Match Report: Aston Villa 4-2 Nottingham Forest. Luiz bags brace as shaky Forest defence implodes.

 

A six goal thriller unraveled at Villa Park as Aston Villa beat a relegation threatened Nottingham Forest 4-2  to ignite their Champions League hopes. Douglas Luiz scored a brace with Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey also getting on the scoresheet despite goals from Moussa Niakhate and Morgan Gibbs-White for the away side. 

Unai Emery named an unchanged side from the team that beat Fulham with former Red Matty Cash starting against his former side. Nuno Espírito Santo made one change from the side that beat West Ham United. Nuno Tavares came out the squad completely as Niakhate returned to the side. Neither of the African Cup of Nations finalist were involved as they all have picked up injuries from the tournament. 

It only took the home side three minutes to find the opening goal. Leon Bailey entering the box while skipping past Niakhate and Murillo and pulling the ball across for Watkins who scored from close range. The Villa top scorer adding to his record with his 14th goal of the season and giving Emery’s side the perfect start. 

Villa then doubled their lead after 28 minutes. Cash from the right gave the ball to Jacob Ramsey in the box who played it one more time for Douglas Luiz who’s first time shot found the back of the net from the centre of the box. The afternoon proving to easy for Villa who’s attack were causing a lot of issues for Forest and giving Nuno a headache. 

Luiz then netted his second of the afternoon six minutes before half time. The ball got recycled back to corner taker John McGinn and the midfield re-sent a cross into the box which was met by the head of Luiz to put Villa three to the good. The Brazilian midfielder having a brilliant afternoon as he picks up his eighth and ninth goal of the season and scoring in back to back home games. 

Forest did manage to pull one back in first half stoppage time. Morgan Gibbs-White’s corner was chested across goal by Taiwo Awoniyi and was stabbed in by Niakhate from close range. A first Forest goal for the defender who was operating in a left back position and gave the away side a bit of hope. 

That was it for the first half as Villa went in 3-1 up. A brilliant first half for the West Midlands side but Forest getting one just before the break could of entailed for a nervy second half for the Villains. Nuno made three changes at the break as Harry Toffolo, Divock Origi and Andrew Omobamidele replaced Murillo Felipe and Awoniyi. Villa also made a change with Callum Chambers replacing Pau Torres. 

Forest got off to the best start in the second half. Substitute Origi putting the ball behind the defence for Gibbs-White to get onto and lift the ball over Emiliano Martinez to make it 3-2. The midfielder with his third league goal of the season and brought Forest right back into the game. 

Villa almost restored their two goal advantage minutes later. Alex Moreno with good work on the left and he pulled it back to Youri Tielemans who’s first time shot hit the post. The former Leicester City midfielder having a busy afternoon and was key to making Villa tick. 

The home side did eventually restore their two goal advantage with half an hour to go. Omobamidele with a poor pass which came for Tielemans who gave to Watkins and his shot came over Matz Sells and fell to Bailey to tap into an empty net. A brilliant afternoon for the Jamaican with two goal involvements and was tearing Forest apart on the right side as he got his thoroughly deserved goal. 

So it was Aston Villa who came away with the three points after putting four past Forest. A brilliant attacking display and they didn’t let the small comeback from Forest effect them. They stay fourth in the league ahead of a trip to Luton Town next time out. A disappointing afternoon for Forest with their defending letting them down again the Reds remain 16th and host Manchester United in the FA Cup at the City Ground for their next game. 

Match Report: Nottingham Forest 2-0 West Ham United. Reds win first in four as West Ham suffer again.

 It was a brilliant afternoon for Nottingham Forest fans as goals at the end of both halves gave them their first league win in 2024 after beating ten man West Ham United 2-0 at the City Ground. Goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Callum Hudson-Odoi gave the home fans delight as West Ham fall to yet another defeat. 

Nuno Espírito Santo made two changes to the side that lost at home to Newcastle United. Moussa Niakhate came out the defence as Brazilian defender Felipe came into the side for just his second league start since May. Danilo also came in as he replaced Ryan Yates after a disappointing performance last time out. David Moyes made two changes as well to the side that were dismantled by Arsenal. Ben Johnson and Tomas Soucek made way for Kalvin Phillips and former Forest man Michail Antonio after his return from injury. 

The first chance of the game came to the home side. Hudson-Odoi getting down the left side and sending a ball across the box with it eventually coming to Morgan Gibbs-White who’s shot from close range was brilliantly saved by Alphonse Areola. A big chance for the midfielder who hasn’t scored in the league since the Reds last win against Manchester United. 

