Awoniyi primed for Forest's date with European destiny
Taiwo Awoniyi has handed Vítor Pereira a timely selection boost ahead of tonight’s UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa at Villa Park, after the Super Eagles striker
Taiwo Awoniyi has handed Vítor Pereira a timely selection boost ahead of tonight's UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa at Villa Park, after the Super Eagles striker delivered a commanding brace in Nottingham Forest's 3-1 Premier League demolition of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
Awoniyi was at his ruthless best from the outset, heading in Dilane Bakwa's cross to stun Stamford Bridge inside two minutes, before tapping home a Morgan Gibbs-White cut-back early in the second half to all but seal the points.
Igor Jesus added a first-half penalty in between, while Matz Sels produced a crucial save to deny Cole Palmer from 12 yards to keep Forest's two-goal cushion intact at the break.
Named Player of the Match, Awoniyi was quick to shift the conversation to the bigger prize awaiting in the Midlands.
"Next up we have Villa, which is another important game. We're taking each game as it comes and going into it with a three-point mentality. I believe we'll go there with that mentality against Villa," he said.
Forest travel to Villa Park with a slender lead from the first leg, where a late Chris Wood penalty proved the difference. Defender Nikola Milenković has set a clear tone for what must follow. "It's another really big game for us, for this club and for our history, so we must be prepared and give everything," he said. "We have the advantage but our mind-set is that the game is level."
The concern for Pereira, however, is the fitness of two key players. Fellow Super Eagles Ola Aina is a major doubt after being forced off in the first leg and missing both the Chelsea fixture and Forest's final training session. Morgan Gibbs-White is equally uncertain after limping off at Stamford Bridge. Pereira confirmed a decision on both would be made closer to kick-off.
With Aina and Gibbs-White facing late fitness tests, it is Awoniyi who arrives at Villa Park primed to deliver on the biggest night of Forest's season.
