Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo believed his side's first-half performance cost them dearly in their 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa.

The hosts were two goals up within the opening 15 minutes on Saturday, with Forest struggling to cope in the opening period.

But they managed to stem Villa's attacks and get back into proceedings in the second half, with Jota Silva halving the deficit on 57 minutes. While Nuno was encouraged by the way the visitors picked up in the second 45, he concluded the performance as a whole was not good enough.

He told Sky Sports after the game: "We didn't start well and Villa controlled chances. The second half was different. We had the chances but we couldn't score. First half was not good, we were not organised.

"We tried to find solutions. The boys showed a better game [after the break]. It was one of the matches that we created the most but didn't take anything from the game.

"When you lose you don't recover so well, the miles come to your mind. It's always easy when you are in a good moment, Now is not so good, it requires a bit of patience."

Forest player Neco Williams was in agreement with his boss and shared his frustration at their slow start to the game.

"They created way more chances and dominated," he said. "We came in [at the break] and things had to change. Second half, we created many chances but it's the goals you need and unfortunately we just couldn't get them.

"Frustrating. We created many chances, we just couldn't get it over the line but the positives are there."

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery, conversely, was delighted with his side's first-half performance, but was disappointed with how they dropped off in the second.

"We started dominating," he said. "They were playing tactically, a medium-low block and we started dominating because they were not pressing high, not getting out. We were creating chances and we scored goals.

"The second half, I am not happy. They were changing their tactics and taking more duels aggressively, pressing higher and we were not dominating like we have to.

"But this victory is very important. Very happy with the victory. Very demanding of myself to improve things within, but I am happy because we have three points more."

Morgan Rogers got Villa up and running and he said the Villa players set out knowing that they needed to start fast.

Rogers netted the opening goal after 13 minutes, which was also his eighth of the season in the Premier League, with Donyell Malen getting the second soon after.

"We knew we had to start fast and we knew it was a must-win if we want to get where we wanted to get in the Premier League," he said.

"We were outstanding and deservedly got in front. We knew they would come back into it. They have got that quality but withstanding that pressure is massive for us."

Of his goal, Rogers added: "I saw [Forest defender] Morato not looking and once Youri Tielemans got the ball, I had to make the move. He has the quality to pick me out from anywhere.

"I knew I had to make sure the first touch was right to get the opportunity. It fell perfectly and I am happy to put it away."

A third straight league win means Villa are sixth in the table, just one point behind Chelsea in fourth and six away from third-placed Forest with seven games to play.