Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa: Dramatic Elanga strike takes hosts into top four

Anthony Elanga played the role of super sub as Nottingham Forest scored two late goals to clinch a dramatic 2-1 win over Aston Villa and go fourth in the Premier League table.

Forest and Villa entered Saturday's late kick-off fifth and sixth in the standings respectively, with both knowing a victory would lift them into the UEFA Champions League places.

Chances were few and far between until the second half, when Jhon Duran – having replaced Ollie Watkins in the Villa attack – opened the scoring with a fine header, generating all his own power to guide John McGinn's cross into the roof of the net. 

Chris Wood saw a potential leveller disallowed following a VAR review in the 82nd minute, with substitute Elanga adjudged to be offside when breaking into the box to cross for the New Zealander.

However, Forest continued to push and equalised via a powerful Nikola Milenkovic header in the 87th minute, Emiliano Martinez getting two hands to the ball but failing to prevent it creeping over the line.

Elanga then completed the turnaround four minutes into stoppage time, side-footing home after Elliot Anderson dispossessed Matty Cash to cross from the left-hand side.

That goal ensured Forest climbed above Manchester City with 28 points, three ahead of Villa, ahead of visiting Brentford next Saturday.

Data Debrief: Late show for Forest

Forest emerged as the winning side despite trailing after 86 minutes and 14 seconds – the latest they have ever been behind in a Premier League game before going on to win.

Meanwhile, it was the latest point at which Villa had led and gone on to lose in the Premier League since November 2019 versus Liverpool (1-0 up until 86:35, lost 2-1).

With 28 points, Forest have managed their best start to a top-flight campaign through 16 games since 1994-95 (also 28), when they went on to finish third.