Unai Emery is under mounting pressure after Aston Villa suffered a third defeat in their opening four Premier League games — a 2-1 home loss to Nottingham Forest that has left the club in serious trouble at the foot of the table.

Defender Tyrone Mings summed up the mood, slumping to the turf at the final whistle as the scale of Villa's problems became clear. Should Coventry beat Brighton on Sunday, Emery's side could find themselves bottom of the Premier League.

Forest's late blow stuns Villa Park

Igor Jesus delivered the decisive moment, pouncing ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka with just two minutes remaining to seal a first Forest win at Villa Park since 1994. Oliver Glasner, who is now unbeaten in eight matches against Emery, claimed his first victory as Nottingham Forest manager in the most memorable of fashions.

Liam Delap had struck just 45 seconds after half-time to give the visitors the lead. Alysson — a summer arrival — levelled with his first goal in English football, glancing in John McGinn's cross against the run of play, but Forest ultimately deserved their victory: they registered 22 shots and 32 touches inside Villa's penalty area.

Villa's evening was compounded when full-back Ian Maatsen was forced off injured, leaving Emery with no substitutes remaining and his side reduced to 10 men. There is significant concern that the ankle injury could sideline Maatsen for a considerable period, potentially fast-tracking new signing Matteo Ruggeri into the starting XI.

Emery's VAR frustration and honest self-assessment

The Villa manager argued that Forest attacker James McAtee should have received a red card for the challenge that injured Maatsen, suggesting VAR should have intervened. Yet Emery was equally candid in his criticism of his own team's performance.