Aston Villa will host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday. In their most recent match in the premier flight, Unai Emery’s team defeated Fulham 2-1. The Tricky Trees defeated West Ham United 2-0.
Preview (Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest)
Aston Villa, who was once an invincible force in front of the Villa Park supporters. They have responded to its recent home struggles with a string of outstanding away performances. Last weekend, they went five games without losing at Fulham’s Craven Cottage. Ollie Watkins scored twice, his 12th and 13th goals of the Premier League season. It gives the Lions a two-goal lead by the hour mark. Although Rodrigo Muniz, Fulham’s star forward, cut the deficit in half, it was too little.
Villa’s victory at Craven Cottage moved Emery’s team above their counterparts in the capital into fourth place in the standings, despite Spurs’ two-point advantage in the competitive race for Champions League qualification. This was made possible by Wolverhampton Wanderers’ victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in gameweek 25. Emery’s struggling Lions, who have lost their last three home games against Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Manchester United in the league and FA Cup action, have only managed a meager victory over Fulham, making it just their second win in seven games across all competitions.
Aston Villa hasn’t lost three straight Premier League home games since the Dean Smith era in 2020. Chelsea shut them out in October 2022. Their incredible scoring run at Villa Park currently stands at 33 games in all competitions. Only three of Aston Villa’s 25 Premier League games this season have seen the team fail to open the score. One of those blanks occurred on February 17 at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team dealt West Ham United supporters another rough weekend.
Team News
Before the humiliation of Fulham, Boubacar Kamara, who had injured his anterior cruciate ligament in the previous weekend’s loss to Man United, became the third player for Aston Villa to suffer a season-ending knee injury. Kamara now joins Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings in the ACL squad. While Jon Duran and Diego Carlos are dealing with hamstring issues, Ezri Konsa is also out with a knee injury that should recover in a few weeks. Nevertheless, the hosts at Craven Cottage, where Lucas Digne is still working to improve his fitness as a replacement, have no new concerns.
Before sustaining a thigh injury, the left-back had played in 18 of Villa’s first 19 Premier League games. However, Emery has no justification for demoting Alex Moreno, who had a goal disallowed in the team’s victory over Fulham. Abraham Sangare and Willy Boly, Santo’s two Africa Cup of Nations winners, should now be considered for Premier League playing time at Nottingham Forest. Ola Aina, whose Nigerian team lost heartbreakingly to Ivory Coast in the championship game, should also return.
Due to thigh injuries, Chris Wood and Gonzalo Montiel are still sidelined, and goal scorer Awoniyi was substituted midway through the second half of the victory over West Ham. This was Awoniyi’s fourth Premier League game since his groyne surgery recovery. Santo was unaware of the seriousness of Awoniyi’s problem, but he acknowledged following the match that his best shooter was “struggling,” meaning Divock Origi is prepared to lead the assault if necessary.
Aston Villa 3-1 Nottingham Forest
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