Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Fri 1 May 2026 9:36, UK

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Omari Hutchinson was in staggeringly good form on Thursday as Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final.

Chris Wood’s second-half penalty was the difference between the sides after Lucas Digne had been adjudged to have handled the ball.

Hutchinson’s £37.5million move to Nottingham Forest last summer has been questioned several times this season.

But on Thursday, the 22-year-old showed exactly why decision-makers at the City Ground were so willing to pay such an exorbitant fee for him.

Vitor Pereira will hope Hutchinson’s Nottingham Forest form will continue into the remaining games, with Calum Hudson-Odoi set to miss the remainder of the season.

Omari Hutchinson’s stunning stats vs Aston Villa

Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider on Thursday that Elliot Anderson should have been dismissed against Villa, after an unattractive tackle on Ollie Watkins.

Pereira will be grateful that Nottingham Forest got away with one, with a place in the final now firmly in his sights.

In the same fixture earlier in the season at Villa Park, Nottingham Forest were beaten 3-1 courtesy of goals from Watkins and John McGinn.

Pereira’s side will need to be at their very best if they are to survive the pressure they will face next week, and Hutchinson will be a key part of that.

The winger enjoyed one of the best games of his young Nottingham Forest career so far on Thursday, tormenting Lucas Digne throughout.

It was the 22-year-old’s drive to get to the ball that saw him keep it in and force the handball, giving the home side a chance for the lead from the spot.

Hutchinson created four chances in his time on the pitch and took a few shots himself as well. He completed a staggering six dribbles on the night and won all but four of the duels he contested.

The Jamaica international also won two free kicks and completed three tackles and four recoveries himself in what was a superb individual performance.

Vitor Pereira deserves massive credit for Hutchinson transformation

Hutchinson has seemed to morph into a new player since the arrival of Pereira in February.

The winger had endured a hugely inconsistent first season at the City Ground, clearly struggling to deal with the weight of the price tag that saw him arrive.

But Pereira has instilled confidence in the 22-year-old, who now looks to be playing with freedom and ability.

Hutchinson’s destruction of Digne on Thursday was a clear example, and Nottingham Forest will hope it was not a one-off.