OLLIE WATKINS suffered a bloody head injury – before levelling the score for Aston Villa with a BANDAGE on.

Forest defender Morato clashed heads with Watkins while challenging for the ball during a corner routine, with the visitors leading 1-0 from their first leg.

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Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins receives treatment after a clash of heads with Nottingham Forest’s Morato Credit: PA

Morato, who was already on a booking, was down on the turf himself after colliding with the England striker in the 26th minute at Villa Park.

Medics from both sides stormed onto the pitch, with Villa staff preparing the stretcher for Watkins, before putting it away five minutes later.

At first glance, Watkins should have been checked under the concussion protocol but medics were more concerned with the nasty cut above his eye.

Watkins developed an instant bump on the forehead from the clash and was bandaged up by the club doctor.

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The Villa striker soldiered on and went on to make it 1-1 across both legs in the 35th minute.

Watkins could not miss the tap-in from Emiliano Buendia’s skilfully worked cross and circled his hand around his head in the celebrations.

The incident originally took the sting out of the game for Forest, who were under serious pressure from the hosts chasing a spot in the Europa League final on May 20.

Four minutes were added onto first-half stoppage time and Watkins went close again putting Villa ahead for the first time across both legs.

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Watkins continued with a bandage wrapped around it head Credit: Reuters

The head collision came days after Forest skipper Morgan Gibbs-White suffered a life-altering cut across his forehead in Vitor Pereira’s 3-1 win at Chelsea.

Gibbs-White was taken off in a stretcher at Stamford Bridge and has since had a custom mask made to support his face.

The 26-year-old attacker could only make Forest’s bench in their second-leg tie, with James McAtee covering him in the starting line-up.