Easter bank holiday weekend saw Forest make a trip across the midlands to Villa Park to face Aston Villa in Premier League action.
Steve Cooper made three changes to his side after defeat away at Leeds in midweek with captain Joe Worrall, Jonjo Shelvey and Cheikhou Kouyaté coming into the starting XI, replacing Orel Mangala, Remo Freuler and Emmanuel Dennis, who all dropped to the bench.
There was also a place on the bench for Scott McKenna who returned to the matchday squad for the first time since picking up an injury away at Fulham in February.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side on 2 minutes as a deflected clearance from Niakhaté fell kindly for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, but his opening effort dragged wide of the far post.
The Reds' first chance of the game came after 6 minutes as Morgan Gibbs-White did well to dispossess Buendía in the middle of the park before a Neco Williams cross ricocheted to the edge of the box where Cheikhou Kouyaté had his attempt at goal blocked behind for a Forest corner.
On 25 minutes, it was Villa who looked to threaten with good work down the right-hand side from Leon Bailey forcing Navas to punch his cross clear, only for it to deflect off the head of Watkins and behind for a goal kick.
Aston Villa were forced into an early substitution on 28 minutes with the injured Leon Bailey being replaced by Bertrand Traoré.
Cooper was then forced into an early change himself after 32 minutes with Cheikhou Kouyaté unable to carry, being replaced by Remo Freuler.
On 36 minutes, the first booking of the match went to Aston Villa’s Alexander Moreno as he pulled back Neco Williams with Forest looking to break down the right.
Jonjo Shelvey then quickly found himself in referee Anthony Taylor’s notebook after a late lunge on Moreno.
On the stroke of half-time Villa carved out another opportunity as Buendia’s cross was met by substitute Traoré but he was unable to keep his attempt down and blazed his shot over the crossbar into the Holt End.
Halt-time: Aston Villa 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Quickly after the restart, on 48 minutes, it was the home side who took the lead through Bertrand Traoré. Forest were unable to clear the ball in the penalty area after Traoré’s initial strike was saved by Navas, and the Villa striker tucked the ball into the back of the net at the second attempt.
With Forest looking for a swift response, Danilo took aim from the edge of the box, but Emiliano Martinez’s low stop denied the Brazilian of his first Forest goal.
With just over an hour played, Cooper looked to his bench to freshen up his side, electing to replace Joe Worrall and Jonjo Shelvey with Taiwo Awoniyi and Orel Mangala.
The next big chance of the match came on 67 minutes for Emiliano Buendía, who got on the end of a Moreno cut back, but his effort whistled just wide of the mark.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, Unai Emery looked to freshen up his squad with Emiliano Buendía being replaced by Leander Dendoncker.
On 79 minutes, Forest made their final change of the match replacing Danilo with Andre Ayew.
With little over 5 minutes left to play Forest were forced to see out the match with 10 men as Moussa Niakhaté picked up a knock and was forced off. With Steve Cooper having already made substitutions on three separate occasions Forest were unable to select a replacement.
As the game approached the 90-minute mark, Orel Mangala and Harry Toffolo were booked for a late challenges on John McGinn and Traoré respectively.
4 minutes into stoppage time Aston Villa scored a second through in-form striker Ollie Watkins who dinked the ball over Keylor Navas to ensure that Villa claimed all 3 points.
Full-time: Aston Villa 2-0 Nottingham Forest
LINE UPS:
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martínez, Alexandre Moreno Lopera, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Ashley Young, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Emiliano Buendía (Leander Dendoncker 75’), Jacob Ramsey, Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey (Bertrand Traoré 28’)
Substitutes: Robin Olsen, Viljami Sinisalo, Diego Carlos, Calum Chambers, Jhon Jader Duran Palacios, Lucas Digne
Goals: Traoré (48’) Watkins (90’)
Nottingham Forest: Keylor Navas, Neco Williams, Joe Worrall (Orel Mangala 65’), Moussa Niakhaté, Felipe, Harry Toffolo, Danilo (André Ayew 79’), Cheikhou Kouyaté (Remo Freuler 32’), Jonjo Shelvey (Taiwo Awoniyi 65’), Brennan Johnson, Morgan Gibbs-White
Substitutes: Wayne Hennessey, Jesse Lingard, Sam Surridge, Emmanuel Dennis, Scott McKenna
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 42,076