EPL: Forest beat Villa 2-1 to end 32-year wait for Villa Park win

n n

Nottingham Forest ended a 32-year wait for a victory at Villa Park after beating Aston Villa 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.

n

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that three Premier League teams would head into Matchday 4 still searching for their first goal of the season after Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and newly promoted Coventry City endured goalless starts to the 2026/27 campaign.n

n

While, Aston Villa found the net, the game, however, ended in a loss at Villa Park.

n

Liam Delap put Forest ahead shortly after half-time with his first goal for the club, before substitute Alysson equalised for Villa with just over 15 minutes remaining.

n

Igor Jesus then restored Forest’s lead in the closing stages to secure the visitors’ first Premier League win of the 2026/27 season.

n

The result also gave Oliver Glasner his first victory as Forest manager and extended the club’s unbeaten run to three matches.

n

Forest had drawn with Liverpool away and Tottenham Hotspur at home in their previous two league fixtures.

n

Villa started strongly at Villa Park, with Matz Sels making two early saves to deny Victor Lindelöf.

n

Forest gradually settled into the game, with James McAtee, Morgan Gibbs-White and Neco Williams going close before the break.

n

The visitors took control after half-time and opened the scoring when Murillo won possession in Villa’s half before Delap carried the ball forward and fired into the bottom-left corner.

n

Forest continued to threaten, with Delap having another effort ruled out for offside.

n

Villa eventually levelled when Alysson headed in John McGinn’s deep cross.

n

The hosts were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages after using all five substitutions, with Ian Maatsen also picking up an injury.

n

Forest regained control and created further chances before Igor Jesus settled the contest.

n

The forward guided Danilo Muñoz’s cross into the bottom corner, with Gibbs-White providing a flick in the build-up.

n

The victory moved Forest to five points from their opening matches, with Coventry City next at the City Ground on September 19.

n n