Villama Preview: Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest

The build-up...

With late magic coming from super-sub (or potential starter?) Bertrand Traore against Leicester City in the form of an 87th minute game winning goal (2-1), Aston Villa look like a well oiled machine going into the weekend to tackle Nottingham Forest.

Forest have struggled this season. Their last league win came at home against Leeds United (1-0) on February 5th and the last, and only, away win was birthed by currently dead last Southampton on January 4th. Form over the last three matches is predictably bleak, with a loss at St. James Park 2-1 to Newcastle United, a 1-1 draw to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground, and most recently a 2-1 loss to Leeds United at Elland Road.

Players to look out for from Forest include striker Morgan Gibbs-White, center-back Felipe, and attacking midfielder Brennan Johnson.

Last time we met at Villa Park...

The last time these two sides met at Villa Park, it was certainly an entertaining match for the neutral and one that made both Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest fans want to pull their hair out throughout the entirety of the match. Could we see a similar result at Villa Park once again? We’ll have to wait and see!

The line-up...

For Villa this week, expect to be without Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash, both out with injury, as far as familiar faces go. It presents the now familiar decision of playing John McGinn in a holding position rather than further up on the right, or to place trust in Leander Dendoncker.

Starting in goal will be Emi Martinez, with Alex Moreno to his left and Ashley Young to his right. There’s a non-zero chance Young may be given a breather considering the tightly packed schedule, but I think he’ll start. In midfield you’ll again see the make-shift partnership of Douglas Luiz and John McGinn, with Jacob Ramsey and Emi Buendia flanking. Up top will feature Ollie Watkins and, for a change of pace, Bertrand Traore.

Score prediction...

If things play out in reality the way they would on paper, Aston Villa should be able to do whatever they want on Saturday. A 2-0 Aston Villa victory should be in the cards.

Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images