Aston Villa FC vs Nottingham Forest FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

Aston Villa FC vs Nottingham Forest FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Aston Villa are flying under Unai Emery right now, proving their ownership team right after appointing the Spanish manager after sacking Steven Gerrard earlier in the season.

Villa have claimed more points than any other team in the Premier League, apart from Arsenal and Manchester City, since Emery’s arrival and they have now risen to 7th.

After spending most of the season lingering in the bottom half, Villa are now candidates to secure European football next season.

At the opposite end of the scale, Nottingham Forest appear to be sinking quickly. Now ahead of the bottom three only on goal difference, Steve Cooper’s men are the only team not to have won in their last six.

There have been rumours this week of Cooper facing the sack, which will only increase if they lose again here.

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Aston Villa FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Have claimed 32 points under Emery, only behind Arsenal and City in that time

     Could move into 6th with victory

Reasons to be fearful:

     Could be without four players through injury

     Tough upcoming fixture list

After overcoming a tricky spell at the start of February, having lost three on the bounce, Villa have hit back by winning five of their next six and pushing up to 7th in the league.

Suddenly, after spending the entire season in the bottom half up until last weekend, they look as though they could claim European football next year.

While the likes of Fulham and Brentford have enjoyed better seasons up until now, they appear to be flagging at the wrong time and have dropped away, allowing Villa to sweep in under Emery.

Victory here could take Villa up to 6th above Brighton, although Emery’s men have a series of tough fixtures coming up, including Newcastle, Brentford, Fulham and Manchester United before the end of April. 

Star Man – Ollie Watkins

Watkins has found exceptional form under Emery, scoring for the sixth consecutive away game in their win over Leicester recently. He now has 12 for the season and could fire Villa into Europe.

Nottingham Forest FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Have quality in attacking areas

     Will be desperate to pick up points

Reasons to be fearful

     Cooper faces the sack if losing form continues

     No clean sheets from any of their last eight

While Nottingham Forest currently sit above the relegation zone, albeit on goal difference, they remain one of the favourites to go down at the end of the season.

Forest have the weakest recent form of any team in the league, dropping from 13th place during that run. Another defeat here would likely see them drop into the bottom three, with every team fighting for points.

However, while Aston Villa have been in excellent form lately, they aren’t fighting for their lives like Forest are. Often, teams more in need of points play better than those who have little to play for.

Forest have shown that they have quality in forward areas, scoring in four of their last five. Unfortunately, they can’t stop conceding at the other end either.

Star Man – Brennan Johnson

With 10 goals this season, Johnson has twice as many goals as anyone else at Nottingham Forest, and they would be far worse off without his pace and quality this season.