Nottingham Forest claimed an important point as they drew 1-1 with Aston Villa at the City Ground on Sunday - here's our talking points from the big game
21:49, 12 Apr 2026Updated 07:17, 13 Apr 2026
Nottingham Forest celebrate Neco Williams' goal against Aston Villa
View Image
Nottingham Forest celebrate Neco Williams' goal against Aston Villa(Image: Getty)
On three occasions in his post-match debrief with the media, Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira made reference to Liverpool’s visit to the City Ground back in February.
The memory of that 1-0 defeat, in what was his first Premier League game in charge of the Reds, clearly still haunts the Portuguese. It is an encounter, he said, he will “never forget”.
The hosts had dominated for long spells that day and had put in a superb showing against the reigning champions. But they were left with absolutely nothing to show for all their effort and endeavour courtesy of a sickener of a 97th-minute winner. It was a daylight robbery on the banks of the Trent.
Lessons were taken on board. It is why, perhaps more than anyone, Pereira valued the point his team claimed against Aston Villa at the weekend.
*JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!Get all the Nottingham Forest latest via our Facebook page*
He wanted all three, of course - and he did push for the victory - but he knows the match could also have gone the other way. He knows the importance of this 1-1 draw. The experience of what happened against Liverpool was front of mind.
How valuable (or otherwise) a result it proves to be will only be known come the end of the season. For now, it has simply edged Forest ever so slightly closer to safety. Below, NottinghamshireLive looks at some of the big talking points from Sunday’s game.
Never-lets-you-down Neco
Elliot Anderson, Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White have all been the subject of much transfer speculation in recent months. But when it comes to contenders for the Reds’ player of the season award, they are surely being left in the shade by Neco Williams.
Pereira said afterwards he wants a team of fighters. He wants players with resilience and character. Few epitomise such qualities more than the Welshman.
His heartbreak at missing out on the World Cup with his country was put aside and he was back to giving his all in the Garibaldi. Forest are scrapping and battling in the survival dogfight, and Williams is right at the heart of their cause.
He has been encouraged to shoot more by Pereira, and he did have a few attempts at goal aside from the one that went in. Finding the back of the net continues to be something the Reds are struggling with (their 14 league goals at home represents the worst return in the division) so they need as many players as possible to keep chipping in.
*WORLD CUP LEGENDS:The stars who lit up football’s greatest tournament - Buy the Special Edition today*
Game management
The Reds needed to dig deep after falling behind to a Murillo own goal. Against a team with designs on the Champions League places, it would have been easy to fold.
Pereira has quickly instilled a fighting spirit in this team, though. And he has also emphasised the need for calm heads and game management.
Nikola Milenkovic attempted to gee up his teammates after they had gone a goal down. He urged them not to let heads drop.
This was a testing game for the hosts; their opponents remained a threat throughout and created plenty of chances. Forest did go for it for a time, with Igor Jesus and Chris Wood both being on the pitch at one point, but then that Liverpool loss clearly began to influence Pereira’s thinking.
“In the last minute it was important to calm down and get one point,” he said. “I prefer to get one point than nothing.”
Get breaking Forest news sent direct to your phone
Join our Nottingham Forest WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click here and select ‘Join Community’ to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers.
We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Reds stories. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click 'Exit Group'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you are curious, you can click here to read our Privacy Notice.
Rotation, rotation, rotation
Nine changes in midweek, against Porto in the Europa League. And nine changes again on Sunday, with Murillo and Gibbs-White the duo to keep their places in both games.
This was near-enough Forest’s strongest XI, give or take a fully-fit Wood for Jesus and a debate about who should start in goal. Pereira has been open about how retaining the club’s top-flight status has to be his priority.
Given his team are in with a chance of reaching a European semi-final and are three points clear of the drop zone domestically, the Reds boss can feel satisfied with how his juggling act is going. The demands are getting increasingly more difficult to balance, however.
The margin for error in the Premier League is getting tighter while the prospect of pushing for silverware must be growing ever more tempting.
Central to this season was always going to be Forest’s squad and the extent of their strength in depth. That is what last summer’s transfer window was supposed to be about.
Pereira is eeking as much as he can out of his group and has certainly boosted a few confidences while creating a sense of unity in the dressing room. He needs his key men and his fringe players to deliver in the remaining weeks of the campaign.
A dress rehearsal?
Will the Reds and Villa meet again before the season is out? If both sides progress from their respective Europa League quarter-finals, it will be an all-English meeting in the last-four.
Thursday night’s return leg against Porto will decide whether Forest get there. Their tie is more delicately poised at 1-1, whereas Villa lead Bologna 3-1 going into their second leg.
Pereira is still searching for his first City Ground victory. Given Burnley are the visitors in another pivotal league clash on Sunday, he could do with two home wins in a row this week to continue progress on both fronts.
A hard-fought point against Villa represented a positive start to a big three-match run Trentside for Forest. They had to ride their luck but they could take much encouragement from Sunday’s showing.
It is coming up to the two-month mark of Pereira’s tenure. Already, it is clear what he wants from his team.
“I listened to something very interesting this week,” he said after the full-time whistle on Sunday. “I know teams and players prefer to be victims. We prefer to be warriors and fighters and fight every day. Even when we make mistakes, it helps us move forward and take another step. With responsibility and spirit we will fight until the last game.”
Article continues below
How confident are you Forest will survive? Click HERE to have your say