Rogers and Malen Spark Aston Villa to Victory in Fiery Clash with Nottingham Forest
Wow, what a match that was between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest at Villa Park! Honestly, it had all the ingredients of a classic Premier League clash—early fireworks, tactical shifts, a second-half surge, and drama right up until the final whistle. Villa came out on top with a 2-1 win, but it was anything but comfortable.
Right from the kickoff, Villa looked like they meant business. The energy was electric, and it didn’t take long before Morgan Rogers, who’s been absolutely shining this season, lit up the scoreboard. Tielemans floated a clever ball over the top, and Rogers controlled it beautifully with the outside of his boot before smashing it past Matz Sels. The confidence in that finish? Top class.
Just minutes later, Donyell Malen doubled the lead, putting Forest in serious trouble. That start gave Villa a solid platform, and honestly, it looked like they might cruise to victory. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this Forest side under Nuno EspÃrito Santo, it’s that they don’t go down without a fight.
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The second half was all about Forest pushing back—and hard. Nuno’s tactical switch at the break, bringing on Jota Silva, changed the momentum completely. Forest suddenly looked alive, hungry, and aggressive. Jota got one back, spinning and shooting through Konsa’s legs after a bit of chaos in the box. From there, Villa found themselves under siege.
Forest racked up 19 shots in total, with Murillo even smacking the crossbar in stoppage time. It felt like an equaliser was coming any second. You could see the tension in the Villa players. They were sharp and lethal in the first half, but in the second, they looked a little rattled. That said, credit to Unai Emery—his team held their nerve when it mattered most.
You also have to give it to Forest—they were without key strikers Taiwo Awoniyi and Chris Wood, and Elanga had to come off at halftime. Still, they pushed Villa to the edge, proving why they’re sitting high in the table this season. Neco Williams and Elliot Anderson both had near misses, and Gibbs-White wasn’t far off either. They were so close to snatching a point.
But ultimately, Villa held on. Seven wins on the bounce now and still alive in multiple competitions. The focus shifts quickly now to the Champions League showdown with PSG, and if this match was a dress rehearsal for that, then Emery’s side got the intensity they needed.
This game had everything—goals, grit, and a genuine test of resolve. Rogers and Malen got the headlines, but the whole team showed what they're made of. And Forest? They may have lost, but they showed exactly why they’re pushing for a spot among Europe’s elite.
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