Aston Villa continued their impressive Premier League form on Saturday evening, securing a seventh consecutive win with a 2-1 triumph over Nottingham Forest at Villa Park.
From the opening whistle, Villa looked the stronger side, controlling possession and applying pressure on the visitors. Their early dominance paid off in the 13th minute when Morgan Rogers found the back of the net, scoring his 13th goal of the campaign with a composed finish.
The home fans barely had time to settle before Villa struck again just two minutes later. A perfectly delivered cross from Ian Maatsen was met by Donyell Malen, who calmly slotted home his first goal at Villa Park, doubling the hosts’ advantage.
Nottingham Forest responded well in the second half, showing greater urgency and attacking threat. Their efforts were rewarded in the 57th minute when Jota Silva’s strike took a wicked deflection, wrong-footing Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and halving the deficit.
The remainder of the game saw Forest push for an equaliser, creating a few nervy moments for the home side. However, Aston Villa’s defence held strong, withstanding the late pressure to secure another crucial victory.
The win not only extended Villa’s unbeaten run at home to an impressive 17 matches but also lifted them to sixth place in the Premier League table. Unai Emery’s side continues to build momentum in their pursuit of European football next season, while Nottingham Forest were left frustrated despite a much-improved second-half showing.
Villa Park once again proved to be a fortress, with the home supporters playing their part in driving the team over the line for yet another vital three points.
