ASTON VILLA are hosting rivals Nottingham Forest in a massive Midlands derby and have scored two early goals!
In a packed Saturday of football, Crystal Palace beat rivals Brighton after 14 MINUTES of injury time.
Ipswich were in front against Wolves, but suffered a huge body blow as the visitors fought back from a goal to win 2-1.
Graham Potter’s West Ham drew with Bournemouth.
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Nuno rues chaotic start
Nuno Espirito Santo feels his reshuffled Nottingham Forest team were caught cold early on at Villa Park.
The Forest boss went with a makeshift back three that struggled to contain the hosts, falling two goals behind in the opening quarter of an hour.
The Tricky Trees roared back in the second period after some half-time tweaks but a goal from sub Jota Silva was all they could muster for their improvements.
We didn’t start well, Villa controlled chances. The second half was different, we had the chances but we couldn’t score. The first half was not good, we were not organised. We tried to find solutions, and the boys showed a better game [in the second half].
Nuno Espirito Santo
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Unai has eyes on PSG
Unai Emery was delighted that he was able to freshen up his Aston Villa side and still deliver three points.
The Villa boss made eight changes to his starting line-up to face Nottingham Forest, and later admitted that it was done with Wednesday’s epic Champions League quarter-final at Paris Saint-Germain in mind.
We are going to play two matches, the first in Paris and then coming back here. Of course we are going to prepare for two matches, but it is completely different from the game we played today.”
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Forest still on course
Despite today’s blip, Nottingham Forest remain in strong contention for both Champions League qualification and FA Cup glory.
Third-place Forest hosts Everton next before a trio of games against London opposition in Tottenham, Brentford and Crystal Palace.
And in between, there’s the small matter of an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.
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Rogers praises January signings
Morgan Rogers believes the Aston Villa newcomers have helped lift the mood at the club.
The England international, who scored the opener this evening, insisted that the arrival of Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen in January is helping the club challenge in league, cup and Europe.
That’s what football is all about. The January signings have proved massive for us. We knew it was going to be important if we want to compete in the second half of the season in the three competitions. We have made changes but we all know our jobs. We were fully focussed and the players who have come in have been outstanding. It was a good performance all around.”
Morgan Rogers
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Villa take advantage of magic moments
Aston Villa threatened to blow Nottingham Forest away in the first half.
But having got their two goals, they then had to dig in during a second half momentum shift when the visitors came roaring back.
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That’s Mor like it
Morgan Rogers has now had a hand in 10 goals in his last 14 appearances for Aston Villa in all competitions (6 goals and 4 assists).
Only Ollie Watkins (26) has more goal involvements for the club this season than Rogers (22 – 13 goals and 9 assists).
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Seven up for Super Villa
Aston Villa have won seven consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since a 10-game winning run between March and April 2019 (while playing in the Championship), doing so as a top-flight side for the first time since March 1981 (7).
- 2-0 v Cardiff (H), Feb 28
- 3-1 v Club Brugge (A), Mar 4
- 1-0 v Brentford (A), Mar 8
- 3-0 v Club Brugge (H), Mar 12
- 3-0 v Preston (A), Mar 30
- 3-0 v Brighton (A), Apr 2
- 2-1 v Nott’m Forest (H), Apr 5
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From Dan King at Villa Park
Make sure you watch Match of the Day tonight. They could do the whole show on this game, especially the second half.
Forest looked out on their feet when Villa went two up in 15 minutes. But they somehow found the belief and energy to take the game to the hosts.
Although Villa also had their chances, Forest will feel unfortunate not to have got a point.
The Champions League next season will be the poorer if either (or both) of these clubs miss out.
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Match stats from Villa Park
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Full time – Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
The points go to the Villains!
Those two quickfire first half goals from Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen were too much for Forest to claw back despite their best second half efforts.
Sub Jota Silva got the visitors on the scoresheet, but Unai Emery’s team held on to move sixth and within six points of their opponents.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
90+3. Tyrone Mings makes a big block in the penalty area, Morgan Gibbs-White runs the ball out of play, and that should be that.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
90. Murillo with a belter onto the crossbar!
The Brazilian lets rip with a thumping shot from 30 yards that has Martinez beaten, but clips the top of the woodwork.
So close to an equaliser with just four minutes of stoppage time remaining.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
86. Emi Martinez in a nutshell.
He first makes a brilliant reaction save to deny Jota Silva, who was offside anyway.
And then immediately gets himself booked for timewasting.
Somehow, it’s only his fourth yellow card of the season.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
83. Aston Villa certainly haven’t given up on the idea of a third goal, and Morgan Rogers still looks the man most likely to make it happen.
What a season the youngster is having.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
80. Into the final ten and it’s still so finely poised.
Ramon Sosa is on for Forest as they chase an equaliser.
For the first time, there is anxiety in the atmosphere at Villa Park.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
77. Forest have now had 11 attempts in this second half, but the only one on target is the goal that brought them back into the game.
Can they find any further inspiration?
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
73. John McGinn is on for Aston Villa, in what is their fifth and final substitution.
The Scot takes over from Marco Asensio and will look to steer his side over the line.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
70. The next goal – if there is to be a next goal – is massive.
At one end, Morgan Rogers nearly tricks his way for another, only to be denied by Sels.
Then straight up the other end, Jota Silva almost slides in on the stretch for the equaliser.
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From Dan King at Villa Park
Villa are on the ropes.
Forest had good chances either side of half time sub Jota Silva pulling one back and the home team barely got out of their half for ages.
Emery had seen enough and made a triple change just after the hour.
Rogers should have restored the two-goal lead but a heavy touch allowed Matz Sels to make a save.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
66. It wouldn’t be an Aston Villa (or Argentina) game without an Emi Martinez flashpoint.
The goalkeeper takes issue with Jota Silva trying to impede him as he races to the edge of the area so reacts in the only way he know how – by barging his opponent over and starting a melee.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
64. Here come the changes for Villa.
Marcus Rashford, Jacob Ramsey and Boubacar Kamara are all on with Amadou Onana, Donyell Malan and Ollie Watkins making way.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
62. “It feels like the equaliser is coming,” suggests Sky Sports co-commentator and concerned Aston Villa fan Alan Smith.
Unai Emery looks to his bench and calls for reinforcements.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
60. Forest are flooding forward now, and Elliot Anderson is causing Aston Villa all kinds of problems.
Having almost stolen in for one, the midfielder latches on to another delivery from the left to slice wide of the far post.
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Aston Villa 2-1 Nott’m Forest
57. Nottingham Forest are back in it thanks to super sub Jota Silva!
The Portuguese Poundland Jack Grealish latches on to Neco Williams low cross from the left, taking the ball of the toes of teammate Elliot Anderson in the process.
But before Anderson can complain about Jota’s interference, the forward swivels and shots past Emi Martinez, albeit with the help of a nick off Ezri Konsa.
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Game on!
