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Nottingham Forest supervisor Nuno Espirito Santo suffered the frustration of defeat to Aston Villa, however comfort will come from an impressive second half efficiency.
Nuno could have hoped to round-off an ideal week, that has seen Forest safe an FA Cup semi-final place towards Manchester Metropolis at Wembley and carry on course for his or her dream of reaching subsequent season’s Champions League with victory over Manchester United at The Metropolis Floor, with outcome at Villa Park.
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It was to not be although, after a poor begin noticed Aston Villa go 2-0 up in quarter-hour by targets from Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen.
This was a nightmare opening however Forest’s efficiency afterwards confirmed precisely why they’ve been this season’s Premier League shock bundle.
As an alternative of subsiding beneath Villa’s strain, Forest launched a fierce fightback which might have introduced rewards earlier than the interval, with Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi solely inches astray.
And Forest continued to pressurise Villa after the break, exhibiting they’ll take the initiative in addition to make use of their trademark counter-attacking recreation.
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Jota Silva pulled one again earlier than Murillo nearly earned Forest some extent when he thundered a 30-yard drive towards the bar within the closing moments.
Forest had 19 pictures – two greater than Villa – however weren’t scientific sufficient with solely three pictures heading in the right direction.
Nuno’s facet nonetheless stay in prime place to achieve the Champions League subsequent season, one thing nearly unthinkable earlier than the beginning of the season, as they sit 5 factors forward of Chelsea in fourth having performed one recreation extra.
This was a setback – however there was greater than sufficient in how they responded to a dreadful begin to give Forest and their supporters encouragement for the rest of the marketing campaign, as confirmed by the ovation they obtained after the ultimate whistle.