Villa not giving up - they are second again
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 03.01.26. | 17:27
Unai Emeri's men won against Nottingham Forest
If only Aston Villa managed to escape the brutal 4-1 thrashing against Arsenal last week, the Unai Emery’s players would have a chance to put some real pressure on the Gunners. A win would tie Villa with Arsenal at the top and after today’s easy 3-1 victory over Nottigham Forest, the Villains would be on the top of the league, pressuring Arsenal, who has two tough games in succession (Bournemouth, Liverpool). But they are now only three points behind, which is still good, as long as Arsenal doesn’t defeat the Cherries.
Villa managed to shake that nasty defeat from last week and won against relegation struggles Nottingham Forest easily than expected, mainly due to the fact that the visitors made mistakes in defense. They allowed one goal in injury time and the second one just at the beginning of the second half, and then committed suicide just as they tried to equalize. When Sean Dyche took over Nottingham, he decided to bench Matz Sels and gave chance to the Brazilian John Victor. The young keeper made a terrible mistake in the 73rd minute, allowing Villa to score the third goal of the game and then got injured in the process and had to leave the match.
Villa was a far better opponent throughout the game and should have scored after only two minutes, but Watkins somehow managed to miss from close range. The home team controlled the match and the visitors had only one chance, after half and hour, but Martinez was not sleepy and saved Hutchinson’s shot. Villa was in or near the penalty area of Forest, but either fell in the box, looking for penalty, or tried some irrational shot. But in injury time, Milenković was late to close in on Watkins, whose volley from the edge of the penalty box gave the home team the lead.
A bad clearance from Forest’s defense in the 49th minute already proved terrible as McGinn used it and scored for a comfortable 2-0 lead. Only then did the visitors started to attack and their best player Morgan Gibbs-White again scored from his individual brilliance in the 61st minute. And just as the visiting players got their momentum and continued their quest for the second goal, their own keeper rushed too far from the goal line, totally mishandling the situation and allowed McGinn to score for the final 3-1 from over 25 meters. Nottingham didn’t have the willpower nor the quality to come back after that.
PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 20
Saturday
Aston Villa - Nott.Forest 3-1 (1-0)
/Watkins 45+1, McGinn 49, 73 - Gibbs-White 61/
18.00: (1.53) Brighton (4.30) Burnley (7.00)
18.00: (2.55) Wolverhampton (3.40) West Ham (2.95)
20.30: (6.50) Bournemouth (4.30) Arsenal (1.50)
Sunday
15.30: (2.75) Leeds (3.25) Man.Utd. (2.65)
18.00: (2.40) Everton (3.30) Brentford (3.25)
18.00: (3.80) Fulham (3.50) Liverpool (2.00)
18.00: (1.70) Newcastle (3.60) Crystal Palace (5.30)
18.00: (1.85) Tottenham (3.60) Sunderland (4.80)
20.30: (1.65) Man.City (4.20) Chelsea (5.60)
***odds are subject to change***
