Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Leon Bailey scores in goalfest

Follow all the action from Villa Park

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The 2023/24 Premier League season is under way and you can follow every game and every goal right here with The Independent.

Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest at Villa Park, with the two teams fighting at very different ends of the Premier League table. Villa sit fourth and are still pushing for a Champions League place, despite some uneven recent form, while Forest find themselves in a relegation battle - though beating West Ham last time out eases some of those fears.

Follow the latest action from the Premier League below and get the latest Premier League odds here.

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest LIVE: Premier League updates

• Goal - Watkins taps in after great work from Bailly (1-0)
• Goal - Luiz finishes a fine move on the half-hour mark (2-0)
• Goal - McGinn crosses for Luiz to head home Villa’s third before half-time (3-0)
• Goal - Niakhate chests in from close range (3-1)
• Goal - Gibbs-White chips in straight after half-time (3-2)
• Goal - Bailey knocks in from close range to restore two-goal lead (4-2)

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

Substitution Felipe Augusto de Almeida Monteiro Andrew Abiola Omobamidele

24 February 2024 16:07

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

Substitution Taiwo Micheal Awoniyi Divock Okoth Origi

24 February 2024 16:07

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

Substitution Murillo Santiago Costa dos Santos Harry Stefano Toffolo

24 February 2024 16:07

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

Substitution Pau Francisco Torres Calum Chambers

24 February 2024 16:07

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

Highlighting the size of Forest's task after the interval, Aston Villa have a record of 10 wins and one loss when leading at half-time in the Premier League this season, while the Reds' record stands at one draw and six defeats when behind at the break. If they are to have any chance of defying such trends, Nuno's men must surely tighten up in defence during the second half - they could easily be trailing by more.

24 February 2024 16:05

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

An eventful first half ends with Aston Villa leading 3-1, having assumed control early on, when Watkins scored his third goal in two games to open the scoring at Villa Park. A Douglas Luiz double subsequently put the home side further in front, as they opened up Nottingham Forest's frayed defence time and time again - but the visitors bit back in stoppage time and can perhaps dream of staging a second-half comeback. Niakhate's close-range finish punished weak Villa defending at a set-piece, so the result is still somewhat in the balance, even if Unai Emery's team remain strong favourites to prevail.

24 February 2024 16:00

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

HALF-TIME: ASTON VILLA 3-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

24 February 2024 15:56

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

Assist Taiwo Micheal Awoniyi

24 February 2024 15:51

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

Hudson-Odoi cuts inside, skips past two players, and then lays the ball off for Dominguez. From the edge of the area, the Forest midfielder skies his attempt, sending it spiralling over the crossbar.

24 February 2024 15:50

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

In the second of five additional minutes for stoppages, Villa retain the ball without much contest, as Nottingham Forest sit deep and try to limit the damage. They just want to hear the half-time whistle.

24 February 2024 15:49