Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest

Conor Hourihane's free-kick was the Villa midfielder's fifth goal of the season

Conor Hourihane's 50th league goal of his career helped Aston Villa to victory over Nottingham Forest.

Albert Adomah collected Jonathan Kodjia's pass and rounded goalkeeper Jordan Smith to put Villa in front.

Forest's Daryl Murphy outmuscled the home defence and finished well from 18 yards to equalise, before Hourihane netted a 25-yard free-kick.

Villa remain unbeaten at home in the league this season, although this was only their second win at Villa Park.

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Forest, whose attacking threat grew significantly after half-time, have lost four of their past five league matches.

Manager Steve Bruce was under some pressure from a section of Villa supporters after a mixed start to the campaign, but his team are unbeaten in six Championship games and are now only two points off the top six.

Adomah's opener, his third goal in two appearances, came at the end of a spell of prolonged Forest possession.

Villa controlled the remainder of the first half but their failure to extend their lead looked to have been costly when Murphy, starved of quality service early on, worked the opportunity for himself to level the match.

Home goalkeeper Sam Johnstone kept out Kieran Dowell's shot and a close-range Murphy header in the moments leading up to the winning goal from Hourihane, who scored a hat-trick in Villa's only other home victory this season against Norwich.

Johnstone was needed again in the closing stages to keep out Dowell's swerving set-piece and preserve all three points for the hosts.