Nottingham Forest survived a nervy second half to set up a Europa League semi-final with Premier League rivals Aston Villa as they beat 10-man Porto 1-0 in the second leg of their quarter-final.

It was an emotionally charged night for Forest, who were without midfielder Elliott Anderson after his mother passed away earlier on Thursday.

Anderson’s name was sung regularly throughout the game at the City Ground, which Forest ended on the back of a 1-1 draw in Portugal that saw them gifted a freak own goal at Estádio do Dragão.

Forest were handed the initiative eight minutes into the contest when Jan Bednarek was sent off for a foul on Chris Wood following a VAR review.

Morgan Gibbs-White made the extra man count as his deflected effort sent the home crowd into raptures.

Forest were unconvincing thereafter, with Porto twice hitting the crossbar in the second half, but Vitor Pereira’s men stood firm to progress to a first European semi-final since the 1983-84 UEFA Cup.

Nottingham Forest claim emotional win

Having given away a penalty in the league phase clash between these two teams, Bednarek had another moment to forget at the City Ground as he was eventually given his marching orders for catching Wood on the knee with a very high leg. Wood, who has missed most of the season with a knee injury, was eventually forced off after feeling the effects of that tackle.

Four minutes later Gibbs-White made the extra man count when he surged to the edge of the area and saw his strike deflect off Pablo Rosario and leave Diogo Costa helpless.

Gibbs-White paid tribute to his team-mate Anderson during his celebration, lifting up a jersey bearing Anderson’s name that also read ‘Family first, we are all with you’.

Omari Hutchinson, Murillo and Nicolas Dominguez all went close to doubling Forest’s lead before half-time, with Igor Jesus then denied by Costa after the interval.

Yet Porto carried a greater threat in the second half and William Gomes, scorer of their goal in the first leg, hit the underside of the bar from a far-post cross.

There was more concern for Forest ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Burnley as Murillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi were both forced off through injuries.

Those setbacks were followed by further frustration for Jesus as Costa produced another brilliant save to thwart the Brazilian, with the tension then heightened as Alan Varela rattled the crossbar for Porto with a long-range strike.

But Porto could not find the goal to force extra time, meaning that a team fighting against relegation in the Premier League is three games away from lifting a European trophy and securing Champions League football for next season.