IGOR JESUS made sure that Unai Emery STILL cannot get the better Oliver Glasner.
And record signing Liam Delap provided the platform for Nottingham Forest’s victory when he powered home his first goal since making the £50million summer move from Chelsea.
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But the result meant the Spaniard has now failed to beat the Austrian coach in EIGHT games – seven of them when Glasner was in charge at Nottingham Forest.
Sub Jesus struck with two minutes left to condemn the Villa boss to their third defeat of the season – after a winless league start for Emery.
Emery’s only consolation came when Brazilian sub Alysson headed a second half equaliser for his first Villa goal since a January move from Gremio.
It also broke Villa’s duck in the Premier League on a day when Emery gave some of his new signings the chance to shine.
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But it was Delap who opened the scoring less than 50 seconds into the second half with a 25 yard drive.
Forest kept the pressure on Villa despite Alysson’s goal – and Jesus, who had only come on 12 minutes earlier, was on the end of Daniel Munoz’s cross to make sure of their first win of the season.
It must have left Emery wondering what more he has to do to overcome the curse of Glasner.
But he will also be concerned that his new-look Villa side has still to gel four games into the season.
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As for Glasner, his carefully assembled Forest squad are starting to click after the disappointment of being denied victory against Tottenham last week by VAR.
Glasner was forced into a late re-think after losing two defenders to injury just 124 hours before the game.
Jair Cunha and Nikola Milenkovic were both ruled out on Friday afternoon although both players travelled to Villa Park.
It meant Glasner switching Ola Aina into the centre of defence with Munoz making his full Forest debut as a wing-back.
Villa will wonder how they did not open the scoring after seven minutes as keeper Matz Sels pulled off a huge save to deny Victor Lindelhof.
Emi Buendia’s cross hit Lindelhof and wrong-footed Sels who saved with his feet and stretched out to scoop off the line.
The ball then hit Forest defender Murillo and bounced against the post.
Glasner’s men responded with James McAtee then Morgan Gibbs-White testing Villa keeper Zion Suzuki.
But Emery then suffered an injury blow as Pau Torres limped off – and was replaced by Tyrone Mings.
Nicolas Jackson picked up a yellow card for a shove off the ball on defender Ousmane Diomande.
But Forest could have taken the lead just before half-time when Neco Williams sent his shot over the bar.
Emery decided changes were needed and Jackson was hooked at the break with Tammy Abraham and wide man Alysson coming on for a unusually below par George Hemmings.
Any hopes the Villa boss had of switching the game in his side’s favour disappeared straight after the break though.
Bouba Kamara’s attempted flick was pounced on by Delap who announced his Forest arrival in style.
It was his first goal since January when he scored in Chelsea’s defeat at Fulham.
And Delap was clearly win the mood for more goals as he headed into the side netting after an hour.
He looked to have smashed home his second goal, but it was ruled offside much to Villa’s relief.
Emery had already introduced two new summer signings from the bench – with Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi and ex-PSG teenager Ibrahim Mbaye coming on after 63 minutes.
Mbaye brought save out of Sels – and Villa levelled from the resulting corner.
Skipper John McGinn produced a pinpoint cross for Alysson to head from from eight yards.
But Forest still sensed victory and summer signing Xaver Schlager brought a full stretch save from Suzuki.
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They continued to push for a second goal – and they deservedly found the net late on.
Jesus was presented with an opening six yards from goal – and he gratefully accepted.
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