Nottingham Forest edged away from the relegation zone after battling to a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at the City Ground.
Aston Villa took the lead only in the 23rd minute when goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was sent off after being hit by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and Murillo turned Morgan Rodgers’ cross into his own goal in the 23rd minute.
However, just before the break, Neco Williams scored from the edge of the box to equalize for the hosts.
Forest were the better side in the second half, but Villa, who have strengthened their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, will be disappointed that both Rodgers and Ollie Watkins missed out on narrow chances.
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Murillo scores an own goal to put Aston Villa ahead.
Ross Barkley’s shot was deflected by Rodgers, who scooped it over the crossbar, giving Rodgers the best chance to win the game as Forest made it four games unbeaten.
But both sides will respect that after their away trip in the Europa League in midweek, and this match could serve as a dry run for the two-legged semi-final in a few weeks’ time.
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Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams equalizes before half-time
This could prove crucial for Forest, who sit three points clear of the relegation zone after Spurs’ 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.
Villa remain in fourth place in the race for Champions League qualification, three points behind Liverpool.
Pereira: good points for Forest
Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira told Sky Sports:
“It was a good point in a difficult match against a very difficult opponent. Chances from one side, chances from the other. In the end I think one point is a good result.”
“Villa are not an easy team to control. They cause some problems, but they face them and try to create their own chances. After the goal, it’s character, confidence and spirit. We scored a goal and had chances to score more and so did they.”
“When we decided to bring in another striker, we wanted to win the game. Three points is better than one. We are trying, but playing against strong teams means that in the end we need five games without losing. We are doing it in the right way with the right spirit. It is important to get points every game until the end.”
Emery: Villa are recovering
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery told Sky Sports:
“I’m happy with the way we played, the way we fought and the way we followed the game plan. The players feel confident and comfortable. I’m happy with how we managed the game as planned for 90 minutes.”
“In the first half we were even, but we had the upper hand and had chances to score. I’m very proud of the players. Of course we had three or four chances to score and we gave them the momentum on several occasions. One point is not enough, but this is how we want to play in the Premier League and Europa League in the coming weeks.”
“I like it when we create chances, dominate and have good possession. Of course it’s better if we can score, but in the last three or four games we’ve gotten better again. We’ve got to be very demanding and consistent to keep it up for the next game.”
“For three months we were great, then we struggled and now we are recovering. It is important for the players to have momentum. Today, how we maintained the level of previous games has the most to do with our confidence.”
