Aston Villa hosted Nottingham Forest in a key Premier League match on January 3, 2026. The game took place at Villa Park in Birmingham. Fans eagerly awaited this aston villa vs nottm forest clash. Villa aimed to bounce back from a recent loss. Forest hoped to end their losing streak.
The match drew a crowd of 43,039. Simon Hooper served as referee. Both teams entered with different goals. Villa sat third before kickoff with 39 points. Forest ranked 17th with fewer wins.
Aston Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Emiliano Martínez guarded the goal. Defenders included Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Victor Lindelöf, and Ian Maatsen. Midfield featured Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans. John McGinn captained from attacking midfield. Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendía supported striker Ollie Watkins.
Nottingham Forest used a 4-5-1 setup. John Victor started in goal. Defenders were Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, and Neco Williams. Midfielders included Omari Hutchinson, Morgan Gibbs-White as captain, Elliot Anderson, Nico Dominguez, and Dilane Bakwa. Igor Jesus led the attack.
The first half began with intensity. Villa pressed high from the start. In the second minute, Rogers tackled Williams. He passed to Watkins inside the box. Watkins shot from six yards. Victor saved it well.
Forest responded around the 30th minute. Dominguez beat Kamara and Lindelöf. He set up Hutchinson. The shot came from the edge of the area. Martínez made a solid save.
Villa dominated possession. They held 77.8% in the first half. They completed 247 passes in Forest’s half. This marked their highest in a Premier League first half since 2003.
The breakthrough came in added time. Rogers fed Watkins again. Watkins struck from 20 yards. The ball went through Victor’s hands. It hit the top corner. Villa led 1-0 at halftime.
Aston Villa v. Nottingham Forest | PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | 1/3/2026 | NBC Sports
The second half started strong for Villa. In the 49th minute, Cash found McGinn. McGinn powered a shot from 12 yards. It doubled the lead to 2-0.
Forest fought back in the 61st minute. Gibbs-White ran unmarked. He received a pass from Bakwa. Gibbs-White lofted it over Martínez. The score became 2-1.
Villa regained control soon after. In the 73rd minute, Tielemans played a through-ball. Victor rushed out. He misjudged it. McGinn curled into an empty net from 35 yards. Villa led 3-1.
Substitutions followed. Villa replaced Maatsen with Lucas Digne in the 69th minute. Jadon Sancho came on for Buendía. Later, Lamare Bogarde entered for McGinn. Donyell Malen subbed for Watkins. Andres García replaced Cash in the 90th.
Forest made changes too. Nicola Savona came for Aina in the 69th. James McAtee replaced Bakwa. Matz Sels subbed for Victor in the 78th. Douglas Luiz entered for Dominguez. Armand Kalimuendo replaced Jesus in the 83rd.
Yellow cards marked the game. Bakwa got one in the 65th for a foul. McAtee received one in the 89th for a studs-up tackle. Bogarde earned one in added time for kicking Gibbs-White.
The match ended 3-1. Villa deserved the win. They showed more urgency. Forest invited pressure with errors.
John McGinn starred for Villa. He scored twice. It was his second brace for the club. The first came in 2019 against Forest. McGinn spoke post-match. He said the team wanted a positive reaction. He noted the manager’s push to get into the box more.
Ollie Watkins continued his form. He scored in his third straight game. Watkins has six goals since December. That’s level with the league’s top in that span.
Morgan Rogers impressed too. He assisted Watkins’ goal. Rogers and Watkins have combined for 10 goals. That’s among Villa’s best duos historically.
For Forest, Gibbs-White provided a highlight. His goal marked his 50th Premier League involvement. He joins a select group with hyphenated names.
Villa’s stats shone. They had 73.1% possession overall. They completed 574 passes. That’s the most in the league this season. Villa took 22 shots. Nine were on target. Their xG reached high levels early.
Forest struggled defensively. Errors from Victor and others cost them. They face relegation worries.
This win boosted Villa. They moved to second with 42 points. They sit above Manchester City. Villa has won 13 of their last 15 games. Their home streak hit eight straight Premier League wins.
Forest dropped to 17th with 18 points. They lost four in a row. Their next game against West Ham is crucial. West Ham trails by four points.
McGinn on the double as Villa go second with 3-1 win over Forest …
Looking back, aston villa vs nottm forest has history. In 2018, they drew 5-5 in a wild game. Villa scored five. Forest matched them. It featured penalties and comebacks.
Another memorable clash was in 2023. Villa won 2-0 at Forest’s ground. Bertrand Traoré and Watkins scored. Forest had chances but failed.
In February 2024, Villa won 4-2 at home. They led 3-0 early. Forest fought back to 3-2. Leon Bailey sealed it late.
These past games add context. The rivalry dates to the Championship days. Both clubs have rich histories. Villa won the European Cup in 1982. Forest claimed it in 1979 and 1980.
Unai Emery manages Villa. He praised the reaction after the Arsenal loss. Emery focuses on step-by-step progress. His tactics emphasize pressing and quick transitions.
Nuno Espírito Santo leads Forest. He faces pressure. The team needs points to avoid the drop. Forest invested in players like Bakwa and Dominguez. Results have not followed.
Villa’s title hopes grow. They trail the leaders by a few points. Consistency at home helps. Watkins and McGinn form the core.
Forest must improve defense. Conceding from errors hurts. Gibbs-White offers creativity. More support is needed.
Fans reacted online. Many praised McGinn’s leadership. Others worried for Forest’s form. The match trended on social media.
In summary, this aston villa vs nottm forest encounter delivered action. Villa’s win strengthens their position. Forest faces a tough road ahead.
The Premier League continues. Villa next plays away. Forest hosts West Ham. Both seek better results.
This result impacts the table. Villa eyes Champions League spots. They are 12 points clear of fifth. Qualification looks likely.
Forest battles relegation. Teams below them lurk. A win soon is vital.
Highlights from the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
Aston Villa’s fans celebrated. The atmosphere at Villa Park roared. Nottingham Forest supporters left disappointed. The game showcased Premier League drama.
Experts analyzed the tactics. Villa’s high press overwhelmed Forest. Emery’s subs maintained control. Espírito Santo’s changes came too late.
Player ratings favored Villa. McGinn earned man of the match. His goals and energy stood out. Watkins rated high for his threat.
For Forest, Gibbs-White performed well. Victor’s mistake drew criticism. The defense needs tightening.
Overall, the match highlighted strengths and weaknesses. Villa builds momentum. Forest seeks recovery.