Aston Villa Report

Jacob Tanswell

McGinn not happy with Anderson's challenge on Watkins. Buendia half-heartedly asking for VAR to take a look. Really robust midfield battle with tackles flying in. Rogers has isolated Morato three times in dangerous positions, probably #AVFC's best threat

Jacob Tanswell

Emery happy for play to be in front of #AVFC. Telling Digne not to press Hutchinson, instead holding his shape & allow Buendia to apply pressure. Means Buendia is having to get through a lot of pretty ugly work. But Cash is staying with Gibbs-White, with McGinn tracking overlaps

Jacob Tanswell

Rogers is essentially playing alongside Watkins in a 4-2-2-2. Tielemans and Onana doing well in #AVFC establishing authority and finding the feet of Buendia and McGinn, who then try to find Watkins and Rogers, who are working the channels.

Jacob Tanswell

#AVFC have started very well, here. Tielemans forces a save from Ortega, but it comes from both he and Onana making great tackles on Jesus, stopping a transition. Shows the value of them

Jacob Tanswell

#AVFC have switched out to Lucas Digne three times in six minutes. Each time he has space in front of him. Aina going all the way in with Buendia and Hutchinson isn't tracking Digne, so the pass/move seems always on

Jacob Tanswell

Villa kept the ball for 40 seconds from kick off, then play out successfully from a Martinez goal kick, ending in Rogers having a shot blocked. A loud atmosphere and big game, but Emery wanting control and build up - #AVFC do have a numerical advantage when playing out from back

John Townley

We're underway at the City Ground... Nottingham Forest 0-0 #AVFC

Jacob Tanswell

Semi-final, part one… Breathe #AVFC

Jacob Tanswell

There are around 200 Villa tickets (players' friends and families) in the Peter Taylor Stand. Police are now surrounding it. Might be interesting if #AVFC score...

John Townley

Amadou Onana starts for Aston Villa against Nottingham Forest, with the rest of the starting XI unchanged from the weekend. #AVFC https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-team-news-nottingham-33836311