With the final action of the first half, Forest took the lead. After a cross from Nuno Tavares was headed away only as far as Nicolas Dominguez, the Argentine gave the ball to Awoniyi who turned his man and slotted past Areola to give the Reds the lead. A second goal since returning from injury and scoring against West Ham for the third time after scoring in both his past two games against the Hammers. 

That was it for the first half as Awoniyi’s strike gave the Reds the lead. Forest performing the better of the two sides and were seeing most their attacks start from the left side through Hudson-Odoi. The away side with a frustrating half as they struggled to create many chances against a resilient Forest side. 

The chances kept coming early in the second half for the home side. After just five minutes, Gibbs-White distributed the ball to the right to Anthony Elanga and his touch brought the ball in the air in which he volleyed from and it was tipped over by Areola. Elanga coming close to scoring in back to back games after scoring in the deafest against Newcastle. 

Another chance came for Forest. A poor clearance from a Forest set piece came out for Danilo on the edge of the box and his volley was punched away by Areola. 

West Ham then reduced their chance of finding an equaliser after going down to ten men. On loan Manchester City midfielder Phillips with a high tackle on Gibbs-White and the midfielder got a second yellow and was sent off. A second red card for Phillips at the City Ground after being sent off for his former side Leeds United in 2019. 

Forest then sealed the game in stoppage time. Neco Williams getting round his man on the right side of the box before fizzing a ball across the box with it deflecting to Hudson-Odoi to fire home from close range. Yet another goal from Hudson-Odoi who has now netted in three consecutive league games and is starting to show what an exciting player that Forest have on their hands. 

That was the final action of the game as Forest pick up a big three points. A dominant performance from Nuno’s side ego pick up their first win since beating Manchester United in December. The Reds move up to 15th in the table and next travel to Villa Park to play Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side where they will be looking for back to back wins. A difficult few days for Moyes and West Ham after todays result in which they struggled to create clear cut chances throughout the whole game. The Hammers drop down to 8th in the table and next host Brentford in the Premier League where they will look to turn around this poor run of form. 

Match Report: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Newcastle United. Guimaraes double spells more concern for Reds.

 

An entertaining night at the City Ground went the wrong way for Nottingham Forest as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United with poor defending and individual mistakes costing the Reds. Goals from Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi were not enough as Bruno Guimaraes scored a brace as well as Fabian Schar getting on the score sheet to give the Geordies their third win in four games in all competitions. 

Nuno Espírito Santo made one change from the Reds last league outing in the draw at Bournemouth. Andrew Omobamidele, who has stepped up when he was needed, was replaced by Moussa Niakhate who made his first league appearance since returning from the African Cup Of Nations. There was a joke debut for keeper Matz Sels with other new signings Giovani Reyna and Rodrigo Ribeiro getting places on the bench. Eddie Howe made one change from the side that drew 4-4 with Luton Town. Jacob Murphy came out the eleven and was replaced by Callum Wilson as he lead the line. Anthony Gordon started despite an injury scare that was thought to rule him out of the game. 

It took just ten minutes for the opening goal and it was Newcastle who found it. A clever corner routine saw Miguel Almiron play the ball to Kieran Trippier on the corner of the box and his first time cross was met by an unmarked Guimaraes at the back post and he found the back of the net with a first time volley. A neat tactic by Howe’s side with Guimaraes netting his first goal since September and silencing the City Ground. 

Forest were level though just after the 25 minute mark. Morgan Gibbs-White in the middle of the pitch put a ball behind the defence for Elanga to meet and he used his pace to get one on one with Martin Dubravka and poke the ball past him to score. Elanga’s pace causing Dan Burn and Newcastle problems once again as it did in Forest’s 3-1 win up in Newcastle on Boxing Day and the Toon just didn’t have a solution to deal with him. 

The away side then re-took the lead through another set-piece. Trippier’s free kick from deep was sent into the box and after the ball was headed around the area, it fell to defender Schar who swept home under Sells. The Swiss international scoring again after scoring a brace in their last away outing at Aston Villa with Forest conceding from yet another set piece. 

But in the final minute of first half stoppage time, Forest free level again. Hudson-Odoi cutting in from the left and his right footed shot from distance deselected of Lewis Miley and wrong footed Dubravka and found the left corner. Two goals in his last two league games for the former Chelsea winger who’s confidence is showing to be growing at a rapid rate. 

That was it for the first half after a highly entertaining half of football played out. Forest eventually growing into the game after seeing none of the ball in the opening stages. Newcastle used their physicality well to cause Forest problems and saw most of the ball. 

