The Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest game saw the hosts dominate, and win the game 3-1.
A fourth consecutive defeat for Nottingham Forest sees them well beaten by the title-challenging Aston Villa. Ollie Watkins’ fine finish and John McGinn’s first Villa double since 2019 saw the Villans continue their march forward in the Premier League title fight.
The only spark for Forest was skipper Morgan Gibbs-White getting on the scoresheet as the Reds’ defensive woes continue to plague them in their current winless run.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest 3-1: McGinn Brace Lifts Villa Above Manchester City
Even though Aston Villa threw everything at Nottingham Forest, the visitors held firm and were thankful to goalkeeper John Victor bailing them out on several occasions.
Sean Dyche’s men made rare flurries into the Villa half as they looked to utilise the long ball tactic to set away forward Igor Jesus.
However, the Brazilian was starved of any real service and still only holds one Premier League goal this season.
At the end of the first half, the Villans finally got the goal they deserved after yet another goal from outside of the box.
Villa’s Watkins in form once again as he found the back of the net for the third game running, smashing the ball past an outstretched Victor to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at the break.
Four minutes into the second half of the Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest game, Villa skipper John McGinn, back in the starting 11 after starting on the bench in the 4-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders Arsenal, made sure his name was in the headlines as he got his goal and doubled his side’s advantage.
Forest managed to get a goal back just after the hour mark as captain Gibbs-White took the responsibility onto his own shoulders.
The Reds’ number 10 was slid through by Dilane Bakwa and barred down on goal before lifting the ball over Emiliano Martinez and into the top corner of the net.
However, with about 15 minutes to go, it was game, set and match for Villa as a costly error from Victor saw the ball fall for McGinn as he grabbed his brace and the Villans’ third as they ran out 3-1 winners.
Forest making costly errors were obviously going to be punished against a side fighting for the title, and Villa put on a title-worthy display with class attacking play and a defensively sound performance.
Forest’s Struggles Continue As Winless Run Goes On
After Fulham, Manchester City and Everton over the Christmas period, this loss makes it four games without a win for Nottingham Forest.
People could put it down to their defensive struggles, conceding 33 goals from 20 Premier League matches, but the problem goes down to their inability to score goals.
Scoring less than a goal a game, the Reds have clearly struggled to replace the goals of Chris Wood last season as the New Zealander continues to be sidelined by a knee injury.
No one has gotten close to having that fox-in-the-box instinct that Wood has, but once again, it has to be said that there simply hasn’t been the service to the forward players for something like that to happen.
Morgan Gibbs-White leads the way with four goals, but that is so far short of what Forest need and what they lack currently is some grit, fire and determination.
Obviously, battles against teams like Manchester City and Aston Villa are never going to be easy; however, when you face teams near you in the league table, you have to be able to rely on some of your summer acquisitions to get you them goals and to pull you away from the relegation dogfight.
With that being said, Wolves’ first win of the season came against Forest’s relegation-fighting opponents, West Ham, and that’s who the Reds face next in the Premier League in an almighty six-pointer at the London Stadium.
Defensively, Forest don’t look too bad, but it is the goals of Chris Wood that need to be replaced before it is too late and they find themselves in the relegation zone again.
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McGinn Back In The Goals And Leading By Example
A McGinn brace seven years in the making as Aston Villa’s captain leads by example once again after coming back into the starting 11.
Villa’s number seven has been one of the stars in the West Midlands for the last seven seasons and his sheer consistency speaks volumes about the sort of professional that he is.
Reaching his goal contribution numbers from last season in 14 fewer games also shows that McGinn has been able to find himself in regular attacking positions and benefit from the creativity of wide players like Morgan Rogers and Matty Cash, but also the unselfishness of Watkins.
The diminutive midfielder’s best season in a Villa shirt was his first one, where he notched up seven goals and nine assists, and he could reach those levels with his role in the side being one of a wide midfielder that drifts in-field.
In Unai Emery’s system, McGinn is a key figure when it comes to transitions from defence to attack and also from attack and defence.
The Scotland international’s role allows him that freedom to make runs down the channel and have the ability to cut inside into a more advanced number 10 role.
With Emiliano Buendia and Rogers alongside him, he is often able to swap positions with the aforementioned Argentine and use his creativity, but also his pressing to keep his side on the front foot.
His last brace was against the same opponents back when Villa were in the Championship, so this double for McGinn was a long time in the making, but it was certainly worth the wait as his side continue their march towards the Premier League trophy.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
Recording Date: 03.01.2026
