Aston Villa 2–1 Nottingham Forest Player Ratings: Brave Villans Fight Back into Premier League Top-4 Race with Inspired Performance

Aston Villa picked up a hard-fought 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest in their Premier League clash on April 5, 2025, at Villa Park. First half goals from Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen were enough to help Unai Emery’s side end the visitors’ six-game unbeaten run and move one point behind fourth-place Chelsea.

The Villans began the game in blistering fashion, testing the three centre-back Nottingham Forest system and showing fearlessness in running at them. Ian Maatsen linked up nicely with Morgan Rogers in the 6th minute to get a shot on target, forcing a sharp save from Matz Selz. Four minutes later, a Youri Tielemans effort from outside the box grazed wide of the post. However, it didn’t take long for Aston Villa to get the lead.

Morgan Rogers was played through on goal, and he made no mistake in rifling a strong shot into the back of the net from inside the box in the 13th minute. They doubled the lead in the 16th minute, after a sweeping move through the left wing was finished with a Donyell Malen tap-in. The visitors were shaken up by the shocking start and tried to get back into the game. Anthony Elanga made a brilliant run into the box in the 22nd minute, but this shot went wide of the post.

Callum Hudson-Odoi had an effort go wide a minute later. Nottingham Forest had two shots on target at the end of the first half, with Ryan Yates’ long-range effort being saved in the 40th minute and Nicolas Dominguez’s header easily grasped by Emiliano Martinez in the 45th minute too.

The visitors, however, came back strongly after the break and started taking the fight to the Villans. Hudson-Odoi guided a shot to blaze past the goal in the 53rd minute. Nottingham Forest finally got a goal in the 57th minute when substitute Jota Silva produced a slick left-footed finish from close range to make it 2-1.

Elliot Anderson had a long-range shot go wide in the 60th minute. Rogers had a huge chance to make it 3-1 in the 66th minute after he slipped past multiple defenders with a brilliant run, but saw his shot expertly saved by Sels.

Marco Asensio and Youri Tielemans saw their threatening shots denied in the 69th and 72nd minutes, too. Forest kept pushing for an equalizer, with Neco Williams guiding a shot just wide of the goal in the 81st minute. Murillo almost scored the equalizer in the 91st minute, with his long-range piledriver hitting the post. The hosts ultimately held on to get three points and get back into the top-4 race. Here are the Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Player Ratings.

Aston Villa Player Ratings

GK – Emiliano Martinez – 6/10

The Argentine made a few simple saves in the first half. He was caught in an awkward position during Jota’s goal. Showed his experience by dealing perfectly with the crosses and the opponent’s mind games.

RB – Andres Garcia – 6/10

The Spaniard did well in moving forward with the ball, and whipped in some inviting crosses into the box. Did a decent job regaining possession a few times before being taken off at half-time.

CB – Axel Disasi – 6.5/10

Disasi was quite proactive as a centre-back in the first half, winning quite a few key duels and ousting the visitors’ movement. Started struggling in a right-back role, failing to block the cross that led to Jota’s goal.

CB – Tyrone Mings – 6.5/10

The Englishman did relatively well to help maintain a sturdy defensive shape for his side. Moved the ball along nicely and won some key challenges.

LB – Ian Maatsen – 7/10

Maatsen was a menacing threat down the left, being electric with his movement. Tormented the defenders by getting into empty spaces and played a great pass to set up Malen’s goal. He did, although, occasionally struggle against Forest’s movement and was caught in some awkward positions.

CM – Amadou Onana – 7/10

Onana added a lot of steel to his side’s midfield, using his aggressiveness and physicality to trifle with the opponents. He won quite a few key duels and regained possession in key areas to set up breaks.

CM – Youri Tielemans – 7.5/10

Tielemans ensured that his side controlled the possession nicely and moved the ball smoothly into the final third. He played an excellent ball to set up the opening goal and won the ball back quite a few times too.

RW – Donyell Malen – 7.5/10

The Dutchman was a threat with his clever off-the-ball movement and link-up play. Smartly sneaked behind the defenders to score his side’s second goal.

AM – Marco Asensio – 7/10

Asensio played like the link-up figure, driving his side forward with clever forward passes. He had a few nice chances to score, but saw most of his efforts saved well.

LW – Morgan Rogers – 8/10

The Englishman continues his impressive form with another inspired display. He moved past defenders with some excellent runs and produced a smashing finish for his goal. Had a potential brace denied by a great save in the second half.

