Owen Hargreaves has pointed to the absence of Ola Aina as a key factor in Nottingham Forest’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park, suggesting that the defender’s presence would have provided the necessary stability for his side.
Aina, who has been an integral part of Forest’s defense, was sidelined for the match due to injury, leaving the team without one of their most reliable players at the back.
Hargreaves, the former Manchester United midfielder, expressed his belief that the Super Eagles player’s involvement could have made a crucial difference in the outcome of the game.
In an interview with Premier League Production, Hargreaves made it clear that the absence of Aina, combined with the unavailability of the club’s two usual strikers, had a significant impact on Forest’s approach to the match.
“Without Aina and the two usual strikers, Nottingham Forest had to look for alternative solutions, which complicated their start to the match,” he explained. “It was clear from the outset that they were struggling to find their rhythm, and that played a part in their eventual defeat.”
Forest, already under pressure as they look to solidify their position in the Premier League, faced a Villa side that was efficient in capitalising on the hosts’ vulnerabilities.
The loss left Forest needing to regroup ahead of their upcoming fixtures, with many pointing to the absence of key players as a major contributing factor to their lack of cohesion on the field.
Hargreaves, who has often been outspoken in his analysis, emphasized how Forest’s struggles were magnified in the absence of key personnel.
He suggested that had Aina been available, the defensive stability he provides would have helped mitigate some of Villa’s attacking threat, allowing Forest to better manage the flow of the game.
Nottingham Forest will now look to bounce back from the defeat, with the hope that key players, including Aina, will return soon to help them regain form.
The road ahead remains challenging for the club, but with a fully fit squad, they will be optimistic about their prospects.
