At A Glance
Aston Villa head to Nottingham Forest looking to extend their six-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.
Since a 3-0 loss to Liverpool early in September, Unai Emery’s team have won five and drawn one, taking them up to fifth in the table.
Goals from John McGinn, Moussa Diaby and an own goal from Tom Lockyer secured a 3-1 success against Luton Town last time out.
Opponents Forest have taken ten points from their first ten league matches, picking up two wins and four draws.
However, Steve Cooper’s side are without a win in their previous six Premier League outings, dating back to a 1-0 victory versus Chelsea in September.
Forest endured a tough time at Anfield last time out, falling to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool.
Standout Stats
Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the Championship in February 2017 but that is their only victory in the past 15 league meetings (D7, L7).
Aston Villa are unbeaten in nine Premier League games against Forest since a 2-0 home defeat in October 1994 (W4, D5).
Forest's most recent top-flight home victory versus the Villans was in April 1992, when Scot Gemmill and Teddy Sheringham scored in a 2-0 win.
Villa's tally of 22 points from 10 games is their best start to a Premier League season since 1998-99.
The Reds won two of their first four league fixtures this season but are without a victory in their subsequent six games (D4, L2). It's their longest winless run since an 11-match sequence between February and April.
Villa have won seven of their opening 10 top-flight fixtures for the first time in 70 years.
Since promotion, Forest have lost 10 of 12 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the top five, with their solitary victory coming against Arsenal in May.
The Villans have scored 26 Premier League goals this season, a joint-high prior to the weekend fixtures. It's is their highest total after 10 league matches since 1931.
Forest have lost only two of their past 19 top-flight home fixtures.
Unai Emery's side are unbeaten in six games in all competitions, winning five of those fixtures and scoring a total of 19 goals.
The Last Meeting
Bertrand Traoré and Ollie Watkins were on the scoresheet as Aston Villa downed Nottingham Forest at Villa Park in April.
Traoré, who came on as a first-half substitute, scored the opening goal after 48 minutes when a Forest defender inadvertently teed him up inside the box.
A stubborn defensive effort from the away side made life difficult before Watkins dinked home a second in injury time.
Team News
Álex Moreno could be included in Villa’s matchday squad for the game and will be assessed ahead of the trip to The City Ground to determine his availability.
Midfielder Jacob Ramsey is also progressing with his recovery although this weekend’s encounter against The Reds comes too soon, while long-term absentees Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendía remain sidelined.
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi made his comeback from a niggling groin strain as a substitute last weekend but his availability is uncertain.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, Felipe, Divock Origi, Danilo, Chris Wood and Gonzalo Montiel again miss out through injury.
The Boss
“Always in Nottingham it’s very difficult for every team. From the coaches and players that have played there I know it’s difficult. It’s a fantastic atmosphere there for them and the supporters are pushing a lot and trying to support their players. We have to be ready and facing this match thinking about how we can play better away. We are playing very well at home and being very competitive at home and winning. Away we are not being consistent like I want. We have to improve and we can play better. This is the challenge: we can play better, we can be more competitive.”
Unai Emery
