Jesus gives Forest late win as Emery takes responsibility for Villa defeat

Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park on Saturday, with Igor Jesus scoring late to give Oliver Glasner his first victory as Forest manager. According to BBC Sport, the result left Villa without a win after four Premier League matches and Unai Emery accepting responsibility for his team's poor second-half performance.

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Liam Delap put the visitors ahead just 45 seconds after the interval. Villa responded through substitute Alysson, who headed in John McGinn's cross for his first goal in English football. The equaliser ended Villa's run of 372 Premier League minutes without scoring, but Jesus struck with two minutes remaining, getting ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka to secure Forest's first win at Villa Park since 1994.

Villa were playing with 10 men by the time of the decisive goal. Ian Maatsen had been forced off with an ankle injury after Emery had used all his substitutes. BBC Sport reported concern that the injury could lead to a lengthy absence, although no confirmed recovery timetable was given. Centre-back Pau Torres had also been replaced during the first half.

Emery said James McAtee should have been sent off for the challenge that injured Maatsen and argued that the video assistant referee should have intervened. However, he also acknowledged that Forest deserved the victory and declined to use the incident as an explanation for Villa's display. He said his side had allowed too many late chances and took responsibility for how poorly they played after the break.

Forest registered 22 shots and 32 touches inside Villa's penalty area, while Delap also had a goal disallowed. Emery changed his attack at half-time, replacing Nicolas Jackson with Tammy Abraham because he feared Jackson, already booked, might be sent off. Johan Manzambi and Ibrahim Mbaye made their Villa debuts as second-half substitutes, but neither could prevent a third defeat in four league games.

The loss leaves Villa facing a potential drop to the bottom of the table if Coventry beat Brighton on Sunday. BBC Sport noted that Villa also failed to win their first four league matches last season, before recovering to finish fourth and win the Europa League. Their next fixture is a Carabao Cup visit to Coventry on Wednesday, followed by a league trip to Tottenham.