Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 1: Visitors miss chance to close gap on Arsenal as hosts move within 1 point of top four
ASTON VILLA’S two-goal blast in two minutes ultimately settled a game of two halves.
But Unai Emery’s Champions League quarter finalists were made to fight for their seventh win in a row right until the end by Forest, their unlikely rivals for an automatic spot in next season’s competition.
What brilliant seasons these clubs are having, and what an entertaining game this was, especially in the second half.
When the Forest fans struck up an early chorus of “Que Sera Sera”, the home supporters joined in to mark their shared achievement of reaching the FA Cup semi finals at Wembley.
It will be Paris in springtime for Villa on Wednesday when they take on PSG in the first leg.
On a deceptively cold afternoon in the West Midlands, boss Emery rested a number of key players for a match that was important for both clubs’ chances of playing elite European football next season.
Emery’s judgement seemed sound when Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen put the home side ahead with two goals in two first-half minutes against a Forest team that seemed to be running on fumes.
But Nuno Espirito Santo’s injury-hit band of brothers dug deep and rocked VIlla back on their heels after the break.
Half-time sub Jota Silva pulled one back and Forest squandered a number of other chances to end Villa’s winning streak.
Before the game started, Villa seemed to be giving Forest a lesson in how much they will need to improve if they do make it to the Champions League and want to compete.
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Emery was able to make eight changes to the starting line-up that had won at Brighton yet still field a formidable team.
Meanwhile Nuno had to stick with the tried and trusted as injuries to Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi left him without a centre forward and needing to reshuffle.
Forest had looked leggy and a little nervous in beating Manchester United through Anthony Elanga’s early wondergoal.
A better, more incisive team than United would probably have beaten them.
And Villa, for 15 minutes at least, were a much better and more incisive team than United.
Forest were 3-4-3 out of possession but very much a 5-2-3 when Villa had the ball.
It mattered not. Ian Maatsen drew a save from Matz Sels, then Marco Asensio and Youri Tielemans went close-ish before Rogers and Malen dealt the visitors a quick one-two combination right in the chops.
Visiting centre half Morato looked up from fiddling with a shinpad to find Tielemans was about to clip a lovely pass between him and makeshift wing-back Nico Dominguez.
Rogers’ control was exquisite. A quick look up, a couple of confident strides forward, a firm left-footed shot, 1-0.
The second goal soon arrived and was also a little gem.
The weight on Tielemans’ pass to Maatsen was perfect, allowing the Dutchman to throw Ryan Yates off balance and then head to the byline.
The cross was tempting, Malen’s run was well timed and the finish, a formality.
Emery celebrated with his customary gusto.
But the Villa boss was animated for different reasons midway through the half when Forest finally showed their teeth.
Elanga attempted to recreate his incredible sprint and finish from the United game but pulled his left-foot shot wide of the far post.
Then fellow flying winger Callum Hudson-Odoi found space and was also off target.
Villa had lost a bit of momentum but Forest did not register a shot on goal until the 40th minute, when Emi Martinez saved easily from Yates.
The visitors needed to find some energy from somewhere and Nuno sent on Silva for Elanga at the break to play as a more conventional centre forward.
Unfortunately for Forest the first chance to pull one back fell to Neco Williams, who fired wide of the far post after Hudson-Odoi retrieved a deep cross.
Then the winger himself had a go from a similar position, with a similarly frustrating result
But it was third time lucky. Williams crossed from the left, Elliot Anderson swung and missed, and Silva pounced to steer a left-footed shot across Martinez and into the net.
Moments later Tielemans stopped Anderson from converting another Williams centre.
Then Anderson did get a shot away, only to fire wide.
Villa were on the ropes and Emery had seen enough, making a triple change just after the hour.
The game had plenty of edge by now, with Silva provoking a clash with Martinez that attracted a few other players.
Rogers could have restored the two-goal lead after leaving Murillo in a heap on the halfway line. But a heavy touch meant that Forest goalkeeper Sels could make a save.
Back came Forest, Morgan Gibbs-White shooting wide. Sels saved from Asensio and then Tielemans as the game became end to end.
Gibbs-White went close twice more, sending a header and then a right-footed shot wide.
Sels scrambled away a Marcus Rashford corner, and in stoppage time Murillo hit the bar before Sels denied Rashford again.
The Champions League needs both these clubs and their fans next year.