Nottingham Forest

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Legendary European Cup winner Garry Birtles says Vitor Pereira has "got Forest playing in a way he loves".

Forest are five points clear of the relegation zone, have not lost in nine games, and take a slender advantage to Aston Villa for next week's second leg of their Europa League semi-final.

"In the end, they just about shaded it," Birtles told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"Villa started the brightest but Forest weathered the storm really well. Both defences should be proud of themselves because they were solid and compact. It was just that penalty decision which changed the game.

"It was just a very good all-round performance from Forest - not extravagant, but effective.

"Chris Wood being back in the team is a huge boost. Playing two up front has confused defenders in the past three or four games because you don't often see two up front any more. The manager deserves great credit for that.

"Pereira has taken everything on board and has got Forest playing in a way he loves. Nine unbeaten is a hell of a run to be on at the moment.

"Pressure comes on you when you're in these moments so it's how you handle that. Hopefully Forest can learn from the end of last season and get over the line in these pressure moments in the Premier League and Europe.

"Any team playing the first leg of a semi-final at home will take any kind of lead for the second leg because the pressure is now on Villa to get back on the game."

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Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 15:00).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Pereira said he was in the dark on a lot of team news on the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Dan Ndoye, Jair Cunha and Murillo, with updates expected from his staff over the weekend.

• As he has said previously, Pereira thinks his players "recover fast" from victories in the Europa League because of a positive energy.

• He explained a change in energy is what has helped him have a positive mid-season impact at Forest and Wolves. Pereira explained: "When you start in the middle of a season, it is because something is missing. Maybe it's not about the previous coaches because they are top coaches, top managers. Sometimes it's about, or most of the time, in my opinion, it's about the energy. We need to recharge the energy of the team. Tactically, I try my ideas. We have our ideas and we try to, if they buy the idea, if they feel that we are trying to make them comfortable in the roles, try to give them confidence to play, to express themselves and in the end to connect everybody. This is the most important for me, to connect everybody in the club. With the supporters, the team, between the players, between the staff and the players and trying to create something that we are fighting together."

• On moving on from a Europa League win he said: "I will try to think just about the Chelsea game because it's our Champions League. It's very important for us. And we will try to go there to compete with the players. I prefer a fit player without injury problems, than someone that goes inside the pitch with problems, because with problems, we cannot give 100% and in this moment we need to run and fight."

• On being nominated for Manager of the Month: "It is maybe a coincidence, but last season, April was my month. Maybe April is my lucky month. I don't know if I deserve, believe me, I don't know, but it's not about me, it's not about me. It's about this team, this group of players that have been fighting a lot, facing a lot of problems this season. And we are in a condition that we can finish the league in a way that they deserve and the supporters deserve. They deserve that we work a lot."

• Asked if he will watch the likes of Tottenham and West Ham playing earlier in the weekend, Pereira offered: "They play lunchtime or dinner time? Because if they play lunchtime, if I watch the game, maybe I won't have a good lunch. It's better to not watch … indigestion maybe. It's better to not to see. And the dinner is the same."

• He added: "We can just control what we can do, what we put every day is on the pitch when we play in our games. And to control our life, we need to put everything there and believe that we can, we'll get the points. I don't know how many points, believe me, because I think this season, it will be a special season in terms of points to avoid relegation. It is better to get points every game. It is better to try to win every game, not to wait for the other results."

• The manager revealed he has been using academy players to help in training so that he doesn't have to demand overly intense sessions from his squad. He explained: "Sometimes I ask the academy to come, to run. Like they come to, to run, they go in front, running, running, running, and we try to follow them. They are helping us a lot because we ask them to come in our training to help us to prepare the games. For them, it's good because they can and they are with the first team and I can see them and analyse their qualities. And I have two teams to prepare the game. I put one team, two minutes, out, the other team, two minutes, out, the other team, two minutes, out. It means that I prepare everyone, with the help of our academy players. This is what we are doing in this moment."

