For Manchester City and Erling Haaland, another fruitless visit to Villa Park. It was not quite last season, when defeat here approaching Christmas was a ninth in a dozen matches but it was equally painful. With a minute of regular time to play, Haaland clattered into a post after meeting a slide rule cross by Omar Marmoush, having squeezed the ball over the Aston Villa goalline. But the assistant referee raised his flag and, as Haaland lay wincing, a VAR check confirmed the goal would not stand.

There is sufficiently much more positivity surrounding Pep Guardiola’s side at present but this proved another frustrating trip, Matty Cash’s superbly taken strike ultimately the difference. Villa have now won their last four Premier League matches.

On his previous visit here Haaland registered 18 touches, just one in the opposition box and afterwards criticised his own performance. This time he managed 16, recording three in the Villa 18-yard box and City’s only other notable efforts on goal were tame efforts courtesy of Haaland, who twice saw Emiliano Martínez comfortably gather. For Villa, this was a welcome return to winning ways after a shock Europa League defeat at mid-table Eredivisie side Go Ahead...