Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the action from Villa Park
Follow live coverage as Aston Villa face Nottingham Forest today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
With their seventh straight win across all competitions, Aston Villa climb to sixth in the Premier League, holding on to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 at Villa Park in an absorbing end-to-end contest. The Villans were totally dominant for most of a one-sided first half, with Rogers firing in a fine opening goal before Malen converted from close range to give the hosts a merited two-goal advantage. However, having steadied the ship at half-time, Nuno's side fought back valiantly after the break, throwing men forward and taking 13 attempts at goal. Though substitute Jota Silva did pull one back just before the hour mark, Forest - with an xG of 1.2 - couldn't find an equaliser, while Villa - recording an xG of 2.52 - threatened to score several times on the break. Murillo's stoppage-time thunderbolt almost snatched a point, but it ultimately clipped the crossbar, leaving the Tricky Trees to contemplate an increasingly rare defeat. They stay third in the table, with another week to reflect on their costly start to today's game before tackling Everton. Meanwhile, Emery's men have kept their winning run rolling into a mammoth clash next week, when they play Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. That's all from Birmingham today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
DOUBLE SAVE! Twice, Sels saves Forest, keeping their hopes alive! Rashford is sent clear by McGinn, and the on-loan striker sees his first effort saved at close range. Then, Sels leaps up to claw the rebound away when Rashford threatens to steer it home!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
OFF THE CROSSBAR! Murillo comes so close to levelling the scores! The Brazilian centre-back raids forward to the edge of Villa's box, firing a superb strike towards the top-left corner. Martinez seems to be beaten, but the ball clips the top of the woodwork and flies behind!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
There will be at least four more minutes added for stoppages, and that announcement is met with a nervous hushed repsonse from the home fans. Can Villa hang on?
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
With Rashford's corner-kick from the left dangerously close to sneaking in at the near post, Sels has to palm it way hurriedly. Somehow, Forest then clear their lines. After a long spell on the back foot, Villa are finishing this second half strongly.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
Ramsey's ball in from the left finds Rogers, who turns well near the penalty spot and then lashes the ball towards goal. Before it can travel far, Boly's body is thrust in the way, and the Forest sub makes a vital late block.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
Showing off his renowned reflexes, Martinez makes a sharp save to tip away Jota Silva's goalbound header. The referee's assistant then raises his flag to indicate that the Nottingham Forest substitute was quite clearly offside in any case.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
After Rogers wins a corner on the right, the initial set-piece delivery is punched away by Sels. However, it drops towards Maatsen, who is stationed a few yards outside Forest's area. Instinctively, the full-back lets fly, sending the ball several yards wide of the target.
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