Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa predictions: Midlands rivals could put on a show

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa in the Premier League on Monday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 8pm Monday

Best bets

Both teams to score
3pts 4-5 general

Neco Williams to score at any time
1pt 12-1 bet365, Hills

Team news

Nottingham Forest
Omar Richards and Moussa Niakhate are injured.

Aston Villa
Boubacar Kamara, Lucas Digne, Diego Carlos and Ludwig Augustinsson are sidelined. Matty Cash and Calum Chambers should be fit but Leon Bailey is a doubt.

Match preview

It has been a difficult start to the Premier League season for fans of Midlands clubs, two of which – Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa – are aiming to kickstart their campaigns at the City Ground.

Forest, last season's Championship playoff winners, are bottom of the table after last Monday's 4-0 derby defeat at Leicester, who had just one point from seven games before that much-needed victory.

Wolves, another of the region's top-flight representatives, have already sacked manager Bruno Lage and pressure was building on Villa's Steven Gerrard after his side lost four of their first five matches.

Gerrard has steadied the ship with a 1-1 home draw against champions Manchester City, a 1-0 win over struggling Southampton, and a goalless stalemate at Leeds last time out.

Villa would have been frustrated to take just one point at Elland Road, where they had seven shots on target to Leeds's one and the home side had Luis Sinisterra sent off shortly after half-time.

Scoring goals has been a problem for Villa and Ollie Watkins, their leading marksman in the past two seasons, has struck only once in 654 minutes of Premier League action.

Villa have scored just two goals in four away games – and one of those was Douglas Luiz's strike, direct from a corner, at Arsenal – but they should create chances against a faltering Forest defence.

The Tricky Trees dominated the headlines during the summer transfer window, bringing in 22 new signings, and at times they have looked like a group of players still learning each other's names.

They beat West Ham 1-0 in their first home fixture and conceded an 88th-minute equaliser at Everton in their following game but since then they have lost five out of five, shipping 18 goals.

An official announcement over Steve Cooper's future at the club was made on Friday but, instead of becoming the fifth top-flight manager to leave his position this term, the Welshman has signed a new contract until 2025.

He is hoping to celebrate that deal with a victory against Villa but backing both teams to score looks the most solid bet given that Forest blew half-time leads to lose 3-2 against fellow promoted clubs Fulham and Bournemouth in their last two home games.

As 6-5 favourites, Villa should be targeting maximum points against out-of-form hosts so this game could be more open than most of their early-season fixtures.

Cooper's men are unlikely to go into their shells and Forest right-back Neco Williams is worth a small bet at 12-1 to get on the scoresheet.

The Wales international is encouraged to get forward at every opportunity, racking up 11 attempts at goal in Forest's first four home Premier League matches and three more shots in August's draw at Everton.

Key stat

Nottingham Forest's last four Premier League games have featured 20 goals.

Inside info

Nottingham Forest

Penalty taker Brennan Johnson
Assist ace Morgan Gibbs-White
Set-piece aerial threat Ryan Yates
Card magnet Joe Worrall

Aston Villa

Penalty taker Ollie Watkins/Danny Ings
Assist ace Ollie Watkins
Set-piece aerial threat Tyrone Mings
Card magnet Douglas Luiz

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