17:30 Saturday 14th December
Nottingham Forest will host Aston Villa at the City Ground on Saturday in a Premier League clash between two teams level on points and vying for European competition spots. Forest have surprised many this season after a difficult campaign last year. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has worked wonders with his team and new signings like Elliot Anderson and Matz Sels have made an impact.Â
Villa on the other hand are still flying with Unai Emery in charge. This season has meant balancing European football with the domestic calendar, which they are handling extremely well. Villa currently sit fifth in the Champions League standings and look likely to qualify automatically for the round of 16. An impressive win in midweek away at Leipzig only highlighted how well this team are performing.Â
Team Form and Standings:
Both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa have identical records this season, each with seven wins, four draws, and four losses, accumulating 25 points. Forest holds a slight edge, sitting fifth in the Premier League table due to a superior goal difference, while Villa is sixth.
Forest’s recent form includes a notable 3-2 victory over Manchester United, showcasing their offensive capabilities. However, their defence has been less consistent, conceding 11 goals in their last six matches. At home, they’ve been solid, winning three of their last four games at the City Ground.
Aston Villa enters the match on a two-game Premier League winning streak, with victories over Southampton and Brentford. Their away form has been impressive, winning six of their last seven EPL Saturday away matches.
Key Players:
For Nottingham Forest, striker Chris Wood has been in exceptional form, scoring 10 goals in 15 appearances this season. His presence will be crucial in breaking down Villa’s defence. The former Newcastle striker looks rejuvenised under Nuno Espirito Santo and will again be a key player this weekend.
Aston Villa’s attacking threat is spearheaded by Morgan Rogers, who has netted four goals and consistently poses a shot threat. However, the fitness of key players like Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey remains uncertain, which could impact their offensive dynamics. Youngster Jhon Duran has been a revelation for Aston Villa this season and could pose the Forest defence problems if selected to play.
Tactical Analysis:
Nottingham Forest’s recent matches have been high-scoring affairs as their defence has shown vulnerabilities, especially against top-tier teams.
Aston Villa has been prolific on the road where they have scored an average of 1.5 goals per game but have also conceded at the same rate, indicating potential defensive frailties.
Prediction:
Given both teams’ attacking strengths and defensive inconsistencies, this matchup is expected to be a high-scoring encounter.
Considering current form and home advantage, Nottingham Forest might edge out a narrow victory. With Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga supplying the ever-dangerous Chris Wood, backing Chris Wood to Score first might be the bet of the day.
First Goalscorer – Chris Wood @ Boosted Price of 11/2