CF – Ollie Watkins – 4/10

Watkins was quite isolated in the Nottingham Forest half despite his side’s dominance in the first half. He only completed four passes and failed to bring anything new for his side.

SUB – Ezri Konsa – 5.5/10

Konsa was caught in an awkward position for the goal, failing to close Jota down quickly enough. Made a few key clearances afterward.

SUB – Jacob Ramsey – 6.5/10

Ramsey added urgency to his side’s midfield, creating a few nice chances with his clever delivery.

SUB – Marcus Rashford – 5/10

Rashford made some nice runs with the ball, but his final product was awry. Got sent through on goal late on, but couldn’t divert a shot past Sels.

SUB – Boubacar Kamara – 6/10

Added more steel and power to his side’s midfield.

SUB – John McGinn – N/R

Won duels in midfield late on and also created a big late chance for Rashford.

Manager – Unai Emery – 7/10

Emery realized that Nottingham Forest’s three centre-back system might have issues and urged his side to push at the visitors from the get-go. His decision to create chances through wide areas worked a treat, with most of Villa’s biggest chances going down there. His side’s performance levels slightly dropped after the first half, but he did well to ensure they got the job done.

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Nottingham Forest Player Ratings

GK – Matz Sels – 6.5/10

Sels couldn’t do much about either of Aston Villa’s two goals. However, he frustrated them after the goals with some excellent reflex saves from close range. Ended the game with six saves, including a few brilliant ones to deny Rogers and Rashford.

RCB – Morato – 3.5/10

The Brazilian defender had a tough time in the three-man backline. He couldn’t track the run of Rogers for his goal, failing to close things down. Allowed a lot of Aston Villa’s attacks to happen down his side and was booked too.

CB – Nikola Milenkovic – 6/10

Milenkovic had a tough time holding together a new three-man backline. He was almost like a statue for Malen’s goal, but did pop up with a lot of key clearances afterward.

CB – Murillo – 6/10

Murillo didn’t look comfortable in this new system, being dragged out of his comfort zone. He did work hard to win back the ball quite a few times, and made six clearances. Hit the post with a brilliant effort late on, being unlucky not to score.

RWB – Nicolas Dominguez – 7/10

Dominguez might’ve lost the mark on Rogers for his goal, but was arguably Nottingham Forest’s most proactive aspect. He covered a lot of ground, making key tackles and winning seven duels, despite having little to contribute in attack.

CM – Ryan Yates – 6.5/10

The Nottingham Forest midfielder was outwitted by Maatsen for Malen’s goal. But showed positive energy after that, stepping up to win duels in midfield and regaining possession many times to get his side forward.

CM – Elliot Anderson – 5/10

Anderson had a few shots on goal, but failed to test Martinez. Couldn’t assert his dominance in midfield, struggling against Aston Villa’s pace.

LWB – Neco Williams – 7/10

Williams looked under pressure against the hosts’ movement down his side and couldn’t track Malen for his goal. He looked sharper going forward, whipping in some nice crosses and assisting Jota’s goal. Almost scored himself later on, too.

AM – Morgan Gibbs-White – 4.5/10

The Englishman did a decent job in moving the ball in the opposition half, but couldn’t create much. His finishing work was underwhelming and didn’t look too comfortable in his role as the preferred goal outlet.

CF – Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6/10

Hudson-Odoi showed a lot of promise in the Aston Villa half, troubling their defenders with his clever movement. He came close to scoring a few shots, seeing some efforts brave past the goal.

CF – Anthony Elanga – 5/10

Elanga was able to create one great chance for himself by running past the defenders, but his shot went wide. Taken off at half-time.

SUB – Jota Silva – 7.5/10

Silva added more energy and urgency to his side’s attack. Produced a great finish by blasting a tough left-footed shot for his goal. Booked later on, but was a pest for the defenders.

SUB – Ramon Sosa – 5.5/10

Failed to get to the end of any moves, but did create a decent chance.

SUB – Wily Boly – 6/10

Helped ensure his side didn’t concede more than two.

Manager – Nuno Espirito Santo – 5/10

Nuno’s gamble at moving his side to a three-at-the-back formation ended up being a failure. His players didn’t look comfortable defending like that, resulting in silly errors and poor goals being conceded. He did well to tweak his system and get them to push at Aston Villa in the second half, with substitute Jota Silva doing well, but his side couldn’t complete the comeback.

Sportsdunia’s Man of the Match for this game goes to Morgan Rogers.

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