November 05, (THEWILL) – Nottingham Forest ended their miserable six-match English Premier League winless run in an emphatic style on Sunday, beating Aston Villa 2-0 at the City Ground.
Goals from Ola Aina and Orel Mangala lifted the pressure off manager, Steve Cooper and served as a reminder of Forest’s potential after a difficult start to the season.
The home side flew out of the blocks and took an early lead through Aina’s fine 5th minute strike. Harry Toffolo provided the assist after a strong run down the left from Anthony Elanga. Despite chances to extend their lead, it remained 1-0 at the break. Just 69 seconds into the second half, Mangala’s swerving long-range effort beat Emiliano Martinez, who should have done better with the shot.
Villa struggled to cope with Forest’s intensity and attacking threat for most of the match. The defeat was Unai Emery’s first since a September loss to Liverpool and will temper expectations of a top four challenge. Forest thoroughly deserved the three points after an excellent performance, especially in the first 50 minutes.
The win ended a miserable run of form and lifts Forest up to 13th in the table. After recent disappointing displays, this result offers encouragement that Forest can establish themselves in the top flight under Cooper. The City Ground crowd clearly enjoyed seeing their team back to their best.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
