'A clear red card' - Emery berates VAR as Villa lose late to Forest
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was left frustrated with the match officials after they chose to not send off Nottingham Forest's James McAtee, following a challenge on Ian Maatsen which left the defender injured and meant Villa had to play the closing stages of the match with 10 men, with Forest taking advantage, scoring late to win 2-1 at Villa Park.
Nottingham Forest achieved a significant milestone in their Premier League history by defeating Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park, ending a 32-year drought of victory at the iconic stadium. Aston Villa managed to score once, but Forest ultimately prevailed, securing their first win of the 2026/27 season under new manager Oliver Glasner.
The match began with Villa displaying a strong start, employing defensive efforts from Matz Sels, who made two crucial saves to thwart Victor Lindelöf. Forest gradually found their rhythm, with players like James McAtee, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Neco Williams creating several scoring opportunities before halftime. Liam Delap put Forest ahead shortly after the break with his first goal for the club, followed by a leveler from Alysson.
With Forest down to ten men due to substitutions and injuries, Igor Jesus sealed the victory with a well-placed goal in the closing stages. This win marked Forest's first Premier League triumph since 1994 and extended their unbeaten streak to three matches, now standing at five points from their opening games.
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