I write as I am making the short trip to the East Midlands to watch Villa take on Forest at the City Ground – undoubtedly one of our most frustrating fixtures last season, where we conceded two late goals to lose the game 2-1. If my statistics serve me correctly, we have not won at the City Ground since 2018, a game I remember watching, which I believe ended 1-3 to Villa with Forest going one up.
I really think this is a must win, our fixtures are not too bad on paper until we face City and Liverpool at the end of the season, so we could really do with the race for CL football being wrapped up before those fixtures come around. Forest will be right up for it, they need to stay up, and let’s just be completely honest… all these relegation fighting clubs who berate Spurs are obsessed with the idea of them being relegated, and the same will happen next season when every Championship club will mock Spurs but sell out against them and play it like a cup final! Forest want points on the board to secure survival and send Spurs down, just like West Ham. All those relegation factors involved, I can see Forest being up for it.
I will go with the cliche view but I do really think this battle between two historic English football clubs will come down to who wants it more from the off, and Villa could do with getting off the mark early on. Team news suggests that Sancho and Kamara will miss this fixture, and Forest have a few injuries but the heart of their team will play today. Villa generally struggle against prolific and physical players, therefore taking Murillo, Gibbs-White and Jesus out of this game ought to be a top priority for Villa today, and who wins the midfield battle may determine the result of the match.
I’ll keep it a relatively short article as I am typing this on a mobile device, but I will go with a 1-2 Villa win and I back Watkins to get a goal contribution again!
Short journey to Nottingham with a Magners Cider in hand ready to watch the Villa, what can possibly go wrong? 😆
I think we’ll be up for this one today. The return of Youri and SJM has resulted in 3 wins on the trot, ignoring the friendly. Shame Sancho is out, and we all know about Kamara (Eff you, Spurs!).
This could go either way and I agree it’ll be a physical match, so SJM, Onana, Cash, Konsa will have to put themselves out a bit. Perhaps we’ll get that fabled penalty today!
I’m watching the first half, then we’re out for lunch so will watch the remainder on pause!!!
Hold onto your hats!!!!! UTV!!!!!
Can’t bare watching a game on pause! 😬
Me neither but no choice…
I think that not seeing Elliott on the bench is a message. Resting Konza and Buendía seems a good idea as well. I think Rogers must be on piecework.
23, Martínez, Goalkeeper
12, Digne, Defender
14, Torres, Defender
3, Lindelöf, Defender
2, Cash, Defender
8, Tielemans, Defensive Midfielder
24, Onana, Defensive Midfielder
27, Rogers, Attacking Midfielder
6, Barkley, Attacking Midfielder
7, McGinn, Attacking Midfielder
11, Watkins, Striker
Subs
L. Bailey
T. Abraham
M. Bizot
L. Bogarde
E. Buendía
Andrés García
E. Konsa
I. Maatsen
Douglas Luiz
So buzzing Lindelof is starting!
And Barkley actually, such a team player.
I’ll just settle for a 4th in a row two goal difference to the Villa.
Martinez out and Bizot in. How many times has this happened now? Is it purely coincidence?
So many times I’ve been on away days and this has happened… can name about 5.
Martinez doesn’t fancy this one then.
A big match today. I can’t call it, but really hope we win and Chelsea lose. Holte, it looks like Martinez can’t do 2 quick matches on the trot. Need to sell in the summer, despite him doing well this season.
No way should we sell Big Emi!
Been a physical game as expected.
Yessssssss!!!!!
WTF!!! Ollie was o side!!!???
I barely even moved I didn’t realise it was in. In third row from the front can’t see much just here for a good time 🤣
Yeeeasss come onnnn would be a massive win today UTMV
Bugger.
The origins of their goal was Roger’s giving the ball away 4 times in the trot within 2 minutes. Wake up
Fuckin Rodgers hasn’t played well for a while
Rogers has great moments in games but the number of times he loses the ball easily and puts us on the back foot is getting frustrating. If we are offered £100m in the summer, should we take it?
Yes. 100 clear, though. After Boro take their cut.
Times up for me on Rodgers , he doesn’t do enough in the game and loses the ball too many times, first 10 minutes in the game he lost it 3 times. Sorry, you like him not me.
Plays for 3 months a season. AWOL.
The 3 months were super, but needs to do more.
I think he gets his head turned when on the IB – his form after appearing for England is always disappointing.
I really can’t see us getting £100m but no doubt Villa will play hardball.
See what I mean, Rodger you twit.
Happy with a point here VIllains
UTMV
Just shows you Rodgers off. Emery again in his supperia vision played the wrong system. Take the blame Unai.
I will take the draw against Forest away. It is a positive result and another point towards Champions League. It also means Chelsea have to beat Man City to close the gap.
Take a point should of won tho
Seven clear of chelsea so cited could and should do us a favour
An own goal sums up our performance. Disappointing.
Don’t be too disappointed everyone plenty of twists and turns but we should be ok for top five
We had a couple of glorious chances to win the game. Rogers and Watkins were both guilty of blazing the ball over the bar when they should have scored. 1-1 isn’t a bad result but those missed chances are what separates us from being a title contender.
I didn’t see the game – well I did see just 10 minutes in the second half – as laying bl**dy great slabs at the behest of the mem sahib ably assisted by my SIL.
Don’t think I missed anything special but I’m OK with a draw at the Tricky Trees. Just keep the point total ticking along.
Hope Citeh dismantle Chelsea though as that would negate the ‘point advantage’ of their GD – we don’t want a repeat of last season!