Aston Villa 1-2 Nottingham Forest: Oliver Glasner masterminds another win over Unai Emery

September 2026 · 4 minute read

Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park to leave Unai Emery's side still searching for their first Premier League victory of the season.

Once again, Oliver Glasner got the better of Emery, who remains winless in eight matches against the Austrian.

Liam Delap went some way to paying back his £50m fee as he fired Forest in front after just 45 seconds of the second half.

Villa needed inspiration and Emery turned to his new signings Johan Manzambi and Ibrahim Mbaye. The changes injected much-needed energy into the hosts and they were rewarded when Alysson struck his first goal for the club to level.

Aston Villa's Alysson celebrates scoring his sides equaliser

Image: Aston Villa's Alysson celebrates scoring his sides equaliser

At that point, momentum appeared to be swinging Villa's way.

However, with 10 minutes remaining, Ian Maatsen was forced off after hobbling badly. Villa had already used all their substitutes, leaving them with 10 men for the closing stages.

Forest sensed an opportunity and they took it.

With just two minutes remaining, Igor Jesus found the decisive finish to send the travelling Forest supporters wild.

Emery is having to rebuild following a turbulent summer, where a host of key players were sold, but progress is slow. The result leaves Villa with just one point from their first four games and in the bottom three.

The key moments from Villa Park…

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Clinton Morrison thinks Nottingham Forest suits Liam Delap's play after his fantastic strike against Aston Villa

Emery fumes over McAtee tackle on Maatsen: 'It's a red card'

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports said:

"We played the first half like we planned, we dominate, we didn't concede so much. We didn't score, but we were playing in the way we wanted. The second half, completely different. I don't know why, but we started so poor. They scored and they were creating chances.

Ian Maatsen hobbled off after a tackle from James McAtee leaving Villa down to 10-men

Image: Ian Maatsen hobbled off after a tackle from James McAtee leaving Villa down to 10-men

"We corrected it and in that moment maybe we should keep the same way we were, but we couldn't. And the injury of Ian Maatsen was a key moment because the tackle was strong. And we were finishing the last 15 minutes with one player less for one tackle and they were playing with 11. For me, VAR should be there. I think it's a red card.

"If I was in the VAR and I was a referee, it was a red card."

Glasner remaining humble despite unbeaten Emery record

Oliver Glasner speaking about his record over Emery:

"I spoke to him before the game, and it's still 5-2 for him, five European trophies to two. So I said to myself, 'Oliver Glasner, stay humble'.

"And this is how I will stay. Every win is great, but I didn't play one second today. The players deserve all the credit because they did so well. And our fans deserve the credit because they supported us."

What the result means...