Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest. Premier League.
Villa ParkAttendance42,076.
Report and free match highlights as Aston Villa go sixth with a 2-0 victory over relegation threatened Nottingham Forest; Goals from Sub Bertrand Traore and Ollie Watkins were enough to secure all three points; Forest drop into the bottom three after a ninth game without a win
Saturday 8 April 2023 18:35, UK
Aston Villa's push for the European places continued with a 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, who dropped into the bottom three.
After a drab opening half, the hosts needed just three minutes of the second to take the lead, Traore side-footing into the far corner after pouncing on Jonjo Shelvey's loose pass inside his own area.
The game was eventually made safe deep into stoppage time when Ollie Watkins contined his red-hot streak in front of goal, grabbing his ninth goal in 11 matches to seal all three points.
Victory sees Unai Emery's side, who are on a run of four straight league wins, move up to sixth as their dreams of securing European football for next season stay firmly on track.
However, head coach Emery insists his side need to stay "realistic" over their European ambitions.
He said: "Another target we have is to go to Europe.
"Other teams are playing well. But it [sixth place] is not real, Brighton have two matches less than us, Liverpool as well and we have to wait.
"We have to be realistic and ambitious as well. Our next match is to win."
Meanwhile, Forest are now without a win in nine league games as the pressure continues to build on Steve Cooper. He was backed in midweek by owner Evangelos Marinakis but a statement from the club warned "results and performances must improve immediately" as the threat of relegation looms large.
Defeat at Villa Park leaves Forest, who face Manchester United and Liverpool in their next league matches, in the relegation zone on goal difference with eight games left to play.
It's the first time they have dropped into the bottom three since January and boss Cooper insists Forest cannto feel sorry for themselves as they look to stay in the Premier League.
He said: "You have to accept it when you don't take care of your own business. We have to take it and the negativity that comes with it, and we have to do our best to get out of trouble.
When asked whether he can take positives from the defeat to Villa, he added: "We were fine in the game. We're away from home, our away record speaks for itself and we won't try and hide from that, I certainly won't. We were fine. To give that goal away and the way we gave it away, we can only blame ourselves. Even though we did respond well, [having] 10 men completely stifled our rhythm and it felt like a day where a lot of things didn't go our way."
Aston Villa would have been hoping for a fast start as they looked to continue their fine recent results, and in-form Watkins almost gave them the lead inside four minutes, but the striker dragged his strike wide of the far post.
It was to be Villa's best opening of the half as the hosts struggled to find any rhythm against a spirited Nottingham Forest side.
Both sides were disrupted by injuries as Leon Bailey was replaced by Traore for the hosts and Remo Freuler came on for Cheikhou Kouyate, and it was Cooper's side who looked the more threatening.
Brennan Johnson's cut-back found Morgan Gibbs-White just inside the Villa penalty area, but the forward failed to make a connection with his attempted shot as the opportunity went begging.
Villa did create one final opening before the end of the first half as Alex Moreno's cross found its way to Traore at the far post, but the winger blazed a wild shot high over the crossbar to sum up the home side's opening 45 minutes.
Whatever Emery said to his side at the interval worked a treat as Traore put his poor finish at the end of the first half well and truly behind him.
However, it was a goal Forest shouldn't have conceded. Traore's initial shot was pushed out to Shelvey by Keylor Navas, and the midfielder inexplicably played the ball straight back to Traore, who curled the ball into the far corner from eight yards.
Forest looked for an instant response as Gibbs-White's shot from the edge of the area was deflected over while Danilo forced goalkeeper Emi Martinez into a low save with a shot from distance.
But they failed to create anything clear-cut before Villa killed the game in time added on.
Forest, playing with 10 men as because of an injury to Moussa Niakhate with all their substitutions already made, were cut open and Jacob Ramsey set up Watkins to turn and finish from close range to spark the celebrations.
