Cooper delighted with Forest win: Villa couldn't carve us open

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says they deserved victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Forest won 2-0 through goals from Ola Aina and Orel Mangala.

Cooper later said: "It's a win that we really wanted. We knew it was going to be a really tough game coming up against this really tough Aston Villa side. They have got really good players and manager.

"We have to be really clear on the plan. It's pleasing for us to score two goals in the way we thought we could create chances. We had to be there and convert those chances. A real gratitude to the players in terms of committing to the plan and we scored early in both halves. I never felt we would concede today.

"Aston Villa couldn't carve us open too many times. We could have done better in the first half. It's a dilemma when you win the ball against Aston Villa because it's an opportunity to attack quickly."