Aston Villa continued their poor form after a Champions League game, as they collapsed late on against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Forest has only lost two games at the City Ground so far this campaign. It would always be a difficult fixture for Unai Emery’s side but how they collapsed highlighted the difference between a side that qualified for the Champions League last season and the current one.
Villa have struggled to keep clean sheets this season and in truth, have done for the majority of this calendar year. Players who have let down former managers appear to be making the same mistakes week in, and week out and there is only so long you can get away with it.
Aston Villa’s preparation for the game took a blow when Tyrone Mings pulled out of the game just before kick-off with Pau Torres taking his place. Jhon Durán was handed his second Premier League start in a row with Ollie Watkins starting on the bench in the only change from the win over RB Leipzig in mid-week.
The only moment of note in the first half came when the visitors had an early shout for a penalty when Elliot Anderson pulled Morgan Rogers down in the box but despite VAR checks, the referee’s decision of no penalty stood. All pundits and fans were left shocked by what looked like a clear-cut foul.
Nicolás Domínguez thought he had given Forest the lead early in the second half but he was denied by his fellow Argentine, Emiliano Martínez as the keeper somehow pulled the ball from behind him off the line to deny the winger. Some have since described the same as one of the best in the Premier League.
Villa eventually broke the deadlock just after the hour mark. Rogers played a one-two with Durán before playing the ball to John McGinn, the Scot played the ball to Lucas Digne who returned the ball for McGinn who sent in a first-time cross. The beautifully crossed ball found Durán who headed home to leave Matz Sels no chance in the Forest goal.
The introduction of Anthony Elanga caused Villa problems and the home side thought they were back on level terms when he picked out Chris Wood for a tap-in but VAR ruled out the goal for offside.
They didn’t have to wait long to get their goal though. Neco Williams released Morgan Gibbs-Wright who was able to pick out Nikola Milenković who headed towards Martínez. The keeper struggled to keep hold of the ball as it hit the back of the net.
Moments later, the collapse was complete in a few minutes of madness for the visitors. Anderson looked to have fouled Matty Cash but the officials were having none of it and the former Newcastle man ran into the box, pulling the ball back for Elanga to complete the turn-around and give Forest all three points.
The win takes Forest up to fourth in the Premier League with Villa sixth in a real statement win for the Reds.
Emery: “We played 90 minutes more or less as we planned. In the first 70 minutes, we were controlling and kept the ball in possession. Nottingham Forest are very aggressive in attack. We lost control completely in the final 20 minutes because they started pushing more and made some changes.
“We had to be consistent with the ball. We had to keep the possession and should have tried to attack and score the second goal.
“But of course it is a process. We are in a process. We will analyse the first 70 minutes and also the last 20 minutes and where we have to improve the team is very clear to me.”
Nuno Espirito Santo: “It is a big moment. It is a huge moment. After the team went down the reaction was good. VAR overturned the game and we thought it was game over. This match was incredible. The players gave everything and had a desire to go beyond football.”
