Jackson’s double ends City’s perfect start at Villa Park
Sunday 25 October 2026 · By James Thornton
Nicolas Jackson needed only two shots on target to beat Manchester City. Both went in, and Aston Villa won 2–1 on Saturday, four years to the day since Unai Emery was appointed.
The first came after six minutes, when Jackson took advantage of Marc Guéhi’s heavy touch and finished John McGinn’s pass. Erling Haaland headed City level on 52 minutes from Ndiaye’s free-kick. On the hour, Ibrahim Mbaye crossed a minute after coming off the bench, and Jackson scored again.
The BBC noted that those two goals were Villa’s only shots on target. Zion Suzuki made a series of saves at the other end. The result ended City’s run of seven straight league wins and was their fourth league defeat in a row at Villa Park.
Jackson has seven goals in 11 games since joining from Chelsea, six of them in his last six. “The players, the manager, the team – everything is incredible,” he told Match of the Day.
Emery was pleased with his progress. “At the beginning of the season he was shooting so much as though he was playing rugby, so he is progressing,” he said, Goal reported.
He also set out his targets. “In the league we are progressing but still under our expectations. The objective is to compete with these teams – City and Arsenal.”
Emery added that Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash, rested on Wednesday, were “fresh”.
Villa have taken 11 points from their last six league games, having lost their first two, the BBC said. They are sixth on 11 points from eight matches and have won all three Champions League games.
Wednesday brings a League Cup trip to Bournemouth (19:45 GMT), and Fulham are at Villa Park on Halloween night (20:00 GMT).
Emery and Johan Manzambi are both on Ballon d’Or shortlists on Monday. On this evidence, Jackson may soon be added to the conversation at Villa.
Villa Park sits in Aston, a few miles north of Birmingham city centre, address Trinity Road, B6 6HE. It has been Aston Villa’s home since 1897. For visiting supporters the practical picture is simple: you are almost always in the north-east corner of the Doug Ellis Stand, on Witton Lane, split between lower-tier block Q (about 1,600 seats) and upper-tier block P (about 1,300). Upper-tier access is 64 steps. Late turnstiles Q96 and P89 usually stay open until the second half begins.
Orient yourself from the pitch. The Holte End is the big two-tier home end behind the south goal. Opposite it, behind the north goal, is the North Stand. Trinity Road is the main three-tier side to the west, with dugouts, tunnel and hospitality. Doug Ellis runs the east touchline. Goals sit in front of the Holte End and the North Stand, not the side stands. League away allocations are the Doug Ellis corner, not the North Stand, except when cup rules require a larger share of the ground.
Check your fixture before you travel. For 2026–27 the North Stand is closed while it is rebuilt, so capacity is lower than the usual low-40,000s and concourse routes around the north side can change week to week. Construction also affects the north car park, shop and FanZone approaches. Follow the club’s away-supporter note for that match rather than last season’s memory.
Witton station is the one you want: a short walk to the away turnstiles and usually the calmer exit afterwards. Aston station is walkable but busier after big games. From New Street there are regular local trains; matchday shuttle buses also run from Dudley Street near New Street. Drivers should use M6 junction 6 and expect a traffic exclusion zone on Witton Lane and Trinity Road from two hours before kick-off. Book parking in advance. Away coaches use the dedicated park opposite the ground on Witton Lane; the visitors’ ticket office is on that same stretch.
Gates typically open 90 minutes before kick-off. Bags are searched and oversized bags are refused, with no storage on site, so travel light. Alcohol is often not served on the cramped upper away concourse. Wheelchair spaces sit in the away section with step-free access via the gate by the away ticket office. Stay in your purchased seat; standing on seats and blocking aisles is policed.
Villa Park is a proper old English ground rather than a bowl: four distinct stands, a loud Holte End, and a visiting corner that still gets a decent view of both penalty areas. Arrive early, use Witton, and treat the diagram as a plan of the bowl, not a street map. Enjoy the noise from the Holte — then get your own end singing.