Analysis: Fine win marred by Gibbs-White injury

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It was a near-perfect afternoon for a Nottingham Forest side who appeared up against it before kick-off, having made eight changes with injuries beginning to take their toll on a squad competing on two fronts.

Head coach Vitor Pereira understandably had one eye on the second leg of the Europa League - Forest's first European semi-final for more than 40 years - with a 1-0 lead to defend at Villa Park.

Luca Netz made his first league start, while 19-year-old academy product Zach Abbott was drafted in alongside fringe players including James McAtee, Jair Cunha and Dilane Bakwa.

Despite those changes, Forest still delivered a memorable victory, with Pereira carefully managing the minutes of some regular starters. Half-time substitutions meant Igor Jesus and Nicolas Dominguez were replaced by Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson, ensuring four likely starters for Thursday's match played only 45 minutes apiece.

It was impressive squad management from a side already without Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare and , and under added pressure after relegation rivals beat European rivals - the latter of whom had made similar changes - on Sunday.