Elanga goal in 93rd minute sends hosts fourth in table

Anthony Elanga struck an added-time winner as Nottingham Forest recovered from being behind after 86 minutes to beat Aston Villa at the City Ground and move fourth in the Premier League.

Forward Elanga scored his first goal of the season in timely fashion, slotting in Elliot Anderson’s cross in the 93rd minute to send his side above Manchester City.

Nikola Milenkovic’s second headed goal in two matches had drawn the hosts level six minutes earlier, replying to Jhon Duran’s 63rd-minute opener for a Villa side whose three-match winning run came to an end.

ANTHONY ELANGA SCORES IN INJURY-TIME! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/saAjkQETAA

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2024

Forest vs Villa

Starting the day locked on 25 points immediately behind the top four, the European hopefuls shared a relatively quiet first half, although Villa felt they should have won a penalty for a challenge by Elliot Anderson on Morgan Rogers.

The compelling drama of the second half began when Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced an exceptional save to narrowly claw Nicolas Dominguez’s header off the line, making it all the sweeter for Unai Emery’s side when Duran’s clever header from John McGinn’s aerial pass broke the deadlock.

Nikola Milenkovic equalises late on for Forest! 💥 pic.twitter.com/cfV2iNoidi

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2024

Chris Wood thought he had equalised with his 11th goal of the season when he turned in Elanga’s low cross nine minutes from time, only for a lengthy Video Assistant Referee check to rule the goal out.

Relief duly arrived for the home fans when centre-back Milenkovic converted from Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross, with a draw enough for Forest to stay above Villa on goal difference.

Sweden international Elanga had other ideas, ensuring Forest have won three of their last four matches and four of their last five at home.

WHAT A SAVE BY EMILIANO MARTINEZ! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/E9ASoBwWpo

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2024

Duran starts and scores again

Having established himself as a prolific substitute with four goals in five Premier League games at the start of the season, Duran started for the first time in the league last Saturday and scored the only goal of the game at home to Southampton.

Milenkovic, too, was on target that day, opening his account for the campaign with the first goal in Forest’s 3-2 win at Manchester United.

Jhon Duran puts Aston Villa in front! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zXtoxBLVKO

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2024

By contrast, Elanga’s goal was his first since February. The 22-year-old has scored six times in 56 appearances since joining Forest from Manchester United in July 2023, as well as contributing 11 assists.

Forest are next in action away to 10th-placed Brentford next Saturday (3pm GMT), while Villa host Manchester City at 12.30pm on the same day.