Forest Edge Closer to Safety with Hard-Fought Draw Against Villa

Nottingham Forest have moved further away from the relegation zone after securing a crucial 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at the City Ground. The visitors took the lead in the 23rd minute when Murillo inadvertently turned Morgan Rogers' cross into his own net, following the surprise withdrawal of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after the warm-up. However, Neco Williams' strike from the edge of the box just before halftime brought the hosts level. In the second half, Forest were the stronger side, but Villa, who boosted their Champions League qualification hopes, will lament a series of missed opportunities, with Rogers and Ollie Watkins both coming close. Rogers had the best chance to win the game, but his shot sailed over the crossbar after Ross Barkley's effort rebounded to him, as Forest extended their unbeaten run to four games. Both teams will be satisfied with the point, especially considering their midweek Europa League trips, and this match could be a precursor to a two-legged semi-final in the near future. The draw could prove vital for Forest, who are now three points clear of the relegation zone after Tottenham's 1-0 loss to Sunderland. Villa remain in fourth place, three points ahead of Liverpool in the battle for Champions League qualification. 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 said: "It was a good point in a tough game against a strong opponent. Both teams had opportunities, and in the end, a point is a fair result. "Villa is a difficult team to control, they create problems, and you have to face those problems and create your own chances. After their goal, it was about character, confidence, and spirit. We scored our goal and had chances to score more, and they did as well. "When we decided to bring on another striker, we wanted to win the game. Three points would have been better than one, but we tried, and against a strong team, we need to be satisfied with a point. We are on the right path with the right spirit, and it's essential to get points in every game until the end." Nottingham Forest goalscorer Neco Williams added: "We are pleased with a point; every point is valuable at this stage of the season. We wanted three points, but Villa is a top side. It's an important point. "We knew how important the second goal was, and we managed to get it. We stuck together, and it was a proper team performance. It was vital to keep going, and 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's loss to Sunderland, Williams said: "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 like a cup final; every point is crucial. We need to build on this momentum." Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said: "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 well for 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 create chances, dominate, and have good possession. Of course, scoring would be better, but we are getting better again, and the last three or four matches have been positive. We must be demanding and consistent to keep it up in the next matches. "We had a fantastic three months, then we struggled, but now we are recovering. It's essential for the players to have momentum. Today, we kept our level from the last matches, which is crucial for our confidence." Aston Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot added: "We came here for a win, of course, and we tried everything to take a win, but unfortunately, we ended up with one point. It's not enough. "We tried to push through, but it was difficult. They had a few moments, and we played well before their goal. After that, our energy went down, and they got the strength to push and score. "We had options to score a second goal, but it needs to go in. We should have taken three points today."