Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | EPL 2022-23

Leon Bailey of Aston Villa
Leon Bailey of Aston Villa - IMAGO / Shutterstock

Nottingham Forest will look to end a woeful run of form when they welcome Aston Villa to City Ground on Monday.

Venue: City Ground (Nottingham) 

Key Statistics

Nottingham Forest have conceded 18 goals across the last five games.

They have scored two goals in each of their last two home games.

The hosts have conceded 21 times this season. Only Leicester City (22) have conceded more goals.

No side coming in the round had faced more shots (136) or shots on target (56) than Forest in this PL campaign.

Aston Villa have kept back-to-back clean sheets ahead of this game.

The visitors have now failed to win five straight PL away games (D1, L4), despite scoring the opening goal twice during that run.

They are unbeaten in their last four games against Forest (W3, D1).

No side has lost more games against promoted opponents in PL history than Villa’s 48, a run which includes defeats in three of the last four such games (W1).

Head to head

In ten meetings between both sides in the Premier League, Aston Villa have recorded five wins while Nottingham Forest have one win (D4).

Latest performances in all competitions

Nottingham Forest: L-L-L-L-L

Aston Villa: D-W-D-L-L

Nottingham Forest 

Nottingham Forest will look to win just their second game of the Premier League season when they welcome Aston Villa to City Ground this Monday.

The hosts have endured a miserable start to the season as they have lost six of their opening eight league games of the season (D1, L1) with five of those losses coming in their last five games. 

Their last outing was a 4-0 loss to fellow struggling side Leicester City and guaranteed that Steve Cooper’s side come into this round of games sitting at the bottom of the table.

The loss led to speculation that Cooper will be relieved of his duties at City ground and former Liverpool and Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez hired in his stead. But much to the surprise of everyone, the club management have reaffirmed their commitment to Cooper by rewarding him with a new contract that runs till 2025.

With such a level of support, which is consistent with the approach the club chiefs have employed since their return to the Premier League as evidenced by their splashing the cash on 22 players, Cooper will be desperate for results to turn around and will hope that he can begin doing so in this game on Monday.

Possible Nottingham Forest starting line-up

Dean Henderson; Willy Boly, Steve Cook, Cheikhou Kouyate; Neco Williams, Ryan Yates, Lewis O’Brien, Renan Lodi, Jesse Lingard, Remo Freuler; Brennan Johnson, Taiwo Awoniyi.

Injured: Omar Richards 

Doubtful: Moussa Niakhate

Suspended: None 

Aston Villa

While their hosts continue to look for a turnaround in their fortunes, Aston Villa will look to build on their improved form when they visit City ground on Monday.

The visitors began the season poorly, but have so far enjoyed better results. They made it three games without defeat last time out when they held Leeds United to a goalless draw at Elland Road.

The result followed a 1-0 win over Southampton just before the international break and made it two consecutive games where the Villans have kept a clean sheet after they went eleven without one prior to those games.

With the pressure now gradually coming off the shoulders of Steven Gerrard, the Englishman will take his side to City Ground hoping he can get a win that will really show that his side are back in form.

However, the visitors have now failed to win five straight PL away games (D1, L4), despite scoring the opening goal twice during that run. A better defensive showing this time will be required if they want to win this game.

Possible Aston Villa starting line-up

Emi Martinez; Ashley Young, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Jan Bednarek; John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey, Douglas Luiz; Philippe Coutinho, Leon Bailey; Ollie Watkins.

Injured: Diego Carlos, Matty Cash, Lucas Digne, Boubacar Kamara, Ludwig Augustinsson

Doubtful: None 

Suspended: None 

Prediction

Nottingham Forest 1-3 Aston Villa