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Since returning to the Premier League in 2022, Nottingham Forest are unbeaten at Stamford Bridge and they will hope to preserve that record and boost their survival hopes when they face Chelsea on Monday (15:00 BST).

These two sides could not be in more contrasting form. Forest are unbeaten in their last six league games, with only Brighton picking up more points than the relegation-threatened side's 12 since the start of March.

However, the hosts have lost and failed to score in each of their last five league games, a run that saw Liam Rosenior's spell at the club come to an end. Chelsea have not lost six in a row since November 1993 and have never lost that many in a row without scoring in their league history.

It is a massive chance for the Tricky Trees to push further away from the drop zone after their impressive 5-0 thrashing of Sunderland. However, they won't be sitting comfortably just yet, as relegation rivals West Ham and Tottenham won their games last Saturday to leave the table as it was before the weekend's results.

Chelsea did manage to arrest their sliding form with a confidence-boosting 1-0 victory in the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United under the stewardship of interim boss Calum McFarlane. He proved himself earlier this season by guiding the side to a surprising draw at Manchester City after Enzo Maresca's sacking.

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You can hear all the post-match reaction, analysis and interviews from Nottingham Forest's 1-0 Europa League semi-final first leg win over Aston Villa on the latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast.

Former Forest man James Perch said: "Rip-roaring. The kind of game you expect from a semi-final where two teams are going at it hammer and tongs and nothing much is given either way.

"I just loved the intensity and battling tonight. There were big tackles and big impact all over the pitch. The amount of times Elliot Anderson won the ball back was frightening - he was magnificent tonight, the best player on a park full of top players.

"You want your top players to perform in a semi-final or final and show what they've got and the back four and goalkeeper were excellent tonight.

"The semi-final is still on a knife-edge. It was basically our first XI and fair play to those lads who put a right shift in. They played really well, without the ball for a lot of it as Villa tried to pull us around and get into little pockets.

"They have some excellent players but a few long shots and that Watkins chance was all they had all night. We were playing a top team that will play in the Champions League next year and that's how you beat them.

"At the end of it something has to go your way and Lucas Digne took a risk and gave away the handball. Omari Hutchinson didn't give it up, asked the question, and got the reward."

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We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa at the City Ground.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Ben: First blood, Forest! A strong performance without being dominant, but what a penalty! You won't see a better one. We played well with the ball and did enough to deserve a lead going into the second leg, but this tie is nowhere near over. Villa Park will be a tough place to see this through. But if Forest play with the same commitment, they will give themselves every chance of doing so!

Steven: We just about deserved the win. It was a very cagey game, but we played at a good tempo. I'm looking forward to next week. Stefan Ortega needs to be given a new contract ASAP.

Kris: Very composed, very assured and very professional. That's what Vitor Pereira has brought since he came in, and now the players are thriving. The right call was made on Elliot Anderson's brilliant tackle and our penalty was the most obvious one you'll see, so nothing to grumble about in terms of VAR or the officials. Can every match be like this please?!

Ian: This result gives Forest something to believe in. The 1-0 is OK, so long as our defence is as good next week as it was in this match. Elliot Anderson was lucky, I thought. Those little bits of luck are needed for the second leg. I think we can do it.

Villa fans

Mossy: So frustrating! Once again we failed to take our chance to score. The one golden chance Ollie Watkins got he missed, like so many other times throughout this season. We looked a bit toothless up front, but in all honesty we were second-best all night in terms of passing, tackling and winning one-vs-one duels. Forest looked us in the eyes and we melted a bit. It will be very hard to turn it around if we don't play a lot better next week. Thank God for Emi Martinez, what a save that was! Incredible reflexes.

Phil: Villa had no attack! We had nobody to cause concern and, when we lost Amadou Onana, we lost control of midfield. It is more obvious than ever just how much Boubacar Kamara was the bulldog in midfield. He did all the dirty work without asking for plaudits. That's our biggest loss.

Blake: Compact but no end-product. Ollie Watkins couldn't stay on his feet and lacked a clinical edge. Unai Emery chose to complain about a 50-50 challenge rather than focusing on our toothless performance. Forest will shut Villa out in the second leg.

