Nottingham Forest FC vs Aston Villa FC: the preview
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Premier League 2026/27 · Matchday 30
Information updated on Saturday, September 12
Aston Villa FC enters this match seeking their first league win of the season after failing to secure a victory in four appearances. With seven previous meetings between the two clubs resulting in an even split of outcomes, Nottingham Forest FC arrives in mid-table stability looking to build on their current five-point tally and maintain their positive start to the Premier League campaign.
Key facts
- Aston Villa FC are winless in 4 games in the competition.
- Nottingham Forest FC failed to score in 2 of their 4 games in the competition.
- Aston Villa FC failed to score in 3 of their 4 games in the competition.
Current form
How each side arrives and where they stand.
Recent form
Aston Villa FC
Nottingham Forest FC
19° with 1 points 0W · 1D · 3L · 1:7
12° with 5 points 1W · 2D · 1L · 4:4
Averages 0.83 goals for and 1.83 goals against per match
Averages 1 goal for and 1 goal against per match
| L | Nottingham Forest FC | 1-2 |
| D | @ Hull City AFC | 0-0 |
| L | Arsenal FC | 0-1 |
| L | @ Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 0-4 |
| W | @ Club BruggeUEFA - Champions League 2026/27 | 3-2 |
| W | @ Aston Villa FC | 2-1 |
| D | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 0-0 |
| D | @ Liverpool FC | 2-2 |
| L | Leeds United FC | 0-1 |
| L | Leeds UnitedEFL Cup | 0-2 |
Where they stand Group A
| Team | MP | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal FC | 4 | +7 | 12 |
| 2 | Manchester City FC | 4 | +6 | 12 |
| 3 | Hull City AFC | 4 | +3 | 8 |
| 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 4 | +8 | 7 |
| 5 | Chelsea FC | 4 | +1 | 7 |
| 6 | Brentford FC | 4 | +3 | 6 |
| 7 | Liverpool FC | 4 | +2 | 6 |
| 8 | Everton FC | 4 | +2 | 6 |
| 9 | Ipswich Town FC | 4 | -3 | 6 |
| 10 | Newcastle United FC | 3 | +2 | 5 |
| 11 | Leeds United FC | 3 | +1 | 5 |
| 12 | Nottingham Forest FC | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 13 | Manchester United FC | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 14 | Sunderland AFC | 4 | -2 | 4 |
| 15 | AFC Bournemouth | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 16 | Crystal Palace FC | 4 | -5 | 3 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 4 | -5 | 2 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 4 | -3 | 1 |
| 19 | Aston Villa FC | 4 | -6 | 1 |
| 20 | Coventry City FC | 4 | -10 | 0 |
How they play
Average of the most recent matches with stats available (4 and 4 respectively).
The difference-makers
Who scores, when they score and who starts.
Who scores the goals
Aston Villa FC
| Alysson Edward Franco da Rocha | 1 | goal |
Nottingham Forest FC
| Dan Ndoye | 1 | goal | ||
| M. Gibbs-White | 1 | goal | ||
| Liam Delap | 1 | goal | ||
| Igor Jesus | 1 | goal |
Aston Villa FC. Alysson Edward Franco da Rocha remains the primary offensive reference for the hosts. With his solitary goal accounting for the entirety of the team's league output, his ability to convert limited chances will be vital against the visitors.
Nottingham Forest FC. The visitors display a shared offensive burden, with Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Delap, and Igor Jesus each providing a single goal. This balanced contribution supports a unit that averages 3.8 shots on target per match to maintain their mid-table status.
When they score
Nottingham Forest FC 4 goals
Nottingham Forest FC displays a consistent offensive rhythm throughout the match, recording at least one goal in every 15-minute interval following the opening quarter. This distribution suggests a persistent threat that forces opponents to remain alert.
Head to head
What happened every time they met.
The historical head-to-head record remains balanced with three victories apiece across seven encounters. While Aston Villa FC holds a superior goal difference in these meetings, recent form emphasizes the slim margins separating the two sides as they prepare to face each other once more.
Head-to-head record
Who scored in these meetings
John McGinn and Ollie Watkins remain the primary threats for the hosts in this series. Past encounters have been characterized by physical intensity, evidenced by an average of over three yellow cards per game, though discipline has held without any red cards issued.
| Matchday | Match | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 12/9/26 | Aston Villa FC 1-2 Nottingham Forest FC | Premier League 2026/27 |
| 7/5/26 | Aston Villa FC 4-0 Nottingham Forest FC | Europa League |
| 30/4/26 | Nottingham Forest FC 1-0 Aston Villa FC | Europa League |
| 12/4/26 | Nottingham Forest FC 1-1 Aston Villa FC | Premier League |
| 3/1/26 | Aston Villa FC 3-1 Nottingham Forest FC | Premier League |
| 5/4/25 | Aston Villa FC 2-1 Nottingham Forest FC | Premier League |
| 14/12/24 | Nottingham Forest FC 2-1 Aston Villa FC | Premier League |