Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest
by Gene Sylvester
at Villa Park

THE late kick-off on Saturday evening saw Aston Villa play host to their Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest, with both team’s eyes on the prize of securing Champions League football for next season.

Despite Forest being in the box seat for a top-four finish, it was the Villans that strengthened their own top-four hopes with a hard-earned victory here at Villa Park with two first-half goals securing the points as they held off a spirited second-half performance from the away side to run out 2-1 winners.