Andy: It felt like we were stuck in third gear and happy with a draw. The referee had a poor game and gave everything Forest's way. A harsh penalty on Digne, but why doesn't goal-line technology come into play along the whole touchline? Chris Wood's penalty was unstoppable, but if it wasn't for Martinez's worldie earlier on we would've been in deeper trouble. The second leg will be rocking at Villa Park next Thursday. We will play so much better than this.

Nottingham Forest are close to meeting Fenerbahce's valuation of their 23-year-old English left-back Archie Brown. (A Spor - in Turkish, external)

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Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira, spoke to TNT Sports after his side's victory over Aston Villa in the Europa League: "They are a very tough team, but we competed with them. I like to see us playing football, trying to score. We have time to recover a bit and prepare for Chelsea. This is a special group of players.

"Unai Emery is a top manager, he has been with his team for a long time. We are together for a short time. In the end it was a good fight. I am very competitive, that's why I like to be in the Premier League, to compete with this kind of manager.

"I had the privilege to be the manager of these boys, they are a fantastic group [with] spirit. Four managers in a season, and finishing at this level, competing at this level together and united - this is a honour for me.

"We changed the players but kept the spirit. The mentality to try to win games. The supporters, fantastic, they help us a lot. Next time we face a big battle.

"For me it's an honour to manage this club, to try to help these payers, to see the smiles on the faces of these supporters. To be part of the Nottingham family with a manager in the memory of everyone [Brian Clough].

"I am very proud of my players."

On Chris Wood's impact on the team: "He is not only a top player, he is a player who has the spirit and experience. He does a lot and we are in a good moment with a good spirit.

"In my mind everyone has an image of him. An experienced player, quality, scores goals and he gives us the balance to release other players to score goals.

"The centre-backs... he fixes the centre-backs because in a second he can create something and Morgan [Gibbs-White], Igor [Jesus] and the midfielders... they have the spaces to score goals. It was the last piece of the puzzle."

On Villa: "The problem in the game last time we played them, a lot of times it was two against two, and it's not easy to control them. I asked my players to play four against four with just one midfielder jumping.

"I am proud we played in our way, pressing high but if they attack then reorganise team in a block. Tactically, we did what we should.

"The transition of Villa is very dangerous, when they drive with the ball at our defensive line, it's a big problem.

"When we go to win the ball we cannot lose, because they are very aggressive in that moment."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions (W6 D3), while winning four in-a-row for the first time since January 2025 (run of seven).

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Nottingham Forest goalscorer Chris Wood speaking to TNT Sports after his side's 1-0 win over Aston Villa: "It's one leg of the tie. It's nice to have the advantage but going to Villa Park will be a tough game. They're good at their place. But we've done the job here at home and now hopefully we'll build into next week."

On influencing the team after a significant injury lay-off: "That's all I wanted to do. I wanted to get back fit and firing to help my team as best as I can at the end of the season. I knew we had a lot to play for when I was fighting to get fit and it's showing. It's some big competitions to be a part of.

"We're in the crunch end of the season. We need to perform on both parts and we'll be looking to do that for sure."

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White speaking to TNT Sports about his manager Vitor Pereira: "He's been a massive part of the success that we've recently had in terms of his ideas, his tactics. The way he believes football should be with passion, aggression and fight. We've been showing that in our performances. The atmosphere today was incredible. I think the boys put on an incredible performance.

"The control we had in the game. Even when they had the ball, we felt we had control. We weren't comfortable because obviously they have incredible talent and threat but with the ball we were calm, confident, had a couple of chances where we could have gone 1-0 up before. But delighted for Woody to score his penalty.

"But it's only half-time. There's a lot to do."

On changing their attacking formation and the impact of Chris Wood's return: "I think having the two strikers up there helps me and Omari out massively because it leaves their two centre-backs isolated and it allows us to have the space to come inside and do what we need to do.

"He's been a massive miss for us this season. Fair play to him for coming back so early. He's been a credit to us since he's come back and long may it continue.

