By Daily Sports Nigeria on October 11, 2022

Steven Gerrard has demanded more from his "big hitters" after Aston Villa's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Emmanuel Dennis' early header had given Steve Cooper's side the lead but Ashley Young's stunning strike soon levelled things up. Villa had the better of a game short on quality but could not find their first away win of the season as Forest ended a run of five defeats.

The point is enough to lift Forest back above Leicester, while Steven Gerrard's side remain in 16th having been unable to secure the win that would have taken them ninth.

"It is not an application thing," Gerrard said after the match. "We need more quality from our big hitters."

Cooper, fresh from signing his new contract with the club, emerged to a standing ovation from all four corners of the ground and that atmosphere of support for the team was rewarded with the breakthrough goal inside the first quarter of an hour of the game.

Dennis, on his first Premier League start for the club, scored his first goal by heading in unmarked from Morgan Gibbs-White's right-wing free-kick. The Nigerian striker did not even have to move, a reflection of the dismal marking by the Villa defence.

The Forest fans hardly had time to celebrate it though - surrendering a lead yet again, although this time the hit could only be admired. Young seized upon a loose ball outside the box and lashed it low into the bottom corner of Dean Henderson's net.

Forest's frailties were still in evidence, although the offside flag prevented Ollie Watkins putting Villa ahead shortly afterwards. What both teams lacked in quality they tried to make up for in desire. The contest was full of effort. But something was missing.

Gerrard had described this as 'a unique opportunity' to move seven places up the Premier League table in one night and talked of how Villa had been working on their creativity. But with Forest retreating into their new defensive shape of 4-5-1 there was no way through.

Ezri Konsa's penalty appeal on the hour mark was as close as they came, while Cheikhou Kouyate's long-range strike was the best that Forest could muster. The result at least stops the rot for Cooper, while Villa extend their unbeaten run to four. But pretty it was not.

Source Sky Sports

Posted October 11, 2022

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