Aston Villa cemented their hold on fourth place with a 4-2 victory against a resilient Nottingham Forest to go five points clear of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth. 

Goals from Ollie Watkins and Douglas Luiz twice made it 3-0 inside 39 minutes. However, Moussa Niakhate reduced the deficit half-time. The comeback was on for Forest as Morgan Gibbs-White scored early in the second half, but Leon Bailey’s goal on 61 minutes was enough to make it back-to-back wins for the home side.

How the match unfolded

Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo made one change as Niakhate replaced Nuno Tavares, while it was an unchanged line-up from Unai Emery.

It took only four minutes for Villa to take the lead through Watkins. Bailey went on a magnificent run down the right, nutmegging Murillo, before finding Watkins, who had the simple task of tapping home at the back post for his 14th goal this season. Only Mohamed Salah has been involved in more Premier League goals than Watkins this season. 

Shortly after, Villa nearly doubled their lead. A quick interchange between Jacob Ramsey and Alex Moreno, resulted in a cutback for Watkins, whose goalbound strike was blocked by Niakhate.

But it didn’t take long for Villa to double their lead and again it came down the right. Matty Cash pulled the ball back for Ramsey, who passed to Douglas Luiz and he fired into the bottom corner. 

In the 39th minute, Douglas Luiz made it 3-0, grabbing his second by heading in John McGinn’s cross from close range. It meant that all nine of the Brazilian's goals have come at Villa Park this season. 

In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Niakhate grabbed one back for Forest, chesting home Taiwo Awoniyi’s header from a corner for his first goal for the club.

At half-time Villa were forced by injury into another defensive change when Pau Torres was replaced by Calum Chambers, meaning Unai Emery was playing his fifth and sixth-choice centre-backs.  

Forest took advantage and started the second half fast, Gibbs-White making it 3-2 on 48 minutes. The midfielder latched on to substitute Divock Origi’s brilliantly disguised through-ball before clipping the ball over Emiliano Martinez. 

The visitors were soon in again as Origi played another brilliant pass to Anthony Elanga, who dragged his shot, missing a golden opportunity to draw his side level. 

Just as Forest hopes of an equaliser were rising, Villa regained their two-goal lead. A successful press of the away side’s passing out from the back got the ball to Youri Tielemans, who slipped in Watkins. His shot was saved by Matz Sels, but the ball fell to Bailey, who had an empty net to finish in.  

Forest still continued to threaten and nearly scored when substitute Ryan Yates’ shot from Gibbs-White’s free-kick went agonisingly.

Forest remain in 16th place on 24 points, four clear of the relegation zone.

Club reports

Aston Villa report | Nott'm Forest report

Match officials

Referee: Sam Barrott. Assistants: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Darren Bond. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes.