Nottingham Forest's Nikola Milenkovic and Anthony Elanga struck late goals to earn their side a dramatic 2-1 victory over Aston Villa which put them fourth in the Premier League on Saturday.

Milenkovic scored for the second week running as he struck in the 87th minute to cancel out Jhon Durán's header for Villa.

Roared on by the City Ground crowd, Forest then claimed all three points in the third minute of stoppage time as substitute Elanga slotted a shot past goalkeeper Emi Martínez.

Forest moved a point above champions Manchester City, who host Manchester United on Sunday, into fourth spot with 28 points from 16 games while Villa, who were on course to go fourth themselves, stay sixth with 25.

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

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"It is incredible and long may that continue. The season is really long and I just want the fans to enjoy the journey," Elanga, who had not scored since February, said.

After a forgettable opening half, the second period caught fire after a remarkable save by Martinez.

Forest's Nicolás Domínguez could hardly believe his eyes as the Argentina World Cup winner showed amazing reflexes to somehow claw his close-range header off the line.

A minute later Villa's first attempt at goal resulted in them taking the lead as Duran met John McGinn's clipped cross with an instinctive header that flew past keeper Matz Sels.

It looked as though Forest's luck was out when Chris Wood thought he had equalised but his effort was chalked off for the tightest of offside decisions after a lengthy VAR check.

Forest refused to be denied though and Milenkovic connected with a cross by Morgan Gibbs-White and this time Martinez was unable to keep the ball out of the net.

Elanga looked razor-sharp after coming off the bench and won it for Forest when he met a cut-back from Elliot Anderson.