Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League latest score ...
The two sides clash at The City Ground with Villa target a spot in the top four
(REUTERS)
Nottingham Forest host Aston Villa in today’s 2pm Premier League kick off. Forest are looking to bounce back from a heavy 3-0 loss to Liverpool in their last league game and are in search of points in their attempt to further distance themselves from the relegation zone.
They face a difficult task against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa though. Villa are unbeaten in their past six matches, across all competitions, and you need to go back to September for the last time they lost in the Premier League. The midlands side are fifth in the table and will end the day inside the top four should they be victorious.
Goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos makes his Forest debut as Matt Turner is dropped to the bench while Harry Toffolo and Taiwo Awoniyi come in for Willy Boly and Serge Aurier. Emery has named the same 11 that began Villa’s 3-1 win over Luton.
Follow the latest action from the Premier League below:
Substitution Matthew Stuart Cash Youri Marion A. Tielemans
Villa are starting to get frustrated with the lack of chances that they are creating. They have dominated possession but are not creating many clear opportunities. Luiz strikes a shot from distance that is blocked with ease by Sangare.
This is just the second time in 120 Premier League appearances for Villa that Martinez has conceded two or more goals from outside the box, and the first since November 2020 v Southampton (three).
CHANCE! Watkins holds up the ball well and offloads it to McGinn. He has the chance to play it down the left to Digne but chips a cross into the path of Watkins, who rushes into space. He is free and heads his shot well wide.
McGinn does well to keep an attack down the left alive after a loose pass from Digne, winning a corner. Luiz's inswinging cross is flicked on by Watkins, but nobody is there to attack it. Torres keeps the ball on the pitch. However, Forest come away with it.
Bailey gets on the ball for the first time and darts down the right side of the box. He tries to cut inside but is crowded out by the Forest defence and gives away possession.
Awoniyi is surrounded by defenders in the box but finds a way to poke a pass across to Dominguez. He gets a shot away, but it is tame and Martinez makes a simple save.
Assist Harry Stefano Toffolo
SAVE! Fast start from Villa. Digne rushes inside from the left and sends a throughball down the left channel to Watkins. He takes a shot from a narrow angle that is saved by Vlachodimos.
Villa get the ball rolling again.
