Nottingham Forest showcased their never-give-up attitude at the City Ground, thrilling the home crowd with a dramatic win against Aston Villa after being a goal down. Following their five-goal thriller victory over Manchester United at the Old Trafford stadium last week, the Reds carried their momentum forward with this hard-fought triumph on home turf.
The numbers reflected clear dominance from Nuno Espirito Santo’s team. They registered 17 shots, with six on target, compared to Villa’s eight attempts, of which only two hit the target. Forest enjoyed 51% of ball possession and achieved an impressive 91% pass accuracy.
Jhon Duran opened the scoring for the visitors in the 63rd minute, putting Villa ahead. However, in the game’s dying moments, Nikola Milenkovic and Anthony Elanga stepped up with crucial goals to secure an epic comeback. This victory pushes Nuno’s men back into the top four, with 28 points from 16 games, holding the fourth spot in the ongoing English Premier League (EPL).
Here are the player ratings from the game
Matz Sels – 7
Aston Villa managed only two shots on target, which meant Matz Sels had a relatively quiet game with few significant challenges to deal with. However, some fans have argued that Sels could have done better to save the first goal of the match.
Ola Aina – 7
Ola Aina had a solid performance, effectively limiting Aston Villa’s chances down the flanks and preventing them from creating many real opportunities in wide areas.
Murillo – 7.5
The Brazilian defender could have positioned himself better to prevent Jhon Duran’s opening goal. However, overall, Murillo delivered a strong performance, showcasing his intent and impressive passing skills throughout the game.
Nikola Milenkovic scored the crucial equaliser, reigniting the Reds' hopes and bringing them back into the game. Alongside his goal, his defensive contributions were outstanding and a delight to watch on the field. The goal came from a hanging cross into the box, which the defender met with a powerful header from close range to find the back of the net.
Neco Williams – 7
Neco Williams stayed actively involved throughout the game, but his primary focus was on fulfilling his defensive duties effectively.
Elliot Anderson – 9
Former Newcastle United star Elliot Anderson had an outstanding game, highlighted by his brilliant assist for Anthony Elanga’s decisive second goal.
Ryan Yates – 7
Not everything went according to plan for Ryan Yates, as he rolled his ankle early in the game and required treatment. Despite the setback, he showed great determination and gave his best effort throughout the match.
Defensively, Nicolas was solid and fully justified Nuno’s decision to include him in the starting XI. He also came agonizingly close to scoring, but Emiliano Martinez produced a world-class save to deny him a memorable goal.
Morgan Gibbs-White – 8.5
Morgan Gibbs-White assisted Milenkovic with the Reds' first goal. He was consistently involved in the build-up to attacks, contributing with key moments throughout the game.
Callum Hudson-Odoi – 7.5
Most of the Reds' attacks came down the left flank, which meant Hudson-Odoi had added responsibility in supporting the offensive play.
Chris Wood – 7
The Kiwi striker had a disappointing performance, especially given his red-hot form so far this season.
Substitutes
Morato – 7
He came on as a substitute for Murillo in the 68th minute and performed well enough throughout the match.
Jota Silva – 6
Silva was brought on in the 68th minute and, from then on, played a key role in helping his teammates throughout the proceedings.
Anthony Elanga – 9
Elanga sealed the comeback with a dramatic late winner. A sharp finish, set up by Anderson, secured all three points for his team at the City Ground.
Willy Boly – N/A, came on the 90+4’ minutes
