Chris Wood penalty gives Nottingham Forest edge over Aston Villa in Europa League semi-final

Nottingham Forest edged Aston Villa in a closely fought first leg of their Europa League semi-final and will take a one-goal lead to Villa Park next week. A tense but goalless first half was dominated by fine goalkeeping performances, with Emi Martinez making a superb double save from Igor Jesus from right on the goalline. And neither side looked likely to score in the second – until Lucas Digne was penalised for handball as he flung an arm up when duelling with Omari Hutchinson at the byline.

The Forest player did well to hook a cross that looked destined to go out back into the box, knocking it off Digne’s arm in the process, and after a lengthy VAR check Forest were awarded the penalty. Chris Wood smashed a sublime spot-kick into the top corner and although Forest pressed for another, and Villa spurned chances of their own, Vitor Pereira ’s men came out on top with a 1-0 victory at a bouncing City Ground. Forest's win stretched their ‌unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions as the 1979 and 1980 European champions enjoy some momentum after battling relegation from the Premier League all season, with Pereira their fourth boss since September.

"(Villa) ‌are a very tough team, but we competed with them," ‌Pereira said. "This is a special group of players. "I have the privilege to be the manager of these boys, they are a fantastic group.

Spirit, four managers in a season, and finishing at this level, competing at this level together and united. This is ⁠a honour for me. " Martinez made a superb goal-line save to deny Jesus (Reuters) Both goalkeepers were called into action in the first half.