Aston Villa’s remarkable resurgence under Unai Emery continued with a 2-0 victory against relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest. The win moved Villa within six points of the Premier League top-five and extended their unbeaten run to seven matches.
Despite Forest’s struggles on the road, Villa found it difficult to break the deadlock in the first half, with both sides unable to capitalize on their chances. Ollie Watkins, in fine form, had opportunities but was denied by Forest goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
After a goalless first half, Villa came out determined to make their mark on the match. Bertrand Traoré put the hosts ahead just three minutes into the second half, capitalizing on a misplaced pass from Jonjo Shelvey. Villa continued to search for a second goal to secure the win, but Emiliano Buendía’s wasteful finishing left Forest with a chance to equalize.
However, the visitors lacked creativity in their quest for a late equalizer, allowing Villa to seal the victory in stoppage time. Watkins produced a stunning chip over Navas to put the result beyond doubt, marking Villa’s fourth consecutive Premier League win.
With this result, Aston Villa continue their unexpected chase for European football, while Nottingham Forest remain entrenched in the relegation battle after nine league matches without a win. Álex Moreno was named Man of the Match for his impressive performance in the Villa victory.
