Aston Villa’s Premier League struggles continued under manager Unai Emery as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The result leaves Villa with just one point from their opening four league matches, raising concerns about the team’s form and depth following a difficult summer transfer window.

Nottingham Forest secured their first win under manager Oliver Glasner, marking his sixth victory in eight encounters against Emery across various competitions. Glasner has now beaten Emery four times in league play and also triumphed over Villa in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Despite his recent success, Glasner maintained humility after the match, noting that Emery still holds the upper hand with five European trophies to his two.

Villa found themselves quickly on the back foot in the match. Liam Delap opened the scoring for Forest before Alysson equalized, cancelling out Delap’s goal and suggesting a draw was likely. However, Villa’s fortunes worsened late when Ian Maatsen was forced off due to injury, and having exhausted all substitutions, Emery’s team was reduced to 10 men.

Making their debuts for Villa, Ibrahim Mbaye and Johan Manzambi—whose combined transfer fees reportedly approach £100 million—were brought on by Emery in an attempt to shift the game’s momentum. Yet it was Forest who capitalized on their numerical advantage. Substitute Igor Jesus scored a late winner, securing all three points for the hosts.

The match underscored the challenges facing Villa following the departure of six key players during the off-season. Emery, in his matchday programme notes, strongly rejected claims that the team had lost its spine, but Villa’s early-season performance results raise questions about the squad’s cohesion and resilience under pressure. Meanwhile, Glasner’s Forest side continues to build confidence as they seek to improve their standing in the league.