English Premier
2025-04-05 - Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 5th April 2025 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
Aston Villa
Clubs will always have to make some big decisions in January even through a notoriously difficult transfer window and there can be huge rewards if the risks pay off. Where Arsenal failed to add reinforcements, Aston Villa brought in some attacking players and Unai Emery has been rewarded with some fine results and the chance to have arguably the club's most successful season since winning the European Cup in 1982.
Progress has been made to the FA Cup Semi Final and the Champions League Quarter Final and some big ties are coming up in April, but all credit has to be given to the players for the 0-3 win at Brighton on Wednesday. It is a result in the Premier League that has moved Aston Villa back up into 7th place in the standings and 3 points behind Manchester City in the top four. The Villans will be looking to improve their 7-7-1 home record and really get back into the fight for the Champions League places.
Aston Villa were thumped 4-1 at Crystal Palace at the end of February, but have responded by winning 6 matches in a row in all competitions and have conceded once in that run. The side will be chasing a fourth win in a row at Villa Park, although the Premier League win over Chelsea ended a sequence of 3 straight League draws on this ground.
Leon Bailey is a doubt and Ross Barkley is hoping to return next weekend. Otherwise this is a strong Aston Villa squad available for Unai Emery.
Nottingham Forest
After winning the FA Cup Quarter Final on Penalties, Nuno Espirito Santo admitted his Nottingham Forest team had been 'on the ropes' as they clung onto the early lead secured by Anthony Elanga against Manchester United. Like much of the season, Nottingham Forest's organisation at the back contained the visitors, although they also had a sprinkling of good fortune to earn a vital three points.
There has never been a moment when the manager has tempered the enthusiasm of the supporters as they dared to dream and the players must also feel well backed by Nuno Espirito Santo. Credit has to be given to all working hard every day as Nottingham Forest remain 3rd in the Premier League table and edging closer to a spot in the Champions League for next season. The Tricky Trees have a 8-2-5 away record in the Premier League where they have scored 26 goals and conceded 25.
Nottingham Forest have extended their unbeaten run to 6 games in all competitions, while the win over Manchester United makes it 3 straight in the Premier League to keep the pressure on those hoping the upstarts will slip backwards. Prior to the win at Portman Road before the March international break, Nottingham Forest had lost 3 away Premier League games in succession.
Callum Hudson-Odoi was unavailable for personal reasons on Tuesday, but the manager is expecting him back for this big game. Ola Aina picked up an injury that is almost certainly going to be ruling him out, while Chris Wood is a doubt.
Head to Head
Nottingham Forest were 0-1 down at the City Ground against Aston Villa with the clock ticking past the 86th minute, but they turned things around to win 2-1 in December.
Aston Villa are unbeaten in 8 at Villa Park against Nottingham Forest and have won consecutive home fixtures against them, including a 4-2 win in their last meeting in February 2024.
Prediction
The surprise package of last season were Aston Villa, especially when it comes to earning the Champions League places.
However, the development of the club under Unai Emery's guidance has shown the steps being taken and Champions League Football was always going to be the target for the manager, even if it came a year early.
Performances in that competition has given the players and the fans more than a taste of the big time and Aston Villa will be back in the Champions League next season if they can have a strong finish to the season.
Another team chasing those spots is Nottingham Forest who have made a massive leap from barely avoiding relegation to entering the top three in the Premier League standings. This is a real surprise for most outsiders, but Nuno Espirito Santo is managing to keep the players focused and Nottingham Forest, like Aston Villa, have a FA Cup Semi Final to look forward to as they look for a hugely memorable campaign to be concluded in the right manner.
This is a big game for both clubs, although the feeling is that home advantage may offer Aston Villa the edge.
Villa Park has been a tough place to visit, while Nottingham Forest have looked a touch more vulnerable away from the City Ground over the last several weeks. They had lost 3 away League games in a row before beating Ipswich Town and the away team may still be without Chris Wood, who is a big absentee for them.
Defensive resilience was on display in the 1-0 win over Manchester United on Tuesday, although fortune played a part too. Nottingham Forest will need that again if they are going to contain an Aston Villa team that are scoring a lot of goals and beginning to display the kind of defensive organisation that will be pleasing Unai Emery.
The Champions League Quarter Final First Leg is a potential distraction, but Aston Villa have momentum and they can edge to another important three points to continue fighting on all fronts.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Aston Villa 2-0 Nottingham Forest
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Aston Villa to Win at 2.00 with BetFred
