Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Full Match 2025-26 • fullmatch

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Full Match 2025-26.

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Full Match Highlights — Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Full Match 2025-26

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Full Match Replay.
Full Match & Highlights Premier League 2025-2026

Full Match Highlights – Full Match Replay
English Commentary
January 3, 2026

After their Premier League title ambitions were dealt a harsh reality check in midweek, Aston Villa are looking for a response when they host a Nottingham Forest side struggling to escape the clutches of the relegation zone. The last five H2Hs have been won by the home side on the day, with Aston Villa unbeaten in the last nine meetings against Forest on their own turf (W6, D3).

After a historic 11-game winning run across all competitions, Aston Villa were brought crashing back down to earth as they received a 4-1 thumping at the hands of leaders Arsenal on Tuesday. Boss Unai Emery insists he’s “so happy” with his players despite that result, as his side enter 2026 in third and still only six points off the pace. The Villans are big favourites to at least keep pace here given that they’ve won each of their last ten matches at Villa Park, but stretching that run to 11 for the first time since 1914 is far from a foregone conclusion as their last four victories here have all come by slender one-goal margins.

Sean Dyche enjoyed a strong start to life as Nottingham Forest boss, but his honeymoon period looks to be over after a slump of four defeats from their last five league outings (W1). A 2-0 reverse at home to Everton in midweek was their third in succession and saw the Tricky Trees’ margin to the bottom three shrink to four points, so anxiety rightly remains widespread around the City Ground. One of the division’s toughest trips therefore comes at an inopportune time for a side who have lost their last two away league outings without reply.

Only three sides, one of whom is Nottingham Forest (3), have led fewer league games at half-time this season than Aston Villa (HT: W4, D9, L6). Emery has lost just one of his eight touchline meetings with opposite number Dyche (W6, D1). None of Nottingham Forest’s last six away league games saw both teams score (W2, L4). Nottingham Forest have conceded a league-high 12 goals beyond the 75th minute.

John McGinn is in line for Aston Villa recall here having assisted a goal in two of his last three games against Nottingham Forest. Igor Jesus hasn’t scored in his last four games but must fancy his chances of arresting that run here considering that six of his seven Nottingham Forest goals have come on the road.

Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana is doubtful here after being substituted at half-time against Arsenal with an injury. Nottingham Forest don’t appear to have any fresh concerns.