"Never in doubt. Full confidence in him. Ten years. That's why he's our penalty taker. It's an incredible finish. Cool, calm, composed. We know as a team we can rely on him when we need him. And it showed."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Nottingham Forest deserved their win against Aston Villa, which gives them something to defend in next week's second leg - but should Elliot Anderson have been sent off?

The midfielder's first-half challenge on Ollie Watkins went unpunished but left his England team-mate in agony on the turf. Replays showed Anderson clattered into the Villa striker's ankle.

Watkins tried to get retribution later, barging into Anderson and avoiding a yellow card, but Villa may feel a sense of injustice they were not playing against 10 men.

To make matters worse for Villa, Anderson was the heartbeat of Forest's performance which earned them a justified advantage.

Would it have come had referee Joao Pinherio - or VAR - sent Anderson off?

The official then awarded them the match-winning penalty after a lengthy VAR delay following Lucas Digne's bizarre decision to raise his hands to Omari Hutchinson's hook back.

Nothing should take away from the effort and determination from Forest, though, as they extended their run to nine unbeaten games in all competitions - their best run of the season.

Crucially, they do not have to win at Villa Park next week. And while Villa will continue to be dangerous and the tie is certainly not over, it is advantage Forest.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back on Friday for a selection of your replies

Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira makes three changes for the Europa League semi-final first leg.

Jair Cunha misses out after being forced off in Friday's 5-0 win at Sunderland with Morato starting in defence.

Nicolas Dominguez replaces Ibrahim Sangare, with the midfielder also coming off at the Stadium of Light injured, while Stefan Ortega starts in goal.

Nottingham Forest XI: Ortega, Aina, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, Hutchinson, I.Jesus, Gibbs-White, Wood.

Subs: Sels, Willows, Lucca, Yates, McAtee, Bakwa, Abbott, Whitehall, Sinclair, Hanks, Blake.

Amadou Onana starts for Aston Villa having been a doubt with a knee problem which kept him out of Saturday's defeat at Fulham.

He replaces Lamare Bogarde in Villa's only change as they look to take a first-leg lead back to Villa Park next week.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Lindelof, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.

There are four semi-final first legs taking place in the Europa League and the Conference League on Thursday, and BBC Sport will be keeping you up to date.

Europa League:

• Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Sporting Braga v Freiburg

Conference League:

• Rayo Vallecano v Strasbourg

• Shakhtar Donetsk v Crystal Palace

Kick-off times 20:00 BST

Get in-depth coverage of Forest v Villa, plus updates from Braga v Freiburg here

And go here for live text commentary of Palace's game, plus Rayo Vallecano v Strasbourg updates

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Europa League commentary on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa".

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina expects Thursday's Europa League semi-final "to be a cracker" and a showcase of competitive English football.

Forest host Premier League rivals Aston Villa in the first leg of the semi-finals, where Villa are winless in the past four seasons.

"It's massive," said Aina to BBC Radio Nottingham. "It's two historic clubs in Europe with competitive teams so it's going to be a cracker.

"It's going to be a tough game for both sides, but one that we will relish.

"We definitely need to be on top form and have the fans behind us. Hopefully then, we can get the results that we want.

"We are unfortunate where we have been this season in the table and I think we have just been unlucky. It's undeniable that we have fantastic players here.

"I feel like we can match most teams we come up against and that's the confidence that I have in my teammates and what we're doing here.

"We have the formula, but sometimes on the day you need a bit of luck so hopefully there is some."

Also hear Aina's interview with BBC Radio Nottingham on BBC Sounds

And listen to BBC Radio Nottingham from 18:00 BST for all the build-up to the semi-final with Colin Fray, James Perch and Steve Hodge

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Vitor Pereira says he remembers Nottingham Forest "being one of the strongest teams in Europe" when he was growing up so to lead them into their fourth European semi-final is a special feeling.

"We have a chance to write our names into the history of this club," the Reds boss told BBC Radio Nottingham. "But I don't think about doing it for me.

