No Emi award this time after Martinez gaffe proves costly

KEEPER'S FOREST GIFT

- Neil Moxley

NOTTM FOREST 2
ASTON VILLA 0

FOOTBALL has a funny way of bringing you down to earth.

Just ask Emi Martinez - what a week it has been for him.

Picking up the Lev Yashin Award at the Ballon d'Or ceremony must have seemed like a crowning glory, validation that he was top of the goalkeeping tree.

However, it took just over 45 minutes for him to fall off it at Nottingham Forest.

Unai Emery's Aston Villa were already trailing to Ola Aina's fifth-minute goal.

Then, on 47 minutes, Orel Mangala took aim from 25 yards. The midfielder struck the ball cleanly enough but it should have been a routine stop for the big Argentinian, diving to his right.

It was not a save that should have been made with his left hand, the ball ballooning upwards and bouncing over the goalline.