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By TOM COLLOMOSSE, FOOTBALL REPORTER Published: 01: 58 AEST, 13 April 2026 | Updated: 01: 58 AEST, 13 April 2026 3 View comments Given Aston Villa’s wretched fortunes at this ground in recent seasons, Unai Emery was probably happy to escape with a point. Yet as both teams fight for different objectives, this felt like a missed opportunity for both Emery’s team and Nottingham Forest. Despite Emi Martinez withdrawing from the starting XI shortly before kick-off – for the third time this season – Villa settled quicker and deserved their lead through Murillo’s own goal.   But Forest levelled through Neco Williams and Martinez’s replacement Marco Bizot kept his side level, as did Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels at the other end. Villa crept closer towards a place in next season's Champions League while for Forest, it was another point in pursuit of safety. How a win would have boosted both, though. Apart from the late change in goal, Emery also caused a surprise by leaving out Ezri Konsa, a linchpin of this team ever since the Spaniard took over. Early on, it seemed to be paying off. The central defensive combination of Victor Lindelof and Pau Torres looked comfortable, with Torres allowed to glide from defence to start attacks. This 1-1 draw felt like a missed opportunity for both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa Aston Villa went 1-0 up as Murillo put the ball in his own goal midway through the first period Neco Williams' leveller ensured that the spoils were shared, but a point is not a huge help to either side  With Ross Barkley operating in the No10 position where he made his name early in his career, Villa were on top early on. They were quicker to loose balls and took advantage of Forest’s strangely passive approach. The home side should have been fresher, having made nine changes from their European clash at Porto in midweek, while Villa stuck with eight of the players who started the win at Bologna. Still Unai Emery’s men looked sharper and duly took the lead midway through the half. Morgan Rogers was played into space inside the Villa box and with Ola Aina 10 yards behind him, drilled the ball across goal. It rebounded off the shin of Murillo and trickled into the net, with Matz Sels helpless. Moments later, Sels saved brilliantly from Ollie Watkins after a fine move involving Torres, Barkley and Rogers. Though Watkins was initially flagged offside, replays showed he was level with Nikola Milenkovic and had he found the net, it would probably have been given. Forest had another close shave when Rogers, again in far too much space, drove against the outside of the post. Emery rarely looks relaxed on the touchline and what happened soon afterwards would have enraged him. His side missed at least two chances to clear, allowing Aina to cross deep. Callum Hudson-Odoi took over and under little pressure, set up Williams to hammer a low shot beyond Bizot from 20 yards. Until then, Villa had been in control and at half-time their fans were fearing another City Ground meltdown. Last season, Villa conceded two late goals to lose here and the year before, a comical error from Martinez led to another defeat. At least there was no chance of that happening again. Yet when Youri Tielemans, one of Villa’s most reliable players, was robbed by Ibrahim Sangare close to goal, the visitors were glad to see Igor Jesus hammer over from 20 yards. Emi Martinez suffered yet another setback with an injury in the warm-up at the City Ground  Bizot then did his team proud, showing brilliant reactions to turn the ball away when Morgan Gibbs-White’s shot clipped Matty Cash and looked destined for the corner. Then at the other end, Sels matched him. Tielemans spotted the run of Mc Ginn and the Villa skipper’s aim was true, only for Sels to claw the ball away as it was curving towards the net. Then Forest boss Vitor Pereira decided to go for it, hauling off Hutchinson and sending on Wood for his first appearance at the City Ground since the 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea last October – the game that saw Ange Postecolgou sacked. Wood had only just arrived when Rogers produced an astonishing miss. Sels saved again, this time from Barkley, and the loose ball broke kindly for Rogers but he lashed it into the Villa fans from eight yards. No wonder Emery covered his face with his hands. Now the game was opening up. Tielemans did well to block another dangerous strike from Williams as Forest fans turned up the volume. With his side wobbling, Emery responded with a triple change and a minute later one of the substitutes, Emi Buendia, fed Watkins who blazed over from 15 yards. Pereira sent on Nicolas Dominguez for Gibbs-White, who shook his head as he walked to the bench. Even though Gibbs-White was not at his best, it felt like a move to save a point rather than to chase three. Forest were then nearly punished as both Tielemans and sub Ian Maatsen were denied from close range. Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels 7. 5; Aina 6. 5 (Yates 89), Milenkovic 7, Murillo 6. 5, Williams 7. 5; Sangare 7, Anderson 6; Hutchinson 5 (Wood 65, 6), Gibbs-White 6 (Dominguez 84), Hudson-Odoi 7; I Jesus 5. 5 (Ndoye 89) Scorers: Williams 38 Booked: Hutchinson, Murillo Manager: Vitor Pereira 6 Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Bizot 7. 5; Cash 5. 5 (Garcia 90+1), Lindelof 7. 5, *TORRES 8*, Digne 5 (Maatsen 78, 6); Onana 6. 5, Tielemans 6. 5; Mc Ginn 7, Barkley 6. 5 (D Luiz 77, 6), Rogers 6 (Buendia 78, 6); Watkins 6 (Abraham 87) Scorers: Murillo (own-goal) 23 Booked: Cash, Mc Ginn Manager: Unai Emery 6 Referee: Michael Salisbury 6 Attendance: 30, 591

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