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

Nottingham Forest have edged 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 unexpected withdrawal of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after the warm-up. However, just before the break, Neco Williams' strike from the edge of the box brought the hosts level, capping off an eventful first half. Forest dominated the second half but Villa, who bolstered their Champions League qualification hopes, will lament a string of missed chances, including Rogers and Ollie Watkins going close. Rogers had the best opportunity 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 view the point as respectable, given their midweek Europa League trips, and this match could serve as a precursor to a potential two-legged semi-final in the coming weeks. The draw proved particularly vital for Forest, as they moved three points clear of the relegation zone following Tottenham's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. Villa remains fourth, three points ahead of Liverpool in the pursuit of 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 stated to Sky Sports: "It was a good point in a challenging game against a tough opponent. Both sides had opportunities, and in the end, one point seems like a fair result. "Villa is not an easy team to control, as they create problems and you have to face them while creating your own chances. After their goal, it was about character, confidence, and spirit. We scored our goal and had chances for more, as did they. "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 faced a strong team. We need five games without a loss, and we're 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're pleased with the 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 crucial the second goal was; we had to get it, and we did. We stuck together and had a proper team performance. It was vital to persevere, 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. Given the surface and the rain, it was essential to get our shots off." Regarding Tottenham's loss 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 like a cup final; every point is vital. We need to build and carry on with this momentum." Aston Villa manager Unai Emery stated to Sky Sports: "I'm happy with how we played, how we competed, and followed the game plan. The players feel confident and comfortable. We managed the match as planned for 90 minutes. "The first half was equal, but we dominated and had good chances to score. I'm proud of how the players performed. Of course, we had three or four chances to score and conceded momentum to them a few times. One point is not enough, but this is how 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. If we score, it's better, but we're getting better again after the last three or four matches. We must be demanding and consistent to keep it up in the next matches. "For three months, we were fantastic, then we struggled, and now we're recovering. It's essential for the players to have momentum. Today, maintaining 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, and tried everything to take it, 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."