📸 A tale of two defenders in Forest-Villa with goals at both ends 👀

It's a pivotal game at the City Ground with both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa needing points for very different reasons.

They're level at the break via a tale of two Reds' defenders.

After a relatively even start, Villa took the lead in the 23rd minute. It was a neat pass from Lucas Digne that found Morgan Rogers on the left-hand side of the box.

His low cross was turned into the Forest net by Murillo, with the ball squirming agonisingly past Matz Sels.

– Sunday, 12 April 2026

Here is the opener for UK and Irish users.

– Sunday, 12 April 2026

Vitor Pereira's side didn't let their heads drop, though, and found an equaliser just under 15 minutes later through Neco Williams .

The Welsh full-back was teed up by Callum Hudson-Odoi and smashed the ball low and hard past the outstretched arm of Marco Bizot.

The Villa keeper was left picking the ball out of the net after only starting due to Emi Martínez pulling up in the warm-up.

Here is the Williams' leveller for UK and Irish users.

– Sunday, 12 April 2026

With Forest looking to move further clear of the relegation zone and Villa aiming to move into third, a win for either side would be huge.

Might a third Forest defender play a role in the next goal?

📸 Carl Recine - 2026 Getty Images