Nottingham Forest 2-0 Aston Villa

Aston Villa’s six-game unbeaten Premier League run came to an end at the hands of Nottingham Forest at The City Ground.

The hosts applied early pressure and went ahead when OIa Aina placed a low shot into the bottom corner after five minutes.

Forest struck again at the start of the second half, finding the net via Orel Mangala less than two minutes after the restart.

Villa controlled the majority of the game, dominating proceedings with 73% possession, but were unable to find a way through The Reds’ defences.

Villa came into the contest with history on their side thanks to a nine-game unbeaten run against Forest in the Premier League stretching back to 1995, but they were under pressure from the off after a fast start from the hosts.

The City Ground erupted with five minutes on the clock when Aina ran onto Harry Toffolo’s pull back and sent a first-time, sidefooted effort fizzing past Emi Martínez from outside the box.

Having regained their composure after the goal, the team in blue were controlling the game but failing to test debutant goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.

It took until the 36^th minute for the visitors to seriously test the Greek international, with Nicolò Zaniolo forcing him into a save with his legs after Moussa Diaby played his fellow attacker in.

Forest’s goal remained their only shot on target of the first half as they sat back and soaked up the pressure, coming close to springing Villa’s offside trap on a couple of occasions via counter-attacks.

Leon Bailey replaced Zaniolo at half-time and the away side immediately fired a shot on goal via Ollie Watkins before the home side raced up the other end.

Taiwo Awoniyi caused problems for Ezri Konsa in the box, with the ball eventually played out to Mangala outside the box. The midfielder’s shot was well saved by the outstretched arm of Martínez, but the ball spun back off the turf and bounced over the line before the Argentine could claw it away.

The second half settled into the same pattern as the first, with Villa dominating possession but unable to find a way through Forest’s defences.

Moussa Diaby eyed up the bottom corner with a curling shot after 67 minutes, but Vlachodimos was equal to the Frenchman’s effort.

Forest were camped inside their own half, resisting wave after wave of attack and keeping Villa at arm's length as the game ticked into the final stoppage time.

The six minutes of time added on failed to produce a chance of note as Villa fell to defeat on the road.