One of these clubs is looking at Champions League football and probably want their manager to sign a 10-year contract. In the opposite dugout, Sean Dyche might be lucky to last 10 more games if he cannot halt Nottingham Forest’s worrying slide.
2025/2026 Premier League
3-1
Match Events
Villa were searching for a reaction after their 11-game winning streak was ended by Arsenal last time out but extending their unbeaten run at Villa Park to eight games, momentarily lifting them above Manchester City into second in the Premier Leugue table, was the perfect remedy.
It had the makings of a frustrating afternoon for Villa after dominating 79 per cent of the ball in the first half but only recording one shot on target - until Ollie Watkins fired an emphatic effort into the top corner just before the break.
The striker, who has responded to his slow start to the season with four goals in three games, missed a golden chance to put Villa ahead in just the second minute but rectified the miss, which had an expected goals value of 0.61 xG, with his long-range strike to break the deadlock.
Captain John McGinn quickly netted a second for the hosts after the restart but their momentum and the atmosphere at Villa Park were blunted when Morgan Gibbs-White pulled one back for Forest just after the hour mark.
However, any hopes of a comeback were ended when John Victor inexplicably rushed out of his area to try and dispossess McGinn, who curled home his second of the afternoon from long range with the goalkeeper nowhere to be seen.
The win gives Unai Emery's side a 12-point gap on Chelsea in fifth, while a fourth defeat in a row for Forest leaves them within touching distance of West Ham in 18th ahead of their meeting, live on Sky Sports, on January 6.
Forest's last trip to Villa Park in April arrived with the club sat in third place. From battling for Champions League football to fighting for survival in less than nine months.
Line-ups
Aston Villa XI: E. Martinez, Lindelof, McGinn, Tielemans, Ollie Watkins, Buendia, Kamara, Ngoyo, Matty Cash, Morgan Rogers, Maatsen
Subs: Marco Bizot, Digne, Sancho, Malen, Lamare Bogarde, Andrés García, Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, TJ Carroll, George Hemmings
Nottingham Forest XI: Aina, John Victor, Elliot Anderson, Milenkovic, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Neco Williams, Dilane Bakwa, Igor Jesus, Omari Hutchinson, Murillo
Subs: Sels, Zinchenko, Taiwo Awoniyi, Douglas Luiz, Muinga, Morato, McAtee, Nicolò Savona, Zach Abbott