Nottingham Forest struck twice in the final few minutes at the City Ground, moving to fourth on the table via a 2-1 comeback win over Aston Villa on Saturday
Jhon Duran put Villa in front after the hour mark, but Nikola Milenkovic and Anthony Elanga delivered goals in the 87th minute and third minute of stoppage time, respectively, to boost Forest into fourth for at least 21 hours.
Forest’s 28 points are three behind second-place Chelsea and one more than fifth-place Man City, who play Sunday against Manchester United.
Villa stays sixth with 25 points.
Forest sustaining spirit
Nuno Espirito Santo has able bodies at every level, and all appear bought-in to what he’s trying to do at the City Ground. There was no quit at the City Ground, even when Villa went ahead through Jhon Duran’s sharp finish. The hosts just rallied, and the home crowd buoyed them from hopeful equalizer to deserved winner against a Villa team eventually worn down from a busy week. Big center back Nikola Milenkovic has now scored in back-to-back games but the giant defender is arguably the final piece to fall into place for the Tricky Trees — a wonderful coincidence given his set-piece prowess makes him a bit of a tricky 6-foot-5 tree himself. The midfield is led by spirit animal Ryan Yates, whose never met a tackle he didn’t like, and Forest’s bevy of attacking options have been rotated well by Espirito Santo. With Morgan Gibbs-White pulling the strings and Chris Wood a savvy veteran finisher, Forest are one of the few non-traditional powers negotiating the down periods from Manchester United and Spurs. And that could have them back near the places reached when they were a power. No one’s saying they’ll win back-to-back European Cups a la 1979-80, but European nights could soon be back at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Villa host Man City at 7:30am ET Saturday before Forest visit Brentford at 10am that day.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday
Venue: City Ground — West Bridgford
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa final score: 2-1
Jhon Duran 63', Nikola Milenjovic 87', Anthony Elanga 90+3'
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa live updates — By Nick Mendola
Anthony Elanga goal! Forest 2-1 Villa (90+3')
Elliot Anderson goes hip to hip with Matty Cash outside the right side of the 18 and takes the ball off the Villa right back.
Anderson turns up field and sends a ball into the six, where substitute Anthony Elanga snaps it over the line.
What a turnaround!
Nikola Milenkovic goal! Forest 1-1 Villa (87th minute)
Neco Williams sends Gibbs-White into the right side of the box.
The English playmaker chips a side-footed cross high into the air and his big center back is up for it.
Big ol’ header. Justice served.
1-1.
Chris Wood goal... but a loooooonnnnnggg VAR check chalks it off
Morgan Gibbs-White finds Anthony Elanga, who needs to pass a VAR test on his run to reach the ball.
He then sends the ball across goal and Chris Wood slides to push it over the line.
So... are we level or not? They are drawing the lines and.... he’s offside by the slimmest of margins.
Villa subs
Ollie Watkins is fit for 17 minutes, and Amadou Onana will also come on as Duran and Tielemans exit the fray.
Forest subs
Jota Silva and Morato are on for Ryan Yates and Murillo, 68'.
Jhon Duran goal! Forest 0-1 Villa (63rd minute)
Villa score three minutes after that stop!
John McGinn cues up newly 21-year-old Jhon Duran for the opener, his sixth goal of the Premier League season.
That magical Martinez save may have swung the game.
Martinez magic! One of the best saves you’ll see
Elliot Anderson’s corner in swung into a very dangerous place and is hit toward goal by Nicolas Dominguez.
Surely a goal but... WOW. Emiliano Martinez reaches behind his body with a very strong hand to rescue it from completely crossing the line.
Superb coordination and physical strength.
Halftime — Forest 0-0 Villa
A good watch for a nil-nil. Smooth play, but the bulk of the action has been well away from goal.
Shots 5-4 for Forest, with a late effort from Matty Cash the only one on target.
Good energy, absent chances
A total of 0.09 xG through nearly 30 minutes of play, and possession has hovered right around 50-50.
Penalty shout!
Elliot Anderson has a hold of Morgan Rogers’ wrist as the latter drives into the 18, and Rogers hits the deck.
It looks like a penalty, but VAR’s had a look and does not advise intervention.
Extended feeling-out period
Yet to see real danger, as Villa have held onto the ball but Forest are plenty comfortable at home through a scoreless 14 minutes.
Change to Villa’s lineup
Tyrone Mings has taken ill during warm-ups, and Pau Torres will take his place in the XI.
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels, Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina, Yates, Domiguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Cash, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Duran
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa preview
Unexpected top-four hopefuls Nottingham Forest host last season’s surprise package Aston Villa in a marquee Saturday match-up at the City Ground.
Forest have won two-of-three matches since dropping back-to-back matches around the November international break, and a win Saturday would give the Nuno Espirito Santo’s Tricky Trees a great start to the Festive Fixtures.
Villa have won consecutive matches after a five-match skid cost themn table footing, a winless November paving the way for a tricky run of fixtures A pair of home wins over Southampton and Brentford now lead them to Forest before Man City and Newcastle hit the fixture list Dec. 21 and 26.
Both sides have 25 points, two points back of fourth-place Manchester City but also two points above 10th place on this hyper-congested Premier League table.
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
Only three players have scored more Premier League goals than Chris Wood this still-young season, his 10 goals four away from his best single-season PL haul (He’s scored 14 twice, last season as well as the 2019-20 season with Burnley. Wood’s next PL goal with be his 80th in the competition, quite an achievement.
OUT: Danilo (ankle), Ibrahim Sangare (undisclosed), Alex Moreno (undisclosed)
Aston Villa team news, focus
Ollie Watkins has found himself back in form, pushed all the time by most-dangerous super sub Jhon Duran. Morgan Rogers has become one of the more powerful young attackers in the Premier League.
OUT: Jacob Ramsey (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Leon Bailey (thigh), Ollie Watkins (unspecified)
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa prediction
It’s difficult to bet against a sturdy Villa side at home, one that just tripped up Manchester United. And Villa faced Tuesday action in the UEFA Champions League to boot. But Unai Emery has navigated a tournament or two with style in his day. This will be a dogged affair with chances to spare, and perhaps fit for a split. Forest 1-1 Villa.
