Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa. Premier League.
The City GroundAttendance30,117.
Nottingham Forest 2
- N Milenkovic (87th minute)
- A Elanga (93rd minute)
Aston Villa 1
- J Durán (63rd minute)
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa: Nuno Espirito Santo's side move fourth after dramatic late comeback win
Report and match highlights as Forest go fourth after stunning late comeback win over Aston Villa; Anthony Elanga scores 93rd-minute winner after Nikola Milenkovic had equalised in 87th minute; Jhon Duran put Villa ahead in 63rd minute just moments after stunning Emiliano Martinez save
Saturday 14 December 2024 22:15, UK
Nottingham Forest produced a stunning late comeback to beat Aston Villa 2-1 at home and move into the top four thanks to Anthony Elanga's stoppage-time winner.
Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp labelled it a "statement win" - it took Nuno Espirito Santo's side fourth and a point above champions Manchester City, who have a game in hand as they face Manchester United at home on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Forest looked to be heading for defeat after Jhon Duran's 63rd-minute headed opener, which came just three minutes after Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made "one of the greatest Premier League saves ever seen", according to Redknapp.
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Forest thought they had levelled in the 81st minute through Chris Wood, but after a lengthy VAR review Elanaga was marginally offside before setting up the striker.
The home side, however, were not to be denied as Nikola Milenkovic headed in an equaliser six minutes later before Elanga completed the unlikely turnaround in the 93rd minute as he swept home from Elliot Anderson's cross.
But there was controversy around Elanga's winner as Villa felt Matty Cash was fouled by Anderson in the build-up before he crossed for the ex-Manchester United winger.
Unai Emery's side were also denied a "blatant" first-half penalty, according to Redknapp, after Anderson pulled down Morgan Rogers but VAR deemed it to be a "fleeting grab with minimal impact on the attacking player".
Villa's late collapse means they missed the chance to move into the top four and sit sixth, while Forest made it back-to-back wins after last weekend's victory at Man Utd.
Nuno: It's a huge moment
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to Sky Sports:
"It is a big moment. It is a huge moment. After the team went down the reaction was good. VAR overturned the game and we thought it was game over. This match was incredible. The players gave everything and had a desire to go beyond football.
"The fans were a big part in the game today. They helped the team and it goes beyond football, moments like this. It is about the heart and desire of the boys.
"We try and try every day to build something nice that we can identify with the club, the city. It is an important moment that we feel when things go against you and you react, that is what I appreciate the most."
Emery: We completely lost control in last 20 minutes
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports:
"We played 90 minutes more or less as we planned. In the first 70 minutes, we were controlling and kept the ball in possession. Nottingham Forest are very aggressive in attack. We lost control completely in the final 20 minutes because they started pushing more and made some changes.
"We had to be consistent with the ball. We had to keep the possession and should have tried to attack and score the second goal.
"But of course it is a process. We are in a process. We will analyse the first 70 minutes and also the last 20 minutes and where we have to improve the team is very clear to me."
On the Rogers penalty incident: "I can't tell something about the referee and the penalty."
Villa's post-Champions League issues continue
Aston Villa have now lost their last three games following a midweek Champions League match.
It is a worrying trend for Villa boss Unai Emery whose side are winless in their last five league matches after a Champions League fixture. Their only win from the six post-European games this season came at home to relegation-threatened Wolves in September.
"It's not just physically, it's mentally and it's tiring," Redknapp said of their issues.
"You're travelling and the level of games you're playing are such a high then all of a sudden you've got to get yourself going again in a couple of days and try to find your energy from somewhere. It just isn't easy.
"We saw it with Newcastle last season. It's hard to match on both fronts and that's why we have to congratulate Man City and Liverpool on what they've done for so long.
"You need a squad that can handle that with a bit of depth and that's maybe where they're a little bit short but they can hopefully get a couple of players in.
"They're getting great results in Europe but then they're struggling after because of the highs and lows it gives you."
With Villa sitting fifth in the Champions League, Emery's side are virtually assured of reaching the knockout stages next year.
Ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie thinks they need to bolster their attacking options in the winter transfer window to prevent these problems from continuing in 2025.
"I think they have to go again in January," he said. "They have to bring in a force in the forward area.
"All we seem to be talking about is Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran - that's brilliant but can Leon Bailey start adding more to their attack? Can they bring someone in who can take the pressure off?"