Nottingham Forest secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at the City Ground, with late goals from Nikola Milenkovic and Anthony Elanga sending them into the Premier League’s top four. This win marked a historic moment for Forest, celebrating their 5,000th league match, and it came after a spirited comeback from a goal down. Villa had taken the lead through Jhon Durán, who scored his third goal in as many games, but Forest’s resilience and tactical brilliance turned the tide.
Forest’s manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, was thrilled with the performance, urging fans to celebrate the win, but emphasizing that the team must remain focused on the next challenge. The victory continued a remarkable season for Forest, who had already claimed significant wins against Liverpool at Anfield and Manchester United at Old Trafford. With eight league victories this season, Forest are on pace to match their best start to a campaign since 1994-95, a year in which they finished in the top six.
The game itself was a tactical battle, with Nuno’s strategies successfully limiting Villa’s attacking threats. Villa, coming off a midweek victory against RB Leipzig, looked to build on their momentum, but Forest’s defensive organization and quick transitions proved to be a key factor. Forest had several chances in the first half, with Elliot Anderson’s powerful shot deflecting wide and Murillo heading just past the post from a corner. Despite these opportunities, it was Villa who struck first.
Villa’s opening goal came after a period of sustained possession around the edge of Forest’s penalty area. John McGinn delivered a precise cross, and Durán was on hand to head home, giving Villa the lead in the 56th minute. Forest thought they had equalized soon after, but a VAR review ruled that Elanga was offside by the smallest of margins when he set up Chris Wood for a tap-in.
The equalizer finally arrived in the 83rd minute. Milenkovic, who had scored his first Premier League goal just a week earlier against Manchester United, rose to meet a cross from Morgan Gibbs-White and powered a header past Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. The game was now poised for a thrilling finish.
In the final minutes, Forest pressed for the winner, and their efforts were rewarded in the 88th minute. Anderson, who had been a constant threat throughout the match, dispossessed Villa’s Matty Cash and pulled the ball back to Elanga. The Swedish winger made no mistake, slamming the ball into the net from close range to send the City Ground into raptures.
While Villa manager Unai Emery was frustrated by the VAR decisions and some refereeing calls, he acknowledged that his team had struggled to cope with Forest’s intensity, particularly in the second half. Villa have now gone five matches without a win in the league, a worrying trend following their midweek Champions League exploits.
The victory propelled Forest into the Champions League spots, at least temporarily, with Manchester City’s match against Manchester United to come the following day. Nuno’s side has shown tremendous growth this season, and while their position in the top four may not be permanent, it is a clear indication of their progress under his leadership.
Forest’s tactical discipline and attacking prowess were on full display, and despite the late drama, they earned their place in the top four with a well-rounded performance. As Nuno rightly pointed out, the team’s focus now shifts to their next challenge: a tough match against Brentford. With their momentum growing, Forest will be confident of continuing their strong run in the league.
