Villans make assertion of intent in Champions League race

Aston Villa survived a late onslaught from Nottingham Forest to safe a 2-1 win at Villa Park.

First-half objectives from Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen had been the distinction within the Midlands, regardless of a spirited second-half fightback from the guests, who pulled one again by way of substitute Jota Silva.

Villa raced right into a two-goal lead contained in the opening quarter-hour. The opener got here within the thirteenth minute when Youri Tielemans performed a through-ball into the trail of Rogers, who slotted previous Matz Sels for his eighth purpose of the season.

Simply 138 seconds later, the hosts doubled their benefit. Ian Maatsen delivered a low cross from the left flank, which discovered Malen unmarked within the six-yard field for a easy tap-in.

Shell-shocked and disorganised, Forest struggled to mount a response within the first half, though they did often threaten on the counter.

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga each got here shut with photographs that fizzed narrowly large, however Villa remained in management going into the break with a deserved 2-0 lead.

Three straight wins within the league ✊ #AVLNFO pic.twitter.com/UyZ2W7WLKs

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 5, 2025

Nuno Espirito Santo responded on the break by bringing on Jota Silva for Elanga.

The Portuguese winger made an instantaneous impression, halving the deficit within the 57th minute after Neco Williams delivered a harmful cross from the left. Silva’s end into the bottom-right nook gave Forest hope and shifted the momentum of their favour.

From that time, it was the guests who seemed the extra prone to rating. Villa’s early composure gave solution to nervousness as Forest poured ahead with renewed vitality.

Hudson-Odoi and Williams each got here shut, whereas Anderson and Gibbs-White had been fixed threats in and across the field.

It was Villa’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, who turned their saviour within the closing levels. First, he denied Silva with a reflex save from a close-range header, then watched gratefully as Murillo’s strike from the sting of the realm clipped the crossbar in stoppage time.

In the meantime, Sels additionally stored Forest in it with a sequence of very good stops, together with a double save to thwart Rashford late on.

Regardless of Forest’s second-half surge, Villa held on to assert their seventh consecutive league win and transfer stage on factors with Manchester Metropolis.

For Forest, they continue to be third however have given Metropolis and Chelsea under them an opportunity to catch up throughout the remainder of the weekend.