Aston Villa 1-2 Nottingham Forest

Aston Villa fell to a late 2-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park.

Alysson’s first goal for the club drew the hosts level as the Brazilian, introduced at half-time, glanced home John McGinn’s inswinging cross in the 74^th minute.

The substitute’s leveller cancelled out Liam Delap’s long-range strike for The Reds just 45 seconds into the second half.

But, with Villa down to 10 men having lost Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen to injury and made all their changes, Forest sub Igor Jesus pounced in the 88^th minute to snatch the spoils for the visitors.

Alysson’s maiden goal in claret and blue was Villa’s first of the 2026/27 Premier League season, but it was Forest who claimed their first win in B6 since 1994.

Unai Emery’s side will now be looking to bounce back when they travel to Coventry City in Round 3 of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Ross Barkley returned to Villa’s starting line-up, replacing the suspended João Gomes, as Emery made one change from Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League victory at Club Brugge. Fit-again summer signing Johan Manzambi was also named in the matchday squad.

The two sides were going head-to-head for the first time since Villa’s memorable 4-0 triumph in May’s Europa League semi-final second leg on home soil.

Victor Lindelöf was somehow denied his first goal for the club with just seven minutes on the clock, twice denied from close range in quick succession by a combination of Matz Sels, Murillo and a post.

Zion Suzuki was equal to James McAtee’s deflected strike from distance, before Morgan Gibbs-White tested Suzuki in the 23^rd minute.

Villa lost Torres to injury midway through the first half, Tyrone Mings replacing the Spaniard in the backline.

Clear-cut openings were at a premium and, with half-time beckoning, an unmarked Neco Williams blasted over from just inside the area to ensure it remained goalless at the interval.

Alysson and Tammy Abraham were introduced at the break, and it was Forest who opened the scoring with less than a minute on the clock in the second half, Delap finding the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Mings made a crucial block to thwart Dan Ndoye before Delap headed into the side-netting, with the visitors threatening to double their advantage.

Boss Emery duly turned to debutants Manzambi and Ibrahim Mbaye as Villa looked for a route back into the encounter.

Delap found the net before being flagged for offside while Mbaye tested Sels as both sides threatened.

And, with the encounter flowing from end to end, it was the hosts who struck with 16 minutes remaining, Alysson heading home McGinn’s cross in front of the Holte End.

An injury to Maatsen saw Villa reduced to 10 men for the final stages, Suzuki denying Daniel Munoz and Xaver Schlager.

And as the visitors looked to take advantage of their numerical supremacy, Munoz’s low cross down our left was neatly flicked on by Gibbs-White and Jesus was on hand to convert – ending a run of five successive wins and 11 matches unbeaten against Forest at Villa Park.