions however they proceed to look miles from their all-conquering finest.
Regardless of their accidents, Metropolis had been a disorganised shambles and will finish the weekend as little as ninth within the Premier League desk.
Guardiola left Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne on the bench whereas Villa’s staff information was headlined by the inclusion of Duran forward of Ollie Watkins.
Early probabilities go begging for Villa
The Colombia striker virtually repaid boss Unai Emery inside 19 seconds. Josko Gvardiol dallied on the ball, permitting John McGinn to nip in and set Duran clear on purpose however he took his shot too early and Stefan Ortega acquired down effectively to make the save.
The German excelled from the ensuing nook, leaping to his left to push Pau Torres’ header on to the underside of the bar with the ball failing to cross the road by millimetres.
Metropolis had been everywhere defensively and it got here as no shock when the impasse was damaged shortly after the quarter-hour mark.
The excellent Youri Tielemans picked out Rogers down the left and his unselfish cross was good for Duran to fireplace into the web.
Jhon Duran opens the scoring and Aston Villa lead 🤩
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— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) December 21, 2024
Jack Grealish, who performed the a part of pantomime villain towards his former membership, was Metropolis’s solely brilliant spark as he gave Matty Money a torrid time down Villa’s proper flank. His probing enabled Foden to fireplace a shot on purpose that introduced a tremendous save from Emiliano Martinez earlier than Grealish himself noticed an effort blocked by the Argentina goalkeeper.
Walker changed John Stones on the break however it did little to solidify the guests’ backine with Money losing a tremendous alternative inside three minutes of the restart, capturing into the facet netting as a substitute of choosing out a Villa shirt within the field.
Duran had a purpose disallowed for offside after 50 minutes earlier than Rogers fired towards the bottom of the left submit with Gvardiol once more sluggish.
Rogers punishes former membership
A second purpose appeared to be coming and it duly arrived after 65 minutes. This time it was former Metropolis man Rogers heading in the right direction after he began and completed a transfer that noticed him performed in by McGinn.
Morgan Rogers makes it 2-0 Aston Villa 🔥
The defensive issues proceed for Man Metropolis 😳
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/vuutXbzjas
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) December 21, 2024
Watkins was launched for Duran and virtually made an instantaneous affect, drawing a great save from Ortega with a low shot.
Foden did handle to internet his first league purpose of the season in harm time, capitalising on some neat work from substitute Savinho however it was scant comfort for Metropolis whose woes proceed.