The team news dropped. Oh dear we appear to be without three established centre halves - which is something of a problem when you’re playing a very rigid system with a refusal to be flexible with your back five.
Oh how we could have done with Morato, albeit the West Ham Morato, who somehow was transformed into a wing back wonder last night.
Out came the teams. I’ve always had a soft spot for Villa. I think it’s a Midlander thing. Plus we are European brothers in that we’ve both lifted the big trophy.
I’m not too up to speed with the Villa of 2026. The best thing I can say about them after today’s performance is that their home kit looked very sexy.
Not so the Forest third kit ripple effort. That’s a jersey that only a hardcore Forest fan could fall in love with.
I said the same thing about the third kit during the Nuno European push season. Our relationships with football jerseys are intrinsically linked to the performance we see whilst they are being worn.
Villa started strongly. Matz Sels, in the middle of our goal, was superb. He certainly kept Forest from falling behind early on and possibly being out of the game.
Villa are also something of a niggly team. We got the first sighting of the Forest Britpop physio this afternoon.
Murillo remains such a worry on the injury front. He’s only one overstretched run away from being a long term injury.
Somehow Forest found their feet and rallied. They had the better of the closing 15 minutes or so of the first half.
I managed to miss Delap’s debut goal. My VPN was playing silly buggers.
Wait. We’re back.
Running the midfield for Forest was Schlager. He was absolutely commanding, with an incredibly industrious performance that I think should edge him ahead of Sangare in future team selections. He has so much energy and also ideas when he’s on the ball.
Meanwhile McAtee was finally looking like the solution we need. As well as possessing the ability to twist and turn whatever way suits the style of play, he has also added a physical element to his game.
Dan Ndoye was also something of a trooper. I had strong Steve Stone vibes from back in the day, watching Dan the Man run around with cotton wool shoved up his nostrils.
The goal did the power good for Delap. He was incredibly powerful and unselfish when needed. He could quite easily have pressed on when he was forced out wide on another occasion, but chose to make the correct pass instead.
1-0 up and the game became very nervy for Forest. We needed to finish them off whilst we were on top. One goal is never enough.
Erm, yep.
Whatever, a score draw away at Villa Park is not to be sniffed at. It looked like The OG felt the same as he brought on Sangare to shut up shop.
Nope. Villa fucked up with their substitutions and played out the final 10 minutes with 10 men.
Attack! Attack!
Attack! Attack! Attack!
Forest finished stronger and were clearly looking for the winner. We owe Villa one after the Europa semi last season.
And then it came. JESUS! He walks on the Trent.
And so our season finally gets going. 2-1 seems like a fair score. This is also the scoreline when it comes to European Cups lifted by both teams.
That’s some record that The OG has got against Villa. I hope we draw them in the FA Cup third round come the start of the year.
Oh yeah, SHOUT OUT to the Forest fans who made the short journey over to the West Midlands. They were magnificent from start to finish.