The team news drops. Morato. Oh dear. And so here we are, playing our first major European semi-final in 42 years - which still sounds utterly BONKERS to say - with the third choice centre half propping up the defence. Erm, is Chetts still match fit? He’d be guaranteed an unlikely European goal, right?
Elsewhere and Matty Cash returned to the World Famous, wearing the claret and blue of Villa. I wonder how he must have felt, having spent eight years at the club in the Championship years, and then returns to play on the European stage?
And what of Omari Hutchinson? Remember he was binned out of the original Europa League squad in a final act of bitterness by Nuno as part of his tit for tat with Edu. And yet here was Hutchinson, starting for Forest in a European semi-final. His selection was well-deserved, as well.
There was a fantastic atmosphere ahead of KO. Forza had done the old ground proud once more. You can watch in awe at how some of the major European power houses handle a European night with all the pre-match razzmatazz. But the World Famous City Ground doesn’t lend itself to flashing lights and stadium stretching tifos. It’s all about the fans, innit.
The game itself was something of a tense watch for me. I admit that BOOZE got the better of me, plus also a very poorly timed personal phone call that I had to take midway through the first half. Whoops.
MGW was nullified by Villa playing in his hybrid No.10 out wide role. Anderson was immense, as ever. Morato managed not to fuck it up. My main hope was for Forest to remain in the tie ahead of the second leg. Please don’t collapse with a humiliating scoreline against what is a very, very decent Villa team.
I needn’t have worried. The plan from Vitor appeared to be sit tight, hold your nerve, and take your chances if and when they come. Chris Wood certainly did that. There was only one way that pen was going to be taken it. Just bloody TWAT it. Blimey. We’re only 1-0 up in a European semi-final.
Cometh the hour, cometh the Academy boys. I was actually quite emotional when Ryan Yates, and then Zach Abbott both took to the field to shore things up. Neither player let the club down.
And so we take a 1-0 lead away to Villa Park for the return leg next week. I hope anybody’s not stupid enough to write us off, etc.