U21s: Aston Villa 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Aston Villa fought to 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest in Premier League 2 on Friday.

The Villa defence was tested multiple times in the first half as Nottingham Forest searched for the opener, but the Young Lions stood strong and stifled their attacks.

The home side wrestled control of the game away from Forest in the second half and deservedly took the lead through Tommi O’Reilly’s excellent finish 71 minutes in. 

It was heartbreak for Villa in the final moments as Forest’s Lewis Salmon scrambled the ball into the net to equalise and, despite a flurry of late chances, the Young Lions had to settle for a point.

Villa started the game looking to press the away side high up the pitch, several times winning the ball in dangerous areas.

But the first real chance fell Forest’s way as Dale Taylor rushed through on goal before being thwarted by some excellent Josh Feeney defending.

A period of dominance for the away side was well handled by the Villa defence as the game remained goalless approaching half-time. 

Frédéric Guilbert then made sure it stayed that way with a goal-saving slide tackle at the back post to deny Forest’s Ateef Konate.

The Young Lions started the second half very much on the front foot and came inches away from the opener when Kobei Moore headed just wide after a terrific Seb Revan cross.

Forest goalkeeper Adnan Kanuric was then called into action twice, stopping a Guilbert free-kick and a long-range drive from Kerr Smith as Villa turned up the pressure.

The Young Lions finally found the breakthrough in the 71st minute, with O’Reilly brilliantly looping the ball over Kanuric from the left of the box to give the home side a deserved lead.

However, Forest managed to equalise in the 89th minute, Salmon poking the ball in following a scramble in the box.

Villa desperately searched for a late winner but could not find another goal despite dominating in the final moments.