´Every game a cup final´ for Williams in Forest´s relegation battle

Neco Williams says Nottingham Forest must take each game “as a cup final” in their bid to avoid Premier League relegation.

Williams’ first-half leveller ensured Forest earned a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, moving them three points clear of the bottom three after Tottenham lost at Sunderland on Sunday.

Vitor Pereira’s side are also level on points with Leeds United, who visit Manchester United on Monday, and one place and position ahead of a resurgent West Ham.

Williams claims Forest will take no notice of results elsewhere in the battle to avoid the drop, instead focusing solely on what they can control.

“You don’t want to look at the table too much because you want to focus on yourself. It’s hard not to with the position we are in. It’s a good point, and we need to build on that,” Williams told Sky Sports.

“Every game for us now is a cup final. Every point is so important. We need to build and carry on with this momentum.”

Williams’ fizzing effort against Villa means he has been directly involved in three goals in his last two Premier League games (one goal, two assists), more than in his previous 32 outings combined (two).

The Wales full-back attempted a game-leading four shots in total, with three of those on target, again topping that metric in this clash.

“The manager has been telling me to shoot outside the box more, and that’s what I did,” Williams added. “I took a few, and one went in, so I’m pleased with that. With the surface and the rain, it was important to get our shots off.”

Incredible support this afternoon, Reds. pic.twitter.com/egeYQ6nnCS

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 12, 2026

Forest have drawn five of their six Premier League home games in 2026, more than any other team in the division this year.

But Pereira saw the performance as a vital point against Champions League-chasing Villa, who could have won it in the second half through either Morgan Rogers or Ollie Watkins.

“It was a good point in a difficult game against a very difficult opponent. Opportunities from one side, opportunities from the other. In the end, one point I think is a good result,” Pereira said on Sky Sports.

“Villa is a team not easy to control. They create some problems, you try to face the problems and create our own chances. After the goal, it’s the character, confidence, spirit. We scored our goal and had chances to score more goals, and they did as well.

“When we decided to bring on another striker, we wanted to win the game. Three points would be better than one.

“We are in the right way with the right spirit. It’s important to get points every game until the end.”