McGinn scores twice as Villa back to winning ways | OneFootball

Aston Villa returned to winning ways after defeating Nottingham Forest 3-1 at Villa Park.

Unai Emery's side had been touted as a part of the Premier League title race for the damaging 4-1 defeat to Arsenal however they bounced right back against Forest.

After missing a chance in the opening minutes of the match, Ollie Watkins gave his team the lead in the final seconds of first-half stoppage time with a superb strike from the edge of the area that John Victor wasn't able to keep out.

That lead was doubled early in the second half by John McGinn after Matty Cash's low ball in the area.

Despite Villa enjoying the vast majority of possession the visitors had chances and pulled one back with just over an hour gone when Morgan Gibbs-White kept his cool to lift the ball over Emiliano Martínez.

The game was wrapped up in the 76th minute though when John Victor, who would soon after be replaced, was caught off his goalline, about midway out in his own half. With the goalkeeper no longer a factor McGinn was able to pass the ball into an empty net from distance to make it 3-1.

That result puts Villa up to second ahead of Manchester City hosting Chelsea tomorrow while Nottingham Forest remain 17th, four points ahead of West Ham United who they face next.

Incidents: The story of the match

1':

The match begins

17':

Missed opportunity! Ian Maatsen of Aston Villa took a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, coming close but ultimately missing the target following a corner kick.

21':

Missed opportunity! Igor Jesus from Nottingham Forest attempted a header from the right side of the penalty area, but it went just wide. The assist came from Ola Aina.

Aston Villa takes the lead with a score of 1-0 against Nottingham Forest. Ollie Watkins scores with a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area.

45 +1':

GOAL Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) scores!

Ollie Watkins scores goal number 7 in the competition (20 matches)

Aston Villa leads 2-0 against Nottingham Forest. John McGinn scores with a left-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area.

49':

GOAL Aston Villa: John McGinn (Aston Villa) scores!

John McGinn scores goal number 2 in the competition (20 matches)

54':

Missed opportunity! Dilane Bakwa of Nottingham Forest attempted a header from the right side of the six-yard box, but it went just wide. The assist came from Omari Hutchinson.

57':

Missed opportunity! Emiliano Buendía from Aston Villa took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it narrowly missed the target following a free kick.

Aston Villa 2, Nottingham Forest 1. Morgan Gibbs-White scores for Nottingham Forest with a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area into the bottom left corner. The assist comes from Dilane Bakwa.

61':

GOAL Nottingham Forest: Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) scores!

Morgan Gibbs-White scores goal number 4 in the competition (20 matches)

Aston Villa leads Nottingham Forest 3-1. John McGinn scores with a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, finding the bottom left corner of the net. The assist comes from Youri Tielemans after a quick counterattack.

73':

GOAL Aston Villa: John McGinn (Aston Villa) scores!

John McGinn scores goal number 3 in the competition (20 matches)

998':

The referee whistles for the end of the match