Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Fri 1 May 2026 9:56, UK

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Ollie Watkins failed to leave much of an impact on Aston Villa’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Thursday, which has left them trailing in the Europa League semi-final.

The Villans will host Vitor Pereira’s side at Villa Park next week in the hopes of overturning the tie after Chris Wood’s penalty was the difference on the night.

Lucas Digne had been looking to see out Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross, but was penalised by VAR when the ball was kept in and struck onto his raised arm.

Unai Emery’s team had their chances throughout the clash, but ultimately came up short in the key moments.

Watkins’ Villa form has improved significantly in the second half of the season, but Thursday was a reminder of what he has lacked at times this season.

Ollie Watkins fluffed chance vs Nottingham Forest

Football Insider exclusively revealed in February that Watkins is set to leave Villa this summer, with bids worth around £30million expected to be accepted.

The 30-year-old has two years remaining on his contract and has looked to have suffered a significant decline this season.

The start of the campaign was difficult for the England international, who scored just once in the opening 13 Premier League games.

Since then, however, Watkins has managed to find his groove and has looked more like the striker Emery has relied on for the entirety of his time at Villa Park.

The Spaniard needed him again on Thursday, but Watkins fluffed his lines when given the chance to find the difference.

Just after the break, Morgan Rogers’ shot was deflected off the leg of Morato and curled into the path of an unmarked Watkins just eight yards from goal.

The 30-year-old had to react quickly and got his shot on target, but it was straight at Stefan Ortega.

Watkins created three chances on the night, but it was that moment in which Villa very much needed their striker.

Unai Emery ignores Tammy Abraham

Emery would have been keen to avoid taking any risk of going two goals down in the closing stages of Thursday’s game. The Spaniard will be confident that his side can overturn the deficit at Villa Park next week.

But despite failing to take more than one shot throughout the contest, Watkins remained on the pitch for the entirety.

Villa signed Tammy Abraham in January, presumably for situations exactly like this, but the striker was kept on the bench.

With Donyell Malen thriving in Italy after leaving Villa Park in the winter transfer window, there may come a time when a conversation is had about the health of Emery’s reliance on Watkins.