Aston Villa delivered a commanding attacking performance at Villa Park, securing a vital three points against Nottingham Forest, with Douglas Luiz shining with a brace.

The action-packed encounter saw Villa seize the initiative early on, as Ollie Watkins capitalized on Leon Bailey’s superb run down the right flank to notch his 14th Premier League goal of the season in the fourth minute.

Douglas Luiz then showcased his scoring prowess, netting twice within a span of 10 minutes. His first goal came in the 29th minute, neatly finishing a Jacob Ramsey assist, followed by a well-timed header from John McGinn’s precise cross.

Nottingham Forest responded just before halftime, as Moussa Niakhate chested in his maiden goal for the club during stoppage time. However, Morgan Gibbs-White extended Villa’s lead three minutes into the second half with a delicate chip over Emi Martinez.

Leon Bailey sealed the victory for Villa by tapping in a rebound after Watkins’ initial shot was saved, capitalizing on Forest’s defensive lapse.

With this result, Aston Villa solidified their fourth position in the table, stretching their lead to five points over Tottenham, who had no fixture this weekend. Meanwhile, Manchester United, in sixth place, fell further behind after a 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Old Trafford.

Nottingham Forest, currently sitting 16th, maintain a four-point cushion above the relegation zone.