Nottingham Forest claimed a landmark victory at Villa Park on Sunday, ending a 32 year wait for a win at their opponents’ ground courtesy of a dramatic strike from substitute Igor Jesus. The goal, arriving with only two minutes remaining, handed Oliver Glasner his opening league triumph since taking charge of the Tricky Trees.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, remain without a top flight win this term, extending their frustrating start under Unai Emery.
The visitors made the breakthrough through new arrival Liam Delap, who netted his maiden goal for the club following his £50 million switch from Chelsea in the close season. It marked his first strike since January, adding to the sense of relief around his display.
Villa hit back through goalkeeper Alysson, who registered the home side’s opening league goal of the campaign to briefly restore parity. Before that equaliser, Villa’s best chance came when a Victor Lindelof effort cannoned off Murillo, forcing Sels into a smart save onto the post, only for the rebound to fall kindly back to Lindelof, whose follow up was again denied.
Beyond that moment, though, Emery’s men struggled to assert themselves. The Spaniard withdrew record buy Nicolas Jackson, a £65 million recruit, at the interval, replacing him with Tammy Abraham, a player he had considered releasing over the summer. It signalled ongoing uncertainty within his revamped squad.
Forest dominated large stretches of the second period before Jesus’ intervention sealed the points. The result stretches Emery’s winless record against Glasner to eight matches, a sequence dating back to the Austrian’s spell at Crystal Palace.
While Villa’s midweek Champions League win at Club Brugge had lifted spirits, this display underlined how much rebuilding still lies ahead for Emery’s project.
