AdminUnai Emery has explained why he decided to substitute Nicolas Jackson at half-time during Aston Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, admitting he feared the striker could be sent off.
Jackson was withdrawn with the game still goalless after receiving a yellow card for pushing Forest defender Ousmane Diomande.
Emery revealed that referee Andy Madley had warned Villa’s coaching staff that the Senegal international was at risk of receiving a second booking if he failed to calm down.
“He had a yellow card and the referee was telling us, one of our coaches, he needed to keep calm,” explained Emery.
“In case not, he was close to having another yellow.
“I know Nico Jackson and he could have one action with his power, maybe for one tackle and action to recover the ball, dangerous for a yellow card.
“I decided it. It is my decision because the referee as well told us he was at risk of a second yellow card.”
The decision ultimately proved costly for Villa, with replacement Tammy Abraham unable to make the same impact Jackson could have offered.
Villa had also used all five substitutions by the time Ian Maatsen suffered an injury late in the match. With the score level at 1-1, Forest capitalised on Villa’s numerical disadvantage, with Igor Jesus scoring the decisive late goal to condemn Emery’s side to a third defeat in four Premier League games.
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