"I think about our supporters because a lot of them don't really have the money to buy tickets, but they do it through sacrifice to come and support us.

"This is more to make them happy.

"I'm not at a stage of my career where I need titles to satisfy myself, but it is, of course, an honour to be here and get titles."

Pereira also acknowledged how for a whole generation this is the biggest night of the club's history as they face Aston Villa in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final.

"When I was a kid, I remember Forest being one of the strongest teams in Europe," he added. "It's important to go back in time and understand how big the club is."

He also said he takes inspiration from legendary former Forest boss Brian Clough, who won the European Cup twice with the club: "This week, I went into the city and saw a big statue of Brian Clough and he makes people feel proud."

Listen to Pereira's interview with BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray on BBC Sounds or hit play below...

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Former Nottingham Forest striker Robert Earnshaw is expecting a "really interesting" Europa League semi-final between his old club and Aston Villa.

Despite a difficult season in which they have cycled through three permanent managers, Forest are unbeaten in six Premier League games and have moved five points clear of the relegation zone with four matches to play.

Villa have been plagued by inconsistency in recent months but are in a strong position to get a place in next season's Champions League through the Premier League table.

"The level at the bottom of the Premier League is very high right now and Forest show that," Earnshaw told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"Last year they qualified for Europe and finished in the top seven but now they are fighting relegation and in the semi-finals of the Europa League.

"They are good enough and the quality of their players is good enough.

"Forest have hit form. In the last month they've been on fire. I think they will stay in the Premier League easily now, they've taken care of that. Now it's whether they can achieve history. If they beat Villa they are in the final of a European competition and that is so big for Forest.

"These two teams drew 1-1 not long ago in the league and you feel like between them it's always small little details in the game that changes things. That's how close they are.

"Villa will have an advantage because of Unai Emery's experience, but then you've got the unknown and nothing to lose attitude of Forest. It will be a really interesting tie.

"When you hit Europe everything is fresh. It's not the Premier League. There is pressure too for both teams in different ways."

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Nottingham Forest landed the bargain of the season in Igor Jesus, according to former Botafogo boss Renato Paiva.

The striker is the Europa League's joint top goalscorer with seven going into Thursday's semi-final first leg against Aston Villa at the City Ground.

Forest paid Botafogo £10m for Jesus last summer and the 25-year-old has 15 goals.

Paiva said: "Pedro Ferreira [Forest's head of recruitment] worked with me at Benfica and he asked me about Igor and I said: 'Wow, my friend, he's an incredible player.'

"When we spoke about the price, I said: 'My god, this is very, very cheap.' Before the Club World Cup, even cheaper.

"He's a very complete player. The number nine I think all the coaches are searching for. He's the first guy that defends - you say to press and he presses, you say to close the spaces and he close spaces. He's a very clever guy and understands what the coaches want."

Forest struck a deal before the Club World Cup last year, with Jesus scoring in Botafogo's shock win over Paris St-Germain which Paiva masterminded, but his former manager believes it was an error from the Brazilians. The deal was eventually announced in July.

"It was a mistake to sell a player before the competition," said the former Benfica youth coach. "Strategically, it's an error. After the competition you probably will have better offers.

"But I understand sometimes this kind of business is defined by the timing."

Jesus has scored five in the Premier League this season, including two in his past two games - and Paiva believes Jesus could be key against top-flight rivals Villa.

"It's taken a little bit of time to adapt. The most curious thing, when you try to analyse since he arrived, are his numbers in the Premier League and his numbers in the Europa League," he said.

"Probably the Europa League is not so demanding as the Premier League.

"Against Aston Villa, it's a different environment. It's a very difficult game for Nottingham Forest and for Igor.

"Aston Villa are one of the best teams of the Premier League, with one of the best coaches in the world - but this is not the Premier League, it's the Europa League and Igor can surprise us with another very good performance."

Manchester United do not want to get into a bidding war for Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson, 23, who is also a target for Manchester City, and could turn to other targets such as Brighton's Cameroon international Carlos Baleba. (ESPN, external)

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