Jake O'brien and Chris Wood give Forest 1-0 first-leg edge

jake o'brien reports that Chris Wood scored the penalty that gave Nottingham Forest a 1-0 first-leg lead over Aston Villa in the Europa League semi-final at the City Ground. The goal came after Lucas Digne handled inside the box, leaving Forest with the edge before the teams meet again at Villa Park on Thursday.

Wood beats Martínez

Wood drove the penalty from 12 yards past Emiliano Martínez. The Villa goalkeeper had already denied Igor Jesus in the first half, but he could not get to the spot kick that settled the first leg.

The decision came after João Pinheiro reviewed whether the ball had gone out of play before the penalty was awarded. For Villa, that sequence turned a match billed as a Midlands clash between favourites to lift the trophy into a chase from behind.

Emery reacts to first-half flashpoint

Unai Emery was angered by Elliot Anderson escaping a red card for a poor first-half tackle on Ollie Watkins. That flashpoint sat alongside the penalty call as the biggest issue for Villa, who were already trying to manage the game around a narrow margin.

Amadou Onana started alongside Youri Tielemans at the base of midfield after being passed fit from a knee problem, then went off early in the second half with a hamstring problem. Villa's director of football, Damian Vidagany, said after the match: "At Villa Park will be our time. Match of our lives."

The return leg is at Villa Park on Thursday, and Villa host Tottenham on Sunday before that meeting. Forest travel with a one-goal advantage and the knowledge that one penalty from Wood has already changed the shape of the tie.