Sheffield Wednesday 1 Aston Villa 0 - Report and pictures

Roberto Di Matteo's team had looked like taking at least a draw following an encouraging performance at Hillsborough.

But they ended up going home with nothing, after Forestieri took advantage of a defensive mistake and some fortuitous ricochets to fire home the only goal of the game.

The striker had earlier twice been denied by Villa keeper Pierluigi Gollini, while Ross McCormack went close to putting the visitors ahead.

McCormack, a £12million signing from Fulham, was sent clean through on goal but was denied by a brilliant saving tackle by home captain Tom Lees.

In the end, it proved a pivotal moment as Forestieri scored ten minutes later to decide a game which could have gone either way.

Defeat will sting for Villa, who are seeking to rebuild after last season's embarrassing relegation from the Premier League.

Yet there were numerous positives too, not least in the performance of newcomers Gollini and Tommy Elphick. In the second half, it was Villa who had the better of the chances but paid the price for failing to take them.

Wednesday, beaten play-off finalists last season, had made all of the early running but Villa's new-look defence held up well to the challenge.

Elphick was alert to cut out a dangerous Jack Hunt cross which looked destined for Forestieri. For all their pressure, the hosts only real attempt was an overhead effort from Steven Fletcher which sailed harmlessly wide.

The former Wolves striker's involvement was ended soon after by a nasty clash of heads with Elphick, which left the Villa skipper wearing a bandage for the rest of the game, while Fletcher was replaced by Gary Hooper.

Forestieri went closest to breaking the deadlock before the break. After seeing a free-kick deflect just a few yards wide of the post, he fired another effort over the bar from the edge of the box.

Villa's attacks were limited, though Jordan Ayew looked dangerous every time he got the ball and willing to run at the home defence. One particular surging run saw the Ghana international exchange passes with Bacuna before heading his team-mate's inviting cross straight at Wednesday keeper Keiren Westwood.

At the other end of the field, Gollini remained untested during the opening half, though that all changed just seconds after the restart. A deep cross into the Villa box was cleared only as far as Forestieri, who struck a low shot from the edge of the box which the keeper was able to push away.

It was not, however, the precursor for a repeat of the first half, as Villa began to ask more questions of the home defence. Westwood saved smartly from Gestede, with the Villa striker unable to quite get enough power into his header from a Bacuna cross.

Ashley Westwood then came within inches of giving the visitors the lead when he drove wide from the edge of the box after Wednesday had failed to clear a corner.

In between there were a number of near misses as home defender's cleared crosses from in front of McCormack and Bacuna. The latter forced Westwood to tip a rising drive over the bar, while Elphick headed over a McCormack corner as Villa continued to press.

Now it was Wednesday who looked dangerous on the break however and Gollini was again needed to keep out a Forestieri shot after the home striker had broken free on the left of the box. Forestieri was then denied by a perfectly timed challenge from Elphick as he prepared to pull the trigger 10 yards out after Villa lost possession in the final third.

With 15 minutes remaining, McCormack was presented with a golden chance for a debut goal as he raced onto Rudy Gestede's flick on but a superb last-ditch tackle from Lees saw his shot deflected wide of the post.

For all the chances missed by both teams, it looked as though the game would end goal-less until, with five minutes remaining, Forestieri delivered a sucker punch.

The ball fell perfectly for the striker following a series of ricochets as Villa looked to clear and, left one-on-one with Gollini, he made no mistake, sliding his finish under the keeper.

Wednesday: Westwood, Hunt (Palmer 84), Lees, Hutchinson, Pudil, Bannan, Abdi, Lee, Wallace (Nuhiu 67), Fletcher (Hooper 27), Forestieri Subs not used: Wildsmith, Helan, Joao, Semedo.

Villa: Gollini, Hutton, Elphick ©, Baker, Cissokho, Westwood, Gardner (Tshibola 70), Bacuna, Ayew, McCormack (Grealish 77), Gestede Subs not used: Richards, Okore, Green, Amavi, Bunn (gk).