Aston Villa 1-2 Nottingham Forest: Emery Slams VAR as Villa Lose Again

Aston Villa suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with Igor Jesus scoring a late winner. Unai Emery criticised the referee for not sending off James McAtee after Ian Maatsen was injured. Villa have now lost three of their opening four Premier League games.

Competition: Premier League
Venue: Villa Park
Result: Aston Villa 1-2 Nottingham Forest
Goals: Liam Delap (Forest), Alysson (Villa), Igor Jesus (Forest)
Key moment: James McAtee challenge injured Ian Maatsen; Emery believes it should have been a red card
What's at stake: Villa could be bottom of the table if Coventry beat Brighton on Sunday

What was said

"When we equalised the match could change but we finished with Ian Maatsen injured and with 10 players, we conceded so many chances in the last minutes and they scored the second goal and deserved it."
— Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager

"But after watching it on TV, I think the VAR should call the referee because it's a clear tackle behind the player and, for me, it should be a red card."
— Unai Emery on the McAtee challenge

"Of course, they deserved it (the win), but the decision of the referee should be different. We finished the match in Brighton, two yellow cards for Joao Gomes, and we accepted it. But today, after the injury of Maatsen, and we're finishing with 10."
— Unai Emery

"He didn't want to injure our player but if we can watch it through the TV, it's a VAR action, and to call the referee and should be a red card, and maybe finishing with 10 v 10 was maybe different in the match."
— Unai Emery

"But it's not an excuse how we play the second half. We played so so poor, and this is our work and our responsibility or my responsibility."
— Unai Emery

"I don't know why. I want to see the match again and to understand why we lost our shape."
— Unai Emery on Villa's second-half performance

Emery was clearly frustrated with the officiating but refused to use it as an excuse for the defeat. He acknowledged that his team's second-half display was not good enough and that the responsibility lies with him. The Villa boss also revealed his confusion over why his side lost their shape after equalising.

The numbers

372: Premier League minutes without a goal before Alysson scored
22: Shots by Nottingham Forest
32: Touches in Villa's box by Forest
45 seconds: Time after half-time when Liam Delap scored
2 minutes: Remaining when Igor Jesus scored the winner

Injury and availability

Ian Maatsen: Suffered an ankle injury from a challenge by James McAtee. There is a fear it could keep him out for a considerable time, meaning new signing Matteo Ruggeri may be called upon earlier than expected.

Pau Torres: Replaced in the first half, leaving Villa's defence thin. Summer signing Taylor Harwood-Bellis was omitted from the squad again.

Emery left searching for answers as Villa's home woes continue

Aston Villa's 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on Saturday extended their winless start to the season to four games, leaving manager Unai Emery with plenty to ponder. Igor Jesus scored a late winner for Forest, who secured their first win at Villa Park since 1994. Liam Delap had given Forest the lead just 45 seconds after half-time, before Alysson equalised with his first goal in English football. But Jesus pounced ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka with two minutes left to seal the points.

Villa's problems were compounded by injuries to Ian Maatsen and Pau Torres. Maatsen was forced off after a challenge from James McAtee, and Emery was adamant that the Forest attacker should have been sent off. "After watching it on TV, I think the VAR should call the referee because it's a clear tackle behind the player and, for me, it should be a red card," he said. The injury could keep Maatsen out for a considerable time, potentially handing a chance to new signing Matteo Ruggeri. Torres's first-half withdrawal left Villa's backline increasingly thin, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis again absent from the squad.

Emery also bemoaned his side's second-half performance, admitting: "We played so so poor, and this is our work and our responsibility or my responsibility." He added: "I don't know why. I want to see the match again and to understand why we lost our shape." The result leaves Villa potentially bottom of the table if Coventry beat Brighton on Sunday. It is the fourth time they have started a top-flight season without winning any of their opening four games, having done so in 1992-93, 1997-98 and 2025-26.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, celebrated a deserved victory. They had 22 shots and 32 touches in Villa's box, with Delap also having a goal disallowed. Oliver Glasner, in his first win as Forest boss, remains unbeaten in his eight games against Emery. The visitors took advantage of Villa's misfortune, with Jesus scoring the winner. Villa's home record has been crumbling: they had not lost at home in the league for 12 months before Crystal Palace won 3-0 last August. Since then, Villa Park has become less of a fortress, with four defeats in their final 15 home league games last season and a 3-1 FA Cup exit to Newcastle. The North Stand redevelopment has reduced capacity, but the drop-off at home is alarming.

Villa did have some promising moments: Alysson glanced in John McGinn's cross against the run of play, and second-half substitutes Johan Manzambi and Ibrahim Mbaye – costing a combined £98m – made their debuts. However, they could not make a difference. Nicolas Jackson was replaced at half-time by Tammy Abraham, a player Emery wanted to sell this summer, because Emery feared Jackson would get sent off after an early yellow card. Alejandro Garnacho was again an unused substitute, with the Chelsea loanee failing to impress Emery enough to get game time.

Talking points

Should James McAtee have been sent off for the challenge that injured Ian Maatsen? Emery believes VAR should have intervened, but the referee saw it differently.
Villa's home form is a major concern. They have lost four of their last 15 home league games and are no longer the fortress they once were.
Emery's decision to substitute Nicolas Jackson at half-time was pragmatic, but it highlights the lack of attacking options at his disposal.
With Maatsen and Torres injured, Villa's defence is stretched. Can they cope with the upcoming fixtures against Coventry and Tottenham?

What happens next

Aston Villa visit Coventry in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before a trip to Tottenham in the Premier League. Emery will be hoping for a response from his players and will likely give £30m centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis a chance at the CBS Arena. Forest, meanwhile, will look to build on their first win at Villa Park since 1994 when they host their next Premier League fixture.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest?

Aston Villa lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest at Villa Park, with Igor Jesus scoring the winner two minutes from time.

Why was Unai Emery angry with VAR?

Emery believed James McAtee should have been sent off for a tackle that injured Ian Maatsen, and that VAR should have advised the referee to review it.