Aston Villa kept up their good run of form in the Premier League after beating relegation threatened Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the Villa Park sunshine. Second half goals from Bertrand Traore and Ollie Watkins proved enough for the side from Birmingham as Forest fall to nine games without a win and a clean sheet.
Unai Emery named an unchanged team from the side that beat Leicester City in the week as Villa looked to keep up this great run of form. Steve Cooper made three changes to his side that lost at Leeds United in the week. Orel Mangala, Remo Freuler and Emmanuel Dennis came out the side with Jonjo Shelvey, Cheikhou Kouyate and Joe Worrall replacing them as Cooper switched to a five at the back formation.
The first half did not offer many efforts at all but within the first minute, in form man Watkins came close. A clearance from Forest defender Moussa Niakhate was blocked by a Villa man and fell to Watkins and his effort flashed past the far post as Villa were looking to punish Forest early on.
That was it for the first half. Neither side were creating many chances but from a performance point of view, the away side improved from the defeat at Leeds but could not find a way past the Villa defence. Both sides were forced into changes in the first half through injury. Leon Bailey was replaced by Traore for Villa and Freuler replaced Kouyate for the away side.
Just two minutes into the second half, Aston Villa took the lead. A ball over the top on the right side put Traore in behind and the winger entered the box. His cross was pushed away by Keylor Navas but fell straight back for Traore who finished into the far corner. It is two goals in two games for the former Chelsea winger who at the start of the season was loaned out by former manager Steven Gerrard.
Forest did have one of their only real chances of the game. Brazilian midfielder Danilo broke through the middle and tried from distance but it was comfortable for the World Cup winner Emiliano Martrinez who was barely troubled all afternoon.
A golden chance came the way of the home side through Emiliano Buendia. Villa got down the left side and Alex Moreno, who almost joined Forest in the summer, pulled the ball back for Buendia but he could not get his shot on target as Forest were looking more vulnerable since they conceded.
That vulnerability showed as Watkins doubled the host's lead in stoppage time. Forest went down to ten men as Niakhate was forced off, this gave Villa space in the box as they broke into the penalty area and after some patient play Jacob Ramsey put a ball across to Watkins who composed himself and put past Forest keeper Navas. The forward adding to his tally after picking up form really well as of late after now getting a goal contribution in ten of his last eleven games.
That was the final action of the game as Villa grab an important three points in their late charge for European football. For Forest their dismal form continues and have now slipped into the relegation zone after Bournemouth beat Leicester City and slowly Forest fans are losing hope. Next up for Cooper's side is Manchester United at the City Ground, a team who have already beaten Forest three times this season. Newcastle United are the team next up for Villa where they will look to make it five league wins in a row.
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