It was a quiet second half in comparison to the first but that didn’t stop Newcastle from taking the lead for the third first time as Guimaraes netted his second. Elanga’s poor clearance from the corner of the pitch saw the ball drop to the Brazilian midfielder on the edge of the box and he found the bottom corner without being closed down. An individual mistake costing Forest after Elanga’s clearance but a night for Guimaraes to removed as he scored his third of the season. 

Forest came close to equalising in stoppage time. Gibbs-White taking range from the edge of the box but he couldn’t get enough curl on the ball as it went just wide. 

Forest flooded the Newcastle box with crosses but couldn’t find the equaliser as Newcastle came away with the three points. The result moves the North East side up to 7th in the table with their next fixture being against Howe’s former side AFC Bournemouth at St. James Park. Forest remain 16th and two points clear of the relegation zone and remain winless in 2024 in the Premier League. Next up for the Reds is another home game where they play West Ham United in where a win is really be needed. 

Nffc v Arsenal

 It was third time lucky for Mikel Arteta on his trip to the City Ground after his Arsenal side beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 on a cold night in the East Midlands. Second half goals from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka was enough to get the Gunners over the line despite a late scare through Taiwo Awoniyi. Forest have now suffered back to back defeats in the Premier League and were unable replicate any of their last three home games against the North London side. 

Nuno Espírito Santo made three changes from the side that were held to a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup at the hands of Championship side Bristol City. Nuno Tavares was ineligible to play due to his loan conditions as Harry Toffolo stepped in his place. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ryan Yates were the other two to come out the side and they were replaced by Neco Williams and Morgan-Gibbs-White. Three men who had been sidelined through injury got places on the bench with Felipe, Awoniyi and Anthony Elanga bolstering Nuno’s options. Arteta made two changes from his side that demolished Crystal Palace 5-0 in their last outing. Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard both dropped to the bench as Emile Smith Rowe got his second league start of the season and Gabriel Martinelli came back into the eleven. 

The first half was very limited with chances. The home side came closest when Danilo picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and his shot from distance went over the bar. The Brazilian looking to find the net again after scoring a spectacular goal in the league defeat at Brentford. 

Arsenal’s best chance came just before the half time whistle was called. Saka curled a cross to the back post which Jesus got above Andrew Omobamidele to head on target but former Arsenal keeper Matt Turner stretched to tip the ball over the bar. Turner keen to build up his confidence after struggling to keep up to high standards after being at fault for some goals in the past few weeks. 

That was it for the first half as both side’s struggled to create any clear cut opportunities. Arsenal dominated on the ball in which they had 81% possession in the first half. This gave Forest a difficult time as they struggled to get out their own half. There was a half time substitute for the home side. Chris Wood being replaced by the returning Awoniyi who hasn’t featured since November through injury which have Forest a huge bonus. 

The post came to the home sides rescue ten minutes into the second half. Some nice play between Saka and Martin Ødegaard saw the latter flick the ball to a free Jesus on the right and his shot cannoned off the near post from the right. The away side creeping ever so closer to taking the lead but at the same time we’re growing frustrated. 

They did eventually take the lead though on the 65 minute mark. A quick throw found Jesus on the left side of the box and the Brazilian managed to squeeze the ball in from a tight angle by putting the ball through Turner’s legs. A fourth goal of the season for the former Manchester City striker as he piled more uncertainty on his former teammate Turner as it it seen as another mistake from him. 

Just seven minutes later, the away side doubled their advantage and it was through another individual mistake from Forest. This time Gonzalo Montiel’s failed clearance on the half way line fell straight to Ødegaard who sent Jesus away down the left and he put the ball across to Saka who found the far corner on his weak foot. Forest the creators of their own downfall again as it seems these individual mistakes have been a recurring theme all season. 

There was a glimmer of hope for Forest as they scored with two minutes to go. Danilo sending a long ball that was headed down by Montiel to Awoniyi who turned and found the back of the net from close range. The perfect return for the Nigerian shot managed to claim his fifth goal of the season despite a VAR check. 

Forest pushed for an equaliser but ultimately ran out of time as Arsenal came away with the three points. The result leaves the Reds 16th in the league and two points clear of Everton as the gap is getting tighter. Forest next travel to the South Coast to play AFC Bournemouth in where a win could prove vital. Arsenal claim back to back wins in the Premier League. The result moves them second ahead of Manchester City’s two games in hand and two points off Liverpool who also have a game in hand. Liverpool is Arsenal’s next test at the Emirates for a crucial game in the title race.