Vitor Pereira’s side were rocked by Cho Gue-sung’s late strike at the City Ground as Forest succumbed to the Danish underdogs for the second time this season.
Beaten 3-2 at home by Midtjylland in the group stage in October when Ange Postecoglou was the second of Forest’s four managers this term, the Premier League strugglers must secure the first away win against the Danes this season in the second leg on March 19 to have a chance of advancing.
Midtjylland have won 12 of their last 14 matches in European competitions.
Forest, above the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference, went close when Omari Hutchinson’s 30-yard rocket was tipped over by Elias Rafn Olafsson.
Elliot Anderson’s curler forced another fine save from Olafsson before Midtjylland’s Philip Billing headed off the line to stop Pedro Bravo scoring an own goal.
In torrential rain, Forest lost their footing in the 80th minute, triggering jeers from their frustrated fans.
Ousmane Diao’s cross reached Cho and the South Korea striker planted a composed header past Matz Sels from close range.
“It is difficult to explain. We created so many chances to score. Even if we were to draw, it would not have been fair,” Pereira said.
“They had two chances, and they scored. But we had enough time and the game was there. Even the rain played against us!”
At the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Watkins netted for the first time in eight games in all competitions to put Villa on track for a place in the quarter-finals.
The England international’s second-half goal was only his ninth in a disappointing personal campaign, with just two in his last 13 matches.
He made the breakthrough in the 61st minute, meeting Emiliano Buendia’s flick on with a looping header over Lille keeper Berke Ozer.
Thanks to Watkins, Unai Emery’s side, who beat Lille in the 2024 UEFA Conference League quarter-finals, will head into the second leg at Villa Park as favourites to advance.
Villa have won eight of their nine Europa games this season as they step up their bid to end a 30-year trophy drought. (AFP)
Edited by Cecil Wong
