There was nothing to split two former European Cup winners separated by a mere 49 miles, until Lucas Digne was penalised for handball and Wood converted the resulting spot-kick in the 71st minute.

Unai Emery's side has it all to do in the return leg at Villa Park, while Forest is halfway to its first continental final since winning the 1980 European Cup.

After Youri Tielemans's early sighter was pushed wide by Stefan Ortega, there was a nervy moment for Forest full-back Ola Aina, whose attempt to cushion the ball back to his goalkeeper almost allowed Emiliano Buendia in.

Ortega made a more impressive save to keep out Morgan Rogers' left-footed curler, but the best stop of the half came from Emiliano Martinez at the other end.

The Argentina international reacted brilliantly to Igor Jesus' side-footed attempt, redirecting his dive to make the block while also preventing the ball from squirming beneath him.

Another Ortega save thwarted Ollie Watkins early in the second half, but Forest, having earlier had a VAR scare when Elliot Anderson's lunge on Watkins was briefly checked for a red card, saw another intervention go in their favour.

It was initially ruled that Omari Hutchinson had failed to keep the ball in play when hooking it against Digne's outstretched arm, but after referee Joao Pinheiro was sent to the pitch-side monitor, the penalty was awarded, and Wood rifled it into the top-left corner.

Vitor Pereira's side defended resolutely from then on, with Villa's only real chance to take a draw back to Birmingham being squandered by Tielemans, who fired high over the crossbar after taking in Rogers's pass.