Aina strike ends Villa unbeaten run
On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 2023 Forest beat Aston Villa 2–0 to end Villa’s six-match unbeaten run.
Forest produced one of their most satisfying Premier League afternoons of the Steve Cooper era by beating Aston Villa 2–0 at the City Ground.
Ola Aina gave Forest the perfect start after just five minutes. Harry Toffolo drove forward on the left and found Aina in space on the edge of the box, where the full-back struck a low right-footed shot through the crowd and into the bottom corner. The early goal changed the mood of the match before Villa could settle.
Orel Mangala added the second soon after half-time, again after Toffolo’s involvement, with Emiliano Martínez unable to keep the shot out.
The win ended Villa’s six-match unbeaten run and stopped Unai Emery’s side from moving into the top four. It also gave Forest a first victory in more than two months, which made the afternoon feel like more than just another home win.
By stoppage time, even a defensive tackle from Neco Williams was being celebrated loudly inside the ground. Forest had the goals, the clean sheet, and the kind of collective edge supporters had been waiting to see again.
Sources
Premier League; The Guardian; ESPN
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