John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings with 8s and 9s as Man City beaten 2-1

Aston Villa have secured three successive home league wins for the first time this calendar year after beating champions Man City 2-1 at Villa Park.

Jhon Duran opened the scoring in the 16th minute by finishing from close range after being picked out by Morgan Rogers, before the former Man City man doubled the lead just after the hour mark and Phil Foden scored deep into second half added time. After defeating Pep Guardiola’s side 1-0 last season, Villa have now earned consecutive home league wins against City for the first time since 1993.

Duran has now scored six goals in as many starts for Villa this season, but missed a golden chance to put his side ahead in the first minute after John McGinn dispossessed Joskol Gvardiol of the ball in the final third. Duran had a one-on-one ahead with Stefan Ortega, but despite having time, he opted to take his shot early before being denied by the City goalkeeper.

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From the resulting corner, Villa came even closer to breaking the deadlock as Pau Torres headed Lucas Digne’s corner towards goal. Ortega managed to claw the ball from off the line before Erling Haaland put it behind the post. That was one of the 11 touches the Norwegian striker managed in the first period.

Villa took the lead after Youri Tielemans played an exquisite through ball to find Rogers bursting towards goal. With Duran by his side, the former City forward rolled the ball across goal for his teammate to convert past Ortega.

Duran thought he had doubled Villa’s lead not long after the start of the second half as he ran clear on goal and finished past Ortega, but he was flagged for offside. Once again it was Tielemans pulling the strings.

Rogers gave Villa a two-goal cushion by finishing the move he started after he breezed past opposition players to drive Villa up the pitch. After John McGinn found him in the box, the England international fired across Ortega to score his second goal in three home league games.

Villa couldn't quite hold onto a clean sheet after Phil Foden reduced City's deficit deep into second half added time. Emery's side take on Newcastle at St. James’ Park on Boxing Day on Wednesday before hosting Brighton on December 30.

Player ratings

Emi Martinez

Martinez dealt with what came at him well in the first half, before being booked after the half-time whistle for arguing with opposition players. He was furious after being denied what would have been a successive clean sheet at home. 7

Matty Cash

Cash put a couple of heavy tackles on Grealish in the first 15 minutes. The former Villa captain wanted Cash booked on his second foul before he was cautioned after the following one. Villa's right-back got to grips with Grealish in the second half and managed to contain him. 7

Ezri Konsa

Between Torres and Konsa, they kept Haaland quiet throughout. When he strolls through games like this against some of the best forwards in the world, it makes you appreciate just how good Konsa is. 8

Pau Torres

Torres came within inches of giving Villa the lead when he headed Digne's cross goalwards. It was a brilliant save by Ortega to keep Torres' effort out. The Spaniard had a brilliant game against Haaland. 8

Lucas Digne

Digne showed real quality from corners today, whipping the ball on top of Ortega a few times. His energy down to cover the flank all afternoon is a real underrated part of his game - it takes some doing to do it every game he plays. 7

Boubacar Kamara

Some player. He's exactly what City are missing in their midfield now that they're without Rodri. Kamara was destructive in his tackling and cute with his passing. 8

Amadou Onana

Onana came into the starting XI as the only change from the team which played against Nottingham Forest last time out. He formed a strong double pivot alongside Kamara. It was the first time he played alongside Kamara from the start. 8

John McGinn

McGinn had plenty of joy down the right channel early on and caused problems for Gvardiol. City struggled to contain the Villa skipper's energy. When McGinn plays well, Villa play well. 8

Youri Tielemans

It was Tielemans' perfectly weighted through ball which set Rogers in on goal, before he rolled it across for Duran to score in the 16th minute. The Belgian operated closer to the striker today, which is a role he excelled in last term. He's not the quickest, but he's always one step ahead of his opponent in possession. 8

Morgan Rogers

Rogers recorded his third assist of the season and his first since making two in the win over Wolves back in September. He showed courage on the ball and powered beyond City markers to get Villa up the pitch. 9*

Jhon Duran

Duran made his third successive league start this afternoon, playing ahead of Ollie Watkins. He had a golden chance to put Villa ahead in the first minute, but he took his effort on too early. It didn't take him long to atone for missing his first chance as the Colombian ace gave Villa the lead by tapping in after Rogers rolled the ball across the box. 9

SUBS

Ollie Watkins (for Duran, 81'): N/A

Morgan Rogers (for Buendia, 90'): N/A

Subs not used: Olsen, Mings, Nedeljkovic, Bogarde, Maatsen, Bailey, Barkley.

GOALS

Aston Villa: Duran (16'), Rogers (65')

Man City: N/A

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