Sky Sports' Oliver Yew at Villa Park:
European qualification probably wasn't on anyone's radar when Unai Emery took over from Steven Gerrard in November.
But a sparkling run of form which has seen them win six of their last seven matches has put them in real contention for European qualification, with the Europa League firmly in their sights after the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest propelled them up to sixth.
You can make an argument that Villa weren't at their best against Forest at Villa Park but in truth, they didn't really have to get out of second gear against Steve Cooper's relegation-threatened side.
Villa did just enough, toying with the opposition as goals from Bertrand Traore and the in-form Ollie Watkins sealed a fourth successive league win for the first time since October 2020 under Dean Smith.
They have now scored in all 17 of their Premier League games under Emery. Only Chelsea under Carlo Ancelotti and Norwich under Mike Walker have scored in more consecutive games from the start of a manager's tenure (both first 18).
Emery has these Villa players purring and playing with so much confidence. They are on course for their best finish since 2009/10 and before the end of the season they play against plenty of the sides in and around them in the table. In this mood, they will be a difficult proposition for anyone.
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery:
"Very happy, above all for our fans because we're winning at home. Clean sheet. We scored two goals in four matches now. We're going up in the table but we have to take balance as well with the difficult matches we have in front.
"[This] match was the same, we were thinking. It was difficult. We share our moments with our supporters and are taking more information to continue in our way.
"Another target we have is to go to Europe. Other teams are playing well. But [sixth place] is not real, Brighton have two matches less than us, Liverpool as well and we have to wait. We have to be realistic and ambitious as well. Our next match is to win."
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper:
"The first goal is more than costly. Villa had the ball and territory but really Keylor [Navas] hasn't had to make a save in the whole game. The second goal is what it is because we're down to 10 men with injuries today. Although we had to control the game without the ball we were comfortable. Villa didn't look a threat at all, but they're a good team. We've given the goal away and the game has changed.
"We recovered well, had quite a few attacks and a lot of set-pieces and corners. We tried to make changes to keep the impetus. After that we had had to go down to 10 men because we picked up an injury. Just another disappointing day."
On whether he can take positives from today: "We were fine in the game. We're away from home, our away record speaks for itself and we won't try and hide from that, I certainly won't. We were fine. To give that goal away and the way we gave it away, we can only blame ourselves. Even though we did respond well, [having] 10 men completely stifled our rhythm and it felt like a day where a lot of things didn't go our way."
Aston Villa are unbeaten in each of their last seven Premier League games (W6 D1), winning each of the last four for the first time since October 2020 under Dean Smith.
Villa have scored in all 17 of their Premier League games under Unai Emery so far (W11 D2 L4), only Chelsea under Carlo Ancelotti and Norwich under Mike Walker have scored in more consecutive games from the start of a manager's tenure (both first 18).
Nottingham Forest are winless in their last six Premier League games on the road (D1 L5), losing each of their last five; it's their joint-longest losing run on the road in the competition.
Forest are the first side in the Premier League this season to fail to score in 10 different Premier League away games, while their tally of five goals in their first 15 away games of 2022-23 is the lowest in the top-flight since Stoke in 1984-85 (4).
Aston Villa's bid for European football continues with an important home fixture against Newcastle on Saturday April 15. Kick-off 12.30pm.
Nottingham Forest continue their survival fight at home to Manchester United on Sunday April 16, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 4.30pm
April 15: Newcastle (H) - Premier League, kick-off 12.30pm
April 22: Brentford (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 25: Fulham (H) - Premier League, kick-off 7.45pm
April 30: Man Utd (A) - Premier League, kick-off 2pm
May 6: Wolves (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 13: Tottenham (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Liverpool (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Brighton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
April 16: Man United (H) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports
April 22: Liverpool (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
April 26: Brighton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 7.30pm
April 29: Brentford (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 8: Southampton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 13: Chelsea (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 20: Arsenal (H) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 28: Crystal Palace (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm
