Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was left uttering 'Wow' as he lavished praise on his star attacking duo following a commanding 3-1 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on Saturday, 3rd January 2026.
Villa's Dynamic Duo Rewrites Premier League Record
The match was illuminated by the ever-productive partnership between Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers. The pair combined for the opening goal, a move that saw their remarkable link-up reach a new statistical peak. Since the start of the previous season, no duo in the Premier League has combined for more goals than Watkins and Rogers.
The breakthrough came after Youri Tielemans found Rogers in space. Rogers swiftly fed Watkins, who expertly shifted the ball before firing a powerful strike past Forest goalkeeper John Victor.
McGinn Seals the Points After Forest Fightback
Captain John McGinn then took centre stage in the second half, scoring twice to secure the three points for the hosts. His first goal extended Villa's lead, but a response from Morgan Gibbs-White for Forest on the hour mark made it 2-1 and set up a tense finale. McGinn's second goal of the afternoon ultimately put the game beyond doubt, sealing a 3-1 win.
Emery's Gushing Praise for Professional Stars
In his post-match press conference, Emery's admiration for his two forwards was palpable. "Wow, Morgan and Watkins are both fantastic players," the Spaniard stated. "They are fantastic competitors themselves. They are both focusing on improving things, and their commitment here is massive."
Emery highlighted their influence beyond matchdays, emphasising their daily standards. "They set standards with their behaviour every day. They have a competitive way every day, not just now but every day on the training ground. They are so professional in everything, and it is fantastic to have players like them. I am proud of them."
Looking Ahead: The Challenge of Consistency
When asked if Villa could embark on another long winning run—having recently seen an 11-game streak end at Arsenal—Emery remained focused on the immediate challenge. "We won today, and we are playing on Wednesday away to Palace," he said, referencing a previous tough fixture at Selhurst Park.
"This is a challenge, and to beat Palace is very difficult. We want to win lots of matches in a row, but it is difficult. Our challenge is the next match, not how we will finish. Our target is to be in Europe." He also praised McGinn's decisive contribution and stressed the need for such consistency from his entire squad as they pursue their European ambitions.
