Aston Villa 1, Man City 1
Erling Haaland continued his scoring run for Manchester City but Leon Bailey rescued a point for Aston Villa as the champions dropped points for the second time this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesHaaland reached double figures in the Premier League after just six games but a second draw meant that they could only go second behind League leaders Arsenal who have maximum points and a game in hand after City failed to take their chances.
City were dealt a further blow during the match when Kyle Walker was confirmed to have been playing with an injury and was substituted when he could not continue.
City were already short-handed in defence and signed Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund and now look set to be down to just one fit senior full back in Joao Cancelo with some relatively inexperienced backup in Sergio Gomez, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, and Rico Lewis.
And judging from the match replacements today it appears that Nathan Ake could be called up as an emergency left back immediately upon his own return from injury.
City boss Pep Guardiola hadn’t confirmed the news with club doctors but admitted that Walker was injured.
He said: “He had a problem in the first half but at the end he could not continue.
He defended his team’s performance, adding: “Defensively, I liked everything.
“Offensively, in the final third, normally players who are so precise missed a lot.”
City made one change, Julian Alvarez was replaced by Kevin De Bruyne with a trip to Seville coming up.
Kyle Walker blazed over with Haaland waiting in the six yard box for the square ball after four minutes.
De Bruyne lashed a shot wide after 9 minutes and almost turned provider after 14 minutes when he crossed for Ilkay Gundogan who arrived too late to turn the ball in.
Villa were holding City at bay but were disrupted by a hamstring injury to Matty Cash that required treatment.
Ex-Manchester United player Ashley Young, now 37, was called from the bench to replace him after 26 minutes.
Villa prevented City from having a shot on target in the first half but didn’t produce a chance of their own with Ollie Watkins’ shot which was deflected wide by John Stones their best chance towards the end of the first half as Villa grew in confidence.
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Inevitably, the deadlock was broken in the second half with De Bruyne’s cross volleyed home by the Norwegian from a yard out after it had sailed over Emi Martinez’s head.
It was his tenth goal in six Premier League games, level with Mick Quinn in the same number of games, and City repeatedly tried to find him during the match to the detriment of chances for themselves.
Foden sent a cross in which Haaland, who was offside, couldn’t quite reach.
John Stones cleared a long ball meant for Watkins after getting to it first before the Villa striker.
Jacob Ramsay was denied by Ederson after a heavy touch took the ball away from him after he had robbed Rodri and exchanged passes with Watkins in front of the City goal as Villa had to commit more people to attack.
Leon Bailey dragged a long range effort wide of the back post soon afterwards.
Haaland had a shot saved by Martinez before Ezri Konsa denied him another chance to score from another De Bruyne cross.
Haaland was tripped by Tyrone Mings on the edge of the D after he outmuscled him to win the ball for a run on goal.
De Bruyne’s dipping free kick came off the top of the crossbar.
Martinez saved again from Haaland as City continued to try to make the game safe in the final quarter, having regained their usual control.
And De Bruyne smashed a shot wide after Haaland released him with Villa unable to track the Belgian’s movement.
But Villa shocked City soon afterwards when Bailey levelled the scores with 16 minutes to go after Ramsay squared the ball for the winger to smash home from 12 yards out after a long ball forward finally came off for the home side following Rodri’s poor clearance.
It was only the second Premier League goal scored by Bailey who has had an injury blighted time at Villa.
Philippe Coutinho thought he had put Villa into the lead but the flag had long gone up for offside in the build up and VAR didn’t intervene.
Nathan Ake was brought on for the injured Kyle Walker as City reshuffled but Villa stood firm in the final tense minutes as Rodri and Riyad Mahrez sent shots wide.
Martinez denied Foden in added time as City made a late push but they could not find a late winner against the organised Villans for whom the point was vital if unexpected for under-fire boss Steven Gerrard.