ASTON VILLA 2-1 MANCHESTER CITY: Pep Guardiola’s struggles continued as Morgan Rogers starred against his former club, bagging a goal and an assist for Unai Emery’s side
How beleaguered Pep Guardiola must wish he had a player like Morgan Rogers arriving for Christmas.
Unfortunately, Manchester City had that gift all wrapped up – and chucked it straight back. Having sold Rogers to Middlesbrough 18 months ago, the big striker has flourished since joining Aston Villa in February.
And the recently-capped England forward heaped misery on his former boss yesterday delivering a towering performance that left the crisis-torn champions more messed up than ever before.
Rogers, surging in from the left, was just too powerful and strong for hapless City, who crashed to a sixth league defeat in just eight outings. He unselfishly laid on Jhon Duran’s 16th minute opener before brilliantly dispatching his fifth goal of the campaign in the second half to at least leave Villa fans full of festive cheer.
Unai Emery’s side had only won two of their last eight in the Premier League – so will have been rubbing their hands at the prospect of City arriving. That’s how far Guardiola’s four-peat champions have fallen: clubs now relish facing them.
Villa, with Youri Tielemans outstanding in midfield, bullied them at times and made it all look so easy. City, now with just one win in TWELVE games, only seemed to raise the tempo after Phil Foden’s goal – but that was in the 93rd minute.
Guardiola made six changes to the side embarrassed in Sunday’s late loss at home to Manchester United, including dropping Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne. He brought Jack Grealish in for a rare start against his former club.
But the only time he truly livened up was when complaining to referee Peter Bankes at the half-time whistle. That led to some shoving with Emiliano Martinez and Erling Haaland – and Grealish carried on with some verbals with the Villa keeper down the tunnel.
Having fit-again John Stones and Manuel Akanji back at the heart of their defence should have strengthened City. But it took just 18 SECONDS for Villa to have their first chance of the game. Josko Gvardiol was caught dawdling in possession straight from the kick-off meaning Duran was put through.
Stefan Ortega saved the big striker’s effort, conceding the first of three corners in quick succession. He produced a brilliant one-handed save from the first when Pau headed goalwards and the keeper superbly clawed the ball onto the crossbar.
Ortega then punched the next corner over his bar before Amadou Onana headed the third over. City survived the early onslaught but it only delayed the inevitable. They were so flat and insipid, it was obvious Villa would come again.
Tielemans’ sublime threaded ball from deep unleashed Rogers who raced clear before squaring for Duran to slot home his fourth goal in as many games. Foden forced a decent save from Martinez after a one-two with Rico Lewis.
Gvardiol headed over from a Grealish cross but the hosts, so athletic and purposeful, were the only side truly looking dangerous. Guardiola hooked England centre-half Stones at half-time, bringing Walker on, shifting Gvardiol into the middle of the defence and Rico Lewis to the left.
But things didn’t change. Duran raced clear onto another Tielemans pass to blast past Ortega but he was pulled back for offside. Rogers played a brilliant one-two with Duran to get in behind them again, only to see his shot strike a post.
But there was no denying him in the 65th minute. He surged clear yet again before finding McGinn and arriving in the box to easily get his shot away before Walker even had a chance to challenge. Foden’s effort was too little too late.
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