Anthony Elanga has publicly praised teammate Ola Aina for stepping into a new role during Nottingham Forest's 2-1 win over Aston Villa. The victory at Villa Park last Saturday lifted Forest to 11th in the Premier League table with five points from their opening four matches.
Aina, typically a full-back, was deployed as a right-sided central defender due to absences in the squad. Nikola Milenkovic was ruled out and Jair Cunha was managing a hamstring issue, forcing manager Oliver Glasner to adapt. The Nigerian international signed for Forest on a free transfer last summer and has featured in both full-back positions since his arrival.
After the match, Elanga posted a supportive message on Instagram, writing, "I think you played that role perfectly." Aina himself admitted the adjustment was challenging. "It was a bit of a difference, I can't lie," Aina said. "It was different. There was a lot more…I feel like I had to read the game a bit more."
Despite the personal difficulty, his performance contributed to a vital three points. Liam Delap opened the scoring for Forest just after half-time, with Igor Jesus netting a dramatic 88th-minute winner after Villa had equalised. The team's recent form shows one win, two draws, and two losses from their last five outings, a run that has seen them average 1.4 points per game. You can review the full match details and the club's fixtures for the coming weeks.
The result extended Glasner's fine record against opposing manager Unai Emery. While Aina's display was a positive on a personal level, his immediate future in the starting lineup is uncertain. Daniel Munoz, who was named in the Premier League's Team of the Week, now appears to be the established choice at right wing-back in Glasner's system.
Forest now prepares to host bottom-placed Coventry City at the City Ground this Saturday, looking to build momentum. The team will be aiming to improve on their current average of 1.25 points per game from their opening four matches. Check the latest standings to see how the table shapes up ahead of the weekend. The only confirmed absentee remains Nicolò Savona.
More detail at nottinghamforest.news
