Wood gives Forest Europa League semi-final advantage over Villa

Chris Wood gave Nottingham Forest a crucial lead in their Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa.

The striker’s 71st-minute penalty – after Lucas Digne’s absurd handball – allows Vitor Pereira’s side to take a slender advantage to Villa Park for next week’s second leg.

It was the 200th career goal for a player who has had a tough season, spending six months out with a knee injury.

Emi Martinez’s brilliant reaction save – clawing the ball off the line to deny IgorJesus after 33 minutes – prevented Forest from scoring earlier.

Villa beat Forest 3-1 at Villa Park in the Premier League in January but must overcome a deficit as Unai Emery searches for a fifth Europa League title.

Stefan Ortega saved from Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers before the break and he also kept put Ollie Watkins’ instinctive effort in the second half.

Forest then edged ahead when Wood smashed in a penalty after Digne’s rush of blood.

The left-back inexplicably put his arms up as Omari Hutchinson tried to hook a deep ball back into the box just as it looked like it was dropping out, with VAR ruling it had not gone completely over the line and out of play – and therefore was still live.