Nottingham Forest suffered their first Premier League defeat in five games as Aston Villa claimed a 2-1 victory at Villa Park, strengthening their push for a Champions League spot.
The Reds needed to stay organized early on, but two minutes of chaos ultimately cost them the chance of securing a result. Goals from Morgan Rogers in the 13th minute and Donyell Malen just two minutes later left Forest with an uphill battle. Although Jota Silva pulled one back, Forest’s fate seemed largely sealed from that point.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo will take positives from the second-half performance, particularly the impact Silva made after coming off the bench, offering Forest a new attacking spark.
Jamie Redknapp left stunned by Nottingham Forest player during Villa clash
It was a night to forget for defender Morato, who returned to the starting lineup as Espirito Santo opted for a back three. Pundit Alan Smith criticized the tactical choice, noting that Forest looked overwhelmed by Villa’s attacking threat in the first half.
One crucial mistake stood out—Morato was caught adjusting his shin pads during open play, allowing Rogers to exploit the lapse in concentration and capitalize on the opportunity.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp expressed disbelief:
“I can’t understand it—what he’s doing, I just don’t get it. He’s fiddling with his shin pads while Rogers is ready to make a run. How can you defend like that with Youri Tielemans looking up? It’s really poor.”
Morato’s performance vs Aston Villa
It wasn’t the Brazilian’s finest outing. Starting the match appeared to catch him off guard, with some rustiness evident. Previously, Morato had been a reliable impact substitute, often helping Forest see out games without conceding.
Morato’s stats vs Aston Villa:
Minutes: 74
Tackles: 3
Clearances: 1
WhoScored Rating: 5.83
This game won’t define him, and it’s arguably Forest’s toughest fixture remaining in the 2024/25 campaign. With Everton up next, Morato will hope to bounce back and learn from his costly error against Villa—if he gets the start.
‘You can’t do that’… Jamie Redknapp in shock at what he saw one Nottingham Forest player do in loss Aston Villa
