Nottingham Forest’s character, spirit and togetherness brought them back from the dead, as they claimed a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa. George Edwards was at the match
When you think they’re down and out, Nottingham Forest are never finished.
As VAR ruled Anthony Elanga’s breath to be offside, chalking off what would have been an 81st-minute equaliser, Forest could have gone one of two ways.
Lick their wounds and fall into their shell, conceding defeat, or use that adversity and their in-game momentum to rise from their rubble and complete a memorable and season-defying comeback.
The latter occurred, with the immense mentality and charging belief that has been gathered this season driving all 11 men towards the Trent End, confident in their ability to comeback despite the constant ticking clock.
The goals crashed in in the 87th and 93rd minutes as the Reds came from behind to beat Villa 2-1, with Nikola Milenkovic and Elanga notching, in a memorable night under the lights.
Unstoppable mindset
It’s not their quality that won them the game.
Forest more than competed with Villa throughout the match in a contest that looked set for a draw. The game was won because of Forest’s refusal to quit and genuine belief that, even 1-0 down, victory was within reach.
As mentioned, Chris Wood’s disallowed goal sparked them into life, where before it would have put out their fire.
There was just a sense that Forest would get it done. They attacked with patience and delicacy, confident in their natural ability to create openings and chances, clinical when they did so.
This was perfectly illustrated by the winning moment. Callum Hudson-Odoi rather lazily loses the ball, leaving Villa a chance to potentially clear. Ex-Red Matty Cash is doing all he can to win a free-kick, waste time and get Villa out with a point.
None of that from Forest, instantly swarming and pouncing possession off Cash, setting Elliot Anderson off on goal, with one idea in his mind. Both goals showed incredible team play and unselfishness, with no one proclaiming to be the hero, instead doing what’s best for the team.
Forest have gone from surviving to thriving. They proved that themselves and Villa were equals, but their mindset set them apart, perhaps stemming from the fact this is new to them. There’s no fear, no overthinking and no pressure — situations that will bring the best out of any footballer.
From behind to win
Despite this season’s good fortune, Forest did something they have failed to do as of yet: win from behind. Of their seven wins previous, five were to nil, and in the other two — Leicester and Manchester United — Forest were only pegged back to level terms once each, going 3-1 up in both and holding out for the win.
When conceding first, albeit only three times, Forest had lost an aggregate of 7-0, only gaining points from a losing position once, at Brighton.
It’s clear, then, that Forest had found a knack for going ahead and holding on but struggled to rise from adversity within games.
And if the duck was ever to be broken, it was always going to be on a loud City Ground night with the floodlights beaming down and the crowd driving them home.
Squad utilised by Nuno again
One big criticism of Nuno Espirito Santo last season was his substitutes, and rightly so.
Forest dropped points away at Brighton, Luton and Aston Villa thanks to poor in-game management and a hint of abysmal defending.
This season, however, Nuno and Forest have cracked it. As a man, the Portuguese is becoming more loved by the day, with his incredible humbleness and mature persona connecting with supporters. As a manager, he has excelled, his side able to dismantle opponents in varying ways and his selections and substitutions rarely falling short.
From the selection, starting Nico Dominguez out wide seemed an odd one, but Nuno’s idea to use Ola Aina to silence Villa captain John McGinn worked wonders, with Dominguez slotting back behind the Nigerian with more stability and conviction than other wide options would have.
Forest now don’t just have an XI, but a matchday 20, as Nuno has any ability or trait he desires sat behind him, ready to come on and primed to impose.
Morato replaced Murillo and gave Forest a physical platform to build upon, as they subsidised Ryan Yates’ strength in the middle. Jota Silva may have been rather anonymous for him, but his work rate and positive mentality was felt by all.
Willy Boly was introduced with minutes to spare, his first football since August, and made three clearances, one recovery and had six touches in just four minutes — talk about steadying the ship.
And Anthony Elanga’s rawness, pace and product is ultimately what won Forest the game, as his assured finish secured Forest the points. Elanga’s impact proved that there’s no sulking involved at Forest at the moment, with everyone buying into the manager’s direction and eager to contribute.
The impact felt by all substitutes was quite incredible, not needing time to adjust or get their eye in but rather getting straight down to business and getting the job done.
Certain key assets such as Sels, Milenkovic, Anderson, Gibbs-White and Wood may seem irreplaceable, but Forest’s squad is proving week in, week out, that it is strong enough to carry them through any situation.
New heights and genuine expectation
As I’ve said before, Forest are here by no fluke. They have merited every point they’ve gained and have shown enough in both boxes to prove that they are in fourth (yes, fourth place, in the Premier League) and absolutely deserve to be so.
Even in their promotion-winning campaign, they only hit the play-offs in the final moments of the season, and fourth was really their peak.
They are two points behind Chelsea. One behind Arsenal. One ahead of Manchester City. Nine ahead of Manchester United. Fourteen ahead of Leicester. Sixteen above the relegation zone. And 28 places above Derby County.
Tell that to a Forest fan three years ago and you’d have been laughed out of the room.
All eight victories this season have been memorable in their own way. The Villa win means Forest now have the same points record at home and away, showing their consistency. But this game will be forever memorable for the manner of victory, and the day that this squad reaffirmed to the world that they are made of tough stuff and have what it takes to go the distance.
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