Michael Mancienne has hearts in mouths as he jumps to head the ball back to Jordan Smith while the Villa forwards lurk menacingly. It reaches its target. Exhale.

Villa are probing now, Forest need some territory. Kieran Dowell is ditched down by the byline and the Forest fans roar their dissent at referee James Linington.

Fewer than 25 minutes remaining.

New sub Birkir Bjarnason has a manbun. Perhaps that's what prompted Matty Cash to clean him out with a jumping lunge a moment ago.

It's given Villa a free-kick that will be curled into the box, but Forest hook it clear. Threat averted for now.

Forest bring on Barrie McKay, with Zach Clough going off.

Apologies folks, but Glenn Whelan was so anonymous in the first half I didn't even realise he'd gone off.

Birkir Bjarnason replaced him.

Villa scamper forward through Jack Grealish and he finds Albert Adomah. His cross forces a corner. Danger signs. Visitors growing in belief...

Image source, Rex Features

Ha! Just as I typed that, Karanka sent his backroom staff to the changing rooms for a coat. Typical.

Forest still chasing and pressing. Villa being told to get on with it.

Almost up to the hour. Villa have rebuffed Forest somewhat in the second half.

One of the move evocative memories of Aitor Karanka's time at Middlesbrough was observing, and admiring, his selection of smart sweaters and fancy suits.

He has the style, that's for sure.

Right now he's stalking his technical area in one such number. No coat for him, on a chilly evening by the Trent.

Subs are warming up, change in the offing perhaps.

Much better from Jordan Smith. Charged out from the pack to clasp the swinging ball to his chest and cut out danger.

Forest break, down the other end it's Ben Brereton. What can Per Mertesacker's tormentor do? Give it to a team-mate and Forest lose it, that's what.

Villa race forward and Scott Hogan tests Smith again. Very end-to-end feel about this game.

Nottingham Forest defender Michael Mancienne does his best 'Platoon' impression to dive full-length to block a Villa shot from the edge of the box. There's a Purple Heart heading your way Michael.

It's a more concerted spell of pressure from the second city side at the moment.

Jack Grealish involved again. How does his manager allow him to stroll around with his socks down like that? Shows just how much the game has been cleaned up in the 21st century that he's not had them shredded by a wild two-footer.

Villa free-kick from the left... 25 yards out.

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United's poor run of form continued as Thomas Christiansen saw his side beaten at Ipswich by a superb strike from Manchester City loanee Bersant Celina.

Eunan O'Kane was also sent off in the first half for an off-the-ball incident with Ipswich full-back Jonas Knudsen.

"I believe we had a very good game," Christiansen told BBC Radio Leeds. "We had our opportunities to get a result and Ipswich had to defend hard in the second half."

O'Kane was the second Leeds player to be sent off in as many matches following Samuel Saiz's red card against Newport in the FA Cup last weekend.

"I disagreed with the red card today," Christiansen added. "It was provocation, two players met each other, one dived. It's normally the one who stays on his feet that sees red.

"Maybe we need to train our players to go to ground. I think we should appeal as he didn't do anything, it was a coming together, nothing more."

Villa's turn to turn the screw, as Forest wobble at the back.

Jack Grealish curls one to the back post that Jordan Smith is nowhere near but to his relief it sails just wide.

By no means a one-sided game this one.

Robert Snodgrass is sent sprawling by Armand Traore, and steps up to hammer a swerving shot from the free-kick that Nottingham Forest keeper Jordan Smith beats away with palms outstretched.

Superb save.

Forest fans will have been heartened by their willingness to spread the play, use the width of the City Ground pitch in the manner that some of the great teams of the past have done.

Aston Villa don't need to do anything special really. Just keep at it. The longer it goes on the more Forest have to chuck the sink at this one.

Oranges and tea drained, few pints gulped greedily and mouths burnt by too-hot half-time pies.

Teams back out. Forest to attack their home fans, Villa running into theirs in the lower Bridgford End...

We're back under way.

Image source, Getty Images

Bolton remain just a point above the Championship relegation zone after they were beaten 2-0 at Griffin Park by Brentford.

But, despite the loss, Wanderers boss Phil Parkinson was encouraged by some of that he saw.

"I'm disappointed with the result but in general, I thought we had as many opportunities as them," Parkinson told BBC Radio Manchester.

"In spells of the game, we've got in great positions. There were so many of those moments in and around the box, but we didn't finish them off.

"There's a manner in which to lose and today, I thought we had enough to get something from the game."

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham's recent resurgence was ended by a clinical display by promotion-chasing Derby, but Blues boss Steve Cotterill still felt there were positives to take for his side.

"It's major disappointment to come out of the back of that game with three goals against us," he told BBC WM.

"I don't think it was a three-goal game. Those fine margins at the moment are tough for us.

"It's the old adage, you need to take your chances when you're on top.

"When you go a goal or two down, you get ragged and we haven't seen that for a few weeks.

"There's things we need to work at on the training ground and disappointing aspects."

Right, while you digest that palatable first 45 minutes at the City Ground, let's bring you up to speed with some more reaction from around the Championship and the EFL.

Image source, Rex Features

Forest boss Aitor Karanka was met by a wonderfully positive reception from the home support for his first game in charge but within 18 minutes he was given evidence of why he's been appointed as Villa opened the scoring.

The Reds fans are good in number and pretty loyal but they're happy to let managers know how their feeling. Karanka will have a honeymoon period no doubt that extends beyond this game but still, he's got a perfect case study of where Forest's weaknesses lie.

Villa ruthlessly unpicked them with a brilliant opener, thanks to Robert Snodgrass diamond-encrusted, gold-plated left boot and Scott Hogan's stooping header.

It's been an open game all the same, Forest have no laid down which is encouraging, Villa have not buckled, and likewise for their manager Steve Bruce.

Kieran Dowell steps up and curls a free-kick toward the Aston Villa goal from just outside the box right-hand side that has Sam Johnstone scrambling.

It bounces wide. Villa goal-kick.

Image source, Rex Features

Villa threaten down the left-hand side and Jack Grealish, socks down around his ankles, slips a pass to Albert Adomah, who puts his cross out behind the goal and for a goal-kick.

Wasted opportunity for the visitors.

Villa's midfield have scarcely had a touch of the ball. It's been much about their defence, and crucially for Scott Hogan - their attack.

Board will come up in second... one minute added time.

Eric Lichaj is picked out down the right and stands up a cross to the left side and it's blocked. Deja vu for Forest.

Villa then win a free-kick. Eased the pressure.

Forest get into position once again and Matty Cash goes to pull the trigger but the swarming Villa defence shuts down his shooting opportunity.

Cash has another dig. Blocked. Ben Osborn's turn... blocked. Villa clear. Their calmness under the onslaught is pretty admirable.