Glasner hails ‘top team performance’ from Forest but warns against impatience

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner was delighted with his side’s “top team performance” as they picked up their first win of the season, defeating Aston Villa 2-1 on Saturday. 

Liam Delap broke the deadlock at Villa Park with a spectacular 20-yard strike within one minute of the second half, before also seeing a goal disallowed for offside following a VAR review. 

Despite consistent pressure, Forest suffered a brief scare late on when Alysson neatly guided John McGinn’s cross into the back of the net 16 minutes from time. 

But substitute Igor Jesus eventually sealed all three points in the 88th minute, coolly sliding a first-time finish past Zion Suzuki to hand Forest their first win at Villa Park since 1994. 

“I’m really proud of the team’s performance and the spirit they showed,” Glasner told BBC Sport.  

“It was a top team performance. We did better after 10 or 15 minutes but we were a little bit impatient in the final third. 

“We were too impatient and eager. It was a little bit up and down. In the second half we moved the ball quicker and switched from left to right and we saw the confidence grow.” 

When asked about Delap’s strike, the Forest boss added: “Liam’s hit didn’t surprise me because I see it in training.  

“That’s what a striker should do. I feel this goal gave him a lot of confidence because he was a lot more present afterwards.”

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) September 12, 2026

Saturday’s win extended the Tricky Trees’ formidable away form, as they have now lost just one of their last seven Premier League matches on the road (W4 D2). 

Glasner’s side have also found the net in each of their last 12 away matches, marking their joint-longest such run in the league, along with a 12-game streak between February and October 1995.  

Villa, meanwhile, ended a run of 372 Premier League minutes without a goal as Alysson’s leveller marked their first of the season. 

Villa boss Unai Emery, meanwhile, was left frustrated at full-time, questioning the decision not to punish a challenge on Ian Maatsen that forced the defender off late on. 

“We played the first half like we planned,” he told Sky Sports. “We dominated and we were creating as well. We didn’t score but we were more or less playing the way we wanted.  

“The second half was completely different. I don’t know why.  

“Even with the injury to [Ian] Maatsen, that was a key moment because the tackle was strong. Maybe it could have been an action for VAR.  

“For me watching it again, VAR should be there. For me if I was in the VAR and I was a referee, it was a red card.” 

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