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.
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