Aston Villa prepared for a glamorous midweek Champions League trip to Paris with a victory that keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for next season’s competition via the Premier League although Nuno Espírito Santo must wonder how.
His side, without a regular striker due to injuries, dominated second half proceedings and pulled a goal back through Jota Silva, cancelling out Villa’s two early efforts, but could not convert another of the host of chances that came their way.
Forest were still getting to grips with their re-shuffled formation that did not contain an orthodox number nine by the time they found themselves two goals down, inside the opening 15 minutes.
Villa had already demonstrated their keenness to attack Forest’s back three, or five, particularly down the flanks although the opening goal was a lot more basic.
Youri Tielemans, one of just three survivors from the midweek win at Brighton as Unai Emery shuffled his pack ahead of this week’s PSG Champions League quarter-final, collected a short free-kick just inside his half.
And he was able to float a routine long ball over the Forest back line for Morgan Rogers, inexplicably ignored by them, to chase, take a superb touch and convert past Matz Sels.
The ball from Youri Tielemans 😍
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 5, 2025
The touch and finish from Morgan Rogers 😍 pic.twitter.com/l5qb1ptSmI
Part of the problem appeared to be Forest defender Morato adjusting his shin pad as the free-kick had been taken and, therefore, a crucial step behind Rodgers as the ball floated over. It was hardly a Champions League-standard piece of defending by a team with aspirations to be there next season.
By contrast, these are buoyant times at Villa Park – unprecedented in the Premier League era – and the home support needed little encouragement to get behind their team, all the more so when they doubled the lead two minutes later.
This time, the goal came from attacking the wide areas, Tielemans playing a clever pass which put Ian Maatsen into space down the left as he sized up activity in the Forest six-yard box.
The full-back timed and weighted his cross to perfection for Donyell Malen to arrive ahead of his nominal marker Neco Williams and force the ball over the line from four yards.
Donyell MALEN! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/bDMCU0ko2j
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 5, 2025
Villa Park predictably erupted and Forest, despite their outstanding season, looked shellshocked, barely able to leave their half in the minutes that followed.
But the eight changes made by Emery, not surprisingly, contributed to some errors creeping into Villa’s play as the half progressed, carelessness with the ball at the back a real problem.
There was also the Anthony Elanga factor. In a carbon copy of his midweek winner against Manchester United, he gathered the ball in his own half on 21 minutes and slalomed half the length of the field before shooting just wide.
Callum Hudson-Odoi soon followed suit, after Rogers lost the ball in his own half, ...
