Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest: Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen on target as Unai Emery's Champions League chasers close gap despite nervy second half

Daily Mail | April 5, 2025

Aston Villa boosted their Champions League bid after beating fellow contenders Nottingham Forest in a breathless encounter at Villa Park.

Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen scored within two minutes of each other to hand Villa a comfortable advantage in the opening 15 minutes.

But Forest improved after the half-time break and halved the deficit through Jota Silva, whose low strike squeezed through the legs of Ezri Konsa and into the corner.

More to follow.

Aston Villa beat Nottingham Forest to boost their Champions League ambitions

Morgan Rogers opened the scoring before Donyell Malen netted Villa's second (pictured)

Forest pulled one back through Jota Silva to set up a grandstand finish at Villa Park

Rogers finished low into the corner after being picked out by Youri Tielemans' floated pass

Malen then netted two minutes later after finishing Ian Maatsen's delivery from close range

But Silva ensured a nervy final half an hour after his strike slipped through Ezri Konsa's legs

Callum Hudson-Odoi sent an effort just wide of Emiliano Martinez's far post

Matz Sels was called into action several times in the second half to keep Forest in the game

Forest remain third in the table but are now just six points ahead of in-form Villa

MATCH FACTS

Aston Villa: Martinez, Garcia (Konsa, 46), Disasi, Mings, Maatsen, Onana (Kamara, 62), Tielemans, Malen (Ramsey, 62), Asensio (McGinn, 73), Rogers, Watkins (Rashford, 62)

Subs not used: Cash, Digne, Torres, Olsen

Goals: Rogers 13, Malen 15

Booked: Asensio, Martinez

Manager: Unai Emery

Nottingham Forest: Sels, Morato (Boly, 75), Milenkovic, Murillo, Dominguez (Sosa, 74), Yates, Anderson, Williams, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Elanga (Silva, 46)

Subs not used: Sangare, Toffolo, Moreira, Danilo, Miguel, Abbott

Goals: Silva 57

Booked: Morato, Silva

Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo