Forest Edges Away from Relegation Zone with Hard-Fought Draw Against Villa

Nottingham Forest has managed to create some distance from the relegation zone after securing a fiercely contested 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at the City Ground. In the 23rd minute, Murillo inadvertently turned Morgan Rogers' cross into his own net, giving Aston Villa the lead, despite being dealt a blow when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was forced to withdraw from the match following the warm-up. However, just before the break, Neco Williams' strike from the edge of the box brought the hosts level out of nowhere. Forest demonstrated superiority in the second half, but Villa, who bolstered their Champions League qualification hopes, will lament a string of missed opportunities, with both Rogers and Ollie Watkins coming close. Rogers had the best chance to win the game when Ross Barkley's effort rebounded to him, but he scooped his shot over the crossbar, allowing Forest to extend their unbeaten run to four games. Both teams will appreciate the point, given their midweek away trips in the Europa League, and this match could serve as a precursor to a potential two-legged semi-final in the near future. This point could prove crucial for Forest, who now find themselves three points clear of the relegation zone after Tottenham's 1-0 loss to Sunderland. Villa remains in fourth place, three points ahead of Liverpool in the Champions League qualification race. Nottingham Forest: Sels (7), Aina (6), Milenkovic (7), Murillo (7), Williams (8), Sangare (7), Anderson (7); Hutchinson (6), Gibbs-White (6), Hudson-Odoi (6), Jesus (6). Subs: Wood (6), Dominguez (n/a), Ndoye (n/a), Yates (n/a). Aston Villa: Bizot (7), Cash (6), Lindelof (6), Torres (7), Digne (7), Onana (7), Tielemans (7), Barkley (6), McGinn (6), Rogers (7), Watkins (6). Subs: Luiz (n/a), Maatsen (n/a), Buendia (n/a), Abraham (n/a), Garcia (n/a). Player of the Match: Neco Williams. Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira stated to Sky Sports, "It was a good point in a difficult game against a very tough opponent. Both teams created opportunities. In the end, one point is a satisfactory result. "Villa is not an easy team to control. They pose problems, and you try to address these problems while creating your own chances. After their goal, it's about character, confidence, and spirit. We scored our goal and had opportunities to score more, as did they. "When we decided to bring on another striker, we wanted to win the game. Three points would be better than one. We tried, but facing a strong team means we need five games without losing. We are on the right path with the right spirit. It's crucial to get points in every game until the end." Nottingham Forest goalscorer Neco Williams said to Sky Sports, "We are pleased with a point; every point at this stage of the season is valuable. We wanted three points, but Villa is a top side. It's an important point. "We knew how crucial the second goal was; we knew we had to get the second goal, and we did. We stuck together, a proper team performance today. It was essential to persevere. It's a valuable point. "The manager has been telling me to shoot more from outside the box, and that's what I did today. I took a few shots, and one went in, so I'm pleased with that. With the surface and the rain, it was crucial to get our shots off." On Tottenham losing to Sunderland, he added, "You don't want to look at the table too much because you want to focus on yourself. It's hard not to, given our position. It's a good point, and we need to build on that. "Every game for us now is a cup final. Every point is so important. We need to build and carry on with this momentum." Aston Villa manager Unai Emery stated to Sky Sports, "I am happy with how we played, how we competed, and followed the game plan. The players feel confident and comfortable. We managed the match in 90 minutes as planned. "The first half was equal, but we dominated and had good chances to score. I am proud of how the players did. Of course, we had three or four chances to score, and we conceded momentum to them a few times. One point is not enough, but this is the way we want to play in the next weeks in the Premier League and Europa League. "I like when we are creating chances, dominating, and having good possession. Of course, if we are scoring, it is better. But we are getting better again, the last three or four matches. We must be demanding and consistent to keep it for the next matches. "Three months ago, we were fantastic, then we struggled, now we are recovering. It's essential for the players to have momentum. Today, how we kept the level of the last matches, is the most relevant for our confidence." Aston Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot said to Sky Sports, "We came here for a win, of course, we tried everything in our power to take a win, but unfortunately, we end up with one point. It's not enough. "We tried to push through, but it was difficult. They had a few moments. We played well before the goal, and after our energy went down, and they got strength to push and score. "We had the options to score a second goal, but it needs to go in. We should have taken three points today."