John McGinn’s first Premier League brace helped Aston Villa to an 11th straight home win in all competitions, equalling a club recorOllie Watkins thumped Villa into a deserved lead in first-half stoppage time before McGinn quickly doubled their advantage just four minutes after the restart.

Watkins goal

Premier League - Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest

Forest threatened a comeback just after the hour-mark when Morgan Gibbs-White dinked the ball over Emiliano Martinez for his 50th goal involvement in the competition.

However, McGinn made sure of all three points after he capitalised on some slack goalkeeping from John Victor to finish into an empty net from distance in the 73rd minute.

Unai Emery’s side are now up to second, three points behind Arsenal, and ahead of Manchester City before Pep Guardiola's side face Chelsea on Sunday. Forest, meanwhile, stay down in 17th.

How the match unfolded

Watkins was presented with a golden chance to open the scoring inside two minutes when Morgan Rogers dispossessed Neco Williams inside his own box, but the England international was denied by the right leg of Victor from six yards out.

Villa were frustrated by a stubborn Forest defence; however, their pressure eventually told late in the first half when Watkins collected Rogers’ pass before turning and smashing a powerful effort beyond the grasp of Victor.

Forest were then caught cold after the break, with McGinn turning Matty Cash’s inviting cutback into the roof of the net, but that seemed to spring Sean Dyche’s team into life.

John McGinn, Aston Villa

Dilane Bakwa squandered an opportunity when he headed wide from Omari Hutchinson’s cross, but he atoned for that error when playing Gibbs-White through on goal, who stayed composed to score.

Nevertheless, a moment of madness from Victor allowed McGinn to ensure victory, with the Forest goalkeeper rushing off his line and getting nowhere near the ball, allowing the Villa captain to stroke the ball into an unguarded net to help the hosts see out the victory.

Villa impress to reignite title hopes

Many wrote Villa out of the title race after their 4-1 defeat to leaders Arsenal on Tuesday, but they are within touching distance of top spot again ahead of the Gunners’ trip to AFC Bournemouth later on Saturday.

d, as they bounced back from their defeat to title rivals Arsenal with a 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest. (premierleague.com)

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