Rogers made sure of the three points against Pep Guardiola's out-of-form side at Villa Park in the 65th minute, slotting in from just inside the box after an impressive run.

The youngster had set up Villa's first-half opener, unselfishly teeing up Jhon Duran, who netted for a third consecutive Premier League game.

After struggling to pose a threat for much of the match, City got a stoppage-time consolation goal through Phil Foden, but it was not enough to prevent a ninth defeat in 12 games in all competitions.

Unai Emery's side leapfrogs City into fifth, only outside the top four on goal difference, with the Citizens now 11 points behind leader Liverpool as its title defence slips further away.

Erling Haaland, though, said the City players still believe in Guardiola despite the slump in form.

"He won the Premier League six times in seven years, so we will never forget that," Haaland said.

"He will find the solutions. He has been doing that every single year. We still believe in him; we have to work harder than ever right now."

On City's dismal run, the Norwegian added: "Of course we are disappointed, it's not good enough. It's not good enough from me.

"It's difficult to come [to Villa Park] but, we're Man City. We have to continue; we have to believe, and we have to keep working hard.

"We have to continue. First, I'm looking at myself, I haven't been doing things good enough, I haven't been scoring my chances. I have to do better; I haven't been good enough.

"Of course, [confidence is] not the best. We know how important confidence is, and you can see that it affects every human being. That is how it is, we have to continue and stay positive even though it is difficult."

This century, only Chelsea out of the Premier League's other so-called "big six" teams have endured a run of nine losses in 12 games.

Guardiola, though, looked to draw positives from City's latest defeat.

"We played a really good first half, second half we dropped," Guardiola said.

"We have good moments, we had chances, more chances than in the United game, but in the second half we dropped, and our pressing was not good enough. We struggled a little bit, and we could not drop them well. We found a goal in the end, but too late.

"We struggle to score, and we concede goals.

"Step by step, we have nice personalities in the team and sooner or later we are going to find [confidence]."

He also suggested it is on him to change his tactical approach.

"I have to do it [change], and back my players, that is what will be different," he said.

Rogers, meanwhile, hailed Aston Villa after his own magnificent display.

"We knew it was going to be difficult," the 22-year-old said. "They have not had results, but we knew they were going to come firing.

"We knew we needed a reaction in the same way as they did. To a man, I thought we were outstanding, and I think we deserved the win.

"I try to thrive in big games, and I want to show what I am about - it is nice to perform in the big games.

"It felt tougher than it probably looked. They make you work, and it is so demanding out of possession. We knew we had to be on it from start to finish. On the counter-attack we were good and that's probably why we won the game."