Nottingham Forest Triumphs: Glasner Beats Emery Again

Oliver Glasner walked out of Villa Park on Saturday with another win over Unai Emery – and a story that says far more about grit than any tactical whiteboard.

The 2-1 victory for Nottingham Forest not only tightened the Austrian’s grip on a remarkable personal record against the Spaniard – six wins and two draws from eight meetings across his time at Crystal Palace and now Forest – it underlined why his players are buying into him so completely.

Emery 0, Glasner 6 (on the pitch at least)

Glasner allowed himself a brief smile when asked about his hold over the former Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain boss. Before kick-off, he’d already reminded Emery where the real honours list sits.

He told reporters he had joked with Emery that the scoreline between them in European trophies still read 5-2 in the Spaniard’s favour. The punchline was aimed squarely at himself. “Oliver Glasner, stay humble,” he said he’d told himself.

And he stuck to that line. He insisted he “did not play one second” and pushed every ounce of credit towards his squad and the travelling support, talking up how “the players deserve all the credit” and how the fans had driven them on. Then he allowed one small indulgence: the promise of “a lovely Saturday evening” back home.

He had earned it.

Chaos on the eve of kick-off

This was not a win built on a smooth week at the training ground. It was stitched together from late-night scans, impromptu team talks and a patched-up back line.

On Friday night, at 9.30pm, Forest finally received the scan results that ripped up the plan. Both Nikola Milenkovic and Jair Cunha were ruled out with hamstring injuries from the final training session. Two defenders gone. System under threat. Seasoned managers can crumble in those moments.

Glasner went knocking.

He headed to the rooms of Ola and Ousmane with a simple message: you’re in. No gentle easing in, no long build-up. Just a late call and a demand to be ready. He even took a moment to speak with Ola about stepping into a back three, telling him he believed he could handle it.

The reshuffle worked. Forest didn’t just survive; they imposed themselves.

Murillo’s stand and Villa’s fall

If the injuries had stretched Forest’s defensive depth to breaking point, Murillo’s decision tipped it back in their favour.

The Brazilian defender, Glasner revealed, had been struggling with pain in his knees in training before the game. He could easily have stepped aside. Instead, he looked his head coach in the eye and said: “No, Gaffer, I will play.”

That choice mattered. With Forest’s resources thin, Murillo’s presence helped steady the back line as Liam Delap and Igor Jesus delivered the goals that turned a difficult afternoon into a statement away win.

Villa ended the game with ten men after Ian Maatsen went off injured, but by then Forest had already seized control of the story. The 2-1 result at Villa Park wasn’t just another three points. It was the sixth time Glasner had beaten Emery. The streak lives on.

Eyes on Coventry – and the treatment room

While Nottingham will savour this one, Glasner’s gaze has already shifted to the next problem: who is actually fit to face Coventry City on September 19.

Milenkovic, he confirmed, is set for a short spell out and will miss that game. Forest hope to have him back after the international break. There is more optimism around Jair Cunha, with Glasner saying they “hope Jair could be back for the Coventry game,” but he stressed they must be cautious and will “see” how he progresses.

For now, the numbers are tight, the schedule unforgiving, and the defence patched together. But with players willing to play through pain, late-night knocks on doors being answered, and a coach who keeps finding a way past one of Europe’s most decorated managers, the question hangs in the air:

If this is Forest under duress, what happens when they’re at full strength?