Nottingham Forest scored twice and suffocated in-form Aston Villa to end a two-month wait for a Premier League win with a 2-0 victory at the City Ground on Sunday.
Ola Aina scored after five minutes and Orel Mangala doubled the advantage after halftime to give the Tricky Trees more than enough thanks to a stifling defensive display that had the game at a walk.
[ MORE: Premier League table — Standings from 2023-24 season ]
Forest moves into 10th with 13 points, eight clear of the bottom three before 18th place Luton kicks off with Liverpool.
The result is a bit stunning as the Villans entered the weekend just four points off the top of the table, unbeaten in six-straight across all competitions.
Unai Emery’s free-scoring side was challenged and failed on the day, their 22 points keeping them fifth after 11 matches.
Forest shut up shop to shut down Villa’s comeback hopes
If the fifth-minute opener set the stage for a defensive Forest, then Mangala’s second send everyone inside the castle walls.
Forest gave Villa 78% of the ball after halftime and dared the Villans to find a way into the six. The visitors managed eight attempts but Odisseas Vlachodimos — stepping in for USMNT keeper Matt Turner after an error last week — made two of his three saves during the second half.
Villa remained solid in the center but Ollie Watkins and John McGinn were uncharacteristically quiet while Moussa Diaby found little danger and Nicolo Zaniolo was lively if a bit wasteful.
It was a strong coaching job by Steve Cooper and Unai Emery will have known what was going on the whole time. Villa’s goal-collecting players just found very little to scoop up at the City Ground.
What’s next?
Villa hosts AZ Alkmaar at 3pm ET Thursday for a Conference League match before hosting Fulham at 9am Sunday.
Forest will have the week to prepare for a visit to West Ham United, also at 9am Sunday.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa final score: 2-0
Goals: Aina (5'), Mangala (47')
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa player ratings
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa at the half: 1-0
Villa hasn’t had their cutting edge despite 68% possession, a figure no doubt aided by Forest’s early goal.
The xG is 0.40-0.30 in favor of Villa, who’s taken four of the game’s seven shots.
Ola Aina goal video: Forest takes lead through beauty
Forest have announced themselves as anything other than Sunday run-throughs for the favored visitors, and have done it with aplomb.
Ola Aina runs onto Harry Toffolo’s ball outside the 18 and gets every bit of his momentum behind a strike that flies past recently-crowned world goalkeeper of the year Emiliano Martinez.
Game on!
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa live, stream link, start time
Kick off: 9am ET Sunday (November 5)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch live on NBCSports.com
Nottingham Forest lineup
🔁 Three changes from #LIVNFO.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) November 5, 2023
🇬🇷 Odysseas starts in goal.
🇧🇷 Danilo back in the squad.
Here's our side to take on @AVFCOfficial.
📋 #NFOAVL
Aston Villa lineup
Your Aston Villa team! 👊 pic.twitter.com/ztP8iWejSm
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 5, 2023
Focus on Nottingham Forest, injuries
Forest finally have a healthy Taiwo Awoniyi, who is the side’s best bet to make the most of playmakers like Morgan Gibbs-White and the currently injured Callum Hudson-Odoi. Divock Origi’s injury certainly hasn’t helped things, either.
OUT: Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring), Divock Origi (hip), Gonzalo Montiel (calf), Chris Wood (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Danilo (thigh), Felipe (knee)
Focus on Aston Villa, injuries
Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby have been a sensational top-line pair, while Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara a dynamic duo in the heart of the midfield.
OUT: Emiliano Buendia (torn ACL - out for season), Tyrone Mings (torn ACL - out for season), Jacob Ramsey (ankle), Alex Moreno (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Jhon Duran (toe)