Aston Villa edge Nottingham Forest to keep Champions League hopes alive

The win extended Villa's impressive streak to eight consecutive victories across all competitions, lifting them to sixth place in the Premier League with 51 points - just six behind third-placed Forest, who are on track for their first Champions League appearance since 1980.

Villa boss Unai Emery was pleased with the result but remained grounded in his post-match comments: "It's great to win, but there's still a lot of work ahead. We've taken all nine points from the last three matches, and it's crucial that we continue closing the gap to the teams above us."

Morgan Rogers set the tone for Villa early, opening the scoring in the 13th minute with a brilliant finish. The midfielder controlled a ball from Youri Tielemans and then coolly slotted it through Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels' legs.

Before the away fans could catch their breath, Donyell Malen doubled Villa's lead just two minutes later, tapping in a perfect cross from Ian Maatsen.

Forest rallied in the second half, with Jota Silva pulling one back in the 57th minute. The midfielder capitalized on a loose ball and dispatched it past Villa keeper Emiliano Martínez, bringing Forest within striking distance.

Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was frank about his side's first-half performance: "We were disorganized, we didn't close the lines, and Villa punished us. It was a poor first half, but we showed much more fight in the second."

The match was full of action, with Forest creating plenty of chances, firing 19 shots compared to Villa's 17. Their pressure almost paid off in stoppage time when Murillo unleashed a thunderous effort from 25 yards, only to see it crash off the bar.

Villa had their own late chance for a third, with Marcus Rashford breaking through one-on-one with Sels. However, the Forest keeper made an excellent save to deny the Villa forward, managing to punch the ball clear after racing to it.

Emery reflected on the win with satisfaction, noting, "This victory is really important. I'm happy with the three points, but I'm always demanding more from myself and the team to keep improving."

Villa's home form has been a major strength this season, with 17 wins in 25 matches across all competitions over the last year. They are yet to lose at Villa Park since October, when they were knocked out of the League Cup by Crystal Palace.

Looking ahead, Villa will face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday, with their European ambitions firmly in sight.

READ MORE: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lambasts decision to award Everton penalty in draw