Nottingham Forest earned a dramatic 2-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park, with substitute Igor Jesus striking in the 88th minute to settle an increasingly tense contest.
After a goalless first half, Forest made the perfect start to the second period when Liam Delap found the net in the 46th minute. The visitors had been the more assertive side in front of goal across the match, finishing with 22 attempts and seven on target despite seeing less of the ball than Villa.
Villa, who had 53.3% possession and won six corners, eventually found a response. Alysson rose to head home in the 74th minute, bringing the hosts level and lifting the atmosphere among the 36,714 in attendance.
But Forest refused to settle for a point. With Villa searching for a late winner of their own, Igor Jesus delivered the decisive blow in the 88th minute, restoring Forest’s lead and ensuring the visitors left Birmingham with all three points.
The first half had been a combative, scoreless affair, with Forest’s Dan Ndoye booked in the 43rd minute and Villa forward Nicolas Jackson cautioned two minutes later. Forest defender Murillo also went into the book in first-half stoppage time, while Delap, Xaver Schlager and James McAtee were among the visitors cautioned after the interval.
Forest’s greater attacking output ultimately told: they created 19 shot assists to Villa’s six and put seven efforts on target. Villa showed resolve to fight back through Alysson’s 74th-minute header, but Igor Jesus’ late intervention made certain of a memorable away result.
Aston Villa next face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, September 19, while Nottingham Forest turn their attention to a fixture against Coventry City on the same day.
