MANCHESTER CITY set two unwanted Pep Guardiola records in their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.
The champions were played off the park by a relentless Villa side inspired by the likes of Leon Bailey and John McGinn.
Unai Emery’s side moved above City thanks to the three points and were unfortunate not to have won by a bigger margin.
They dominated City from start to finish with Guardiola’s side managing just TWO shots – both of which came in the opening 11 minutes.
That is the fewest ever by a Guardiola team in a game in one of Europe’s big-five leagues.
Bailey grabbed Villa’s winner with a deflected effort in the 74th minute but City’s goal had lived a charmed life up until that point.
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Goalkeeper Ederson kept his side in the game with a series of brilliant saves while wayward finishing also spared City’s blushes.
The European champions faced 22 shots in total – the joint-most any Guardiola team has faced in his 535 games as a manager.
Villa’s 13 first-half shots is also the most ever faced by a Guardiola side EVER.
City even failed to win a single corner – that has never happened before in the Premier League during the Spaniard’s reign.
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City are now winless in four Premier League matches for the first time in SIX AND A HALF YEARS and they failed to win for the fifth time on the spin in all competitions when midfielder Rodri was unavailable.
Guardiola said: “With Rodri we could not win against Liverpool or Spurs. Of course he is important but it’s my job to find a way to do it without him.”
But they could not find a way last night at Villa Park.
The City chief added: “They were better and we have to accept it.
“I know the players tried and wanted it because they have proven it to me and everyone many times.
“But now the results are not good, when previously they always were. The way we played in the past we won ? but today, we are not able to.
“We are not consistent enough to win games. I have to think about it. I have to sleep, to reflect.”
The Citizens are four matches without a win and trail league leaders Arsenal by six points.
Incredibly, they are just three points above rivals Manchester United but have a chance to end their poor run when they visit relegation-threatened Luton at the weekend.
Defender John Stones said: “We have to use the hurt and the pain that is within us, our stomachs, our brains, wherever it might be, as motivation and fuel to put things right.
“I think everyone has that desire. We’ve been in these positions in previous seasons.
“I don’t think we or everyone should be hyping about what is going to happen. I think we have to stay calm as a team, which we will do tomorrow once we’ve analysed it and settled down emotionally.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
