Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest Prediction: Villa can edge Midlands battle

Aston Villa will look to take a step closer to securing Champions League football for next season when they host Nottingham Forest on Saturday at 15:00.

The Villans got back to winning ways last time out against Fulham and this weekend can secure back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since December.

Forest also head into this game on the back of a victory after earning a 2-0 home win over West Ham United last time out.

Villa suffered a 2-0 defeat at the City Ground back in November and Unai Emery’s side look capable of gaining their revenge this weekend.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, Villa will be without Ezri Konsa due to a knee injury, while Diego Carlos and Jhon Duran are both recovering from hamstring issues.

Boubacar Kamara, Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings are all long-term absentees for the Villans.

As for Forest, Ibrahim Sangare, Willy Boly and Ola Aina are all sidelined with injuries sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo also has concerns regarding Chris Wood and Gonzalo Montiel, who are both dealing with thigh issues.

Divock Origi is in line to start, if Taiwo Awoniyi fails to recover from the knock he picked up against West Ham last time out.

Match Odds

Aston Villa are the favourites at 8/15 in the match result market to claim all three points, whereas Forest are 5/1 to head back east across the Midlands with the spoils.

A draw at Villa Park is available at 10/3, while over 3.5 total goals in the game is currently 11/8.

Aston Villa to win and both teams to score @ 9/5

Villa have been inconsistent of late but have been saved by the fact those teams around them in the table have largely been in the same boat.

The Villans’ 2-1 win at Craven Cottage was important to stop the rot and now Emery will be looking for consistency over the coming weeks.

Forest have only won one of their last five Premier League games and Villa should have too much quality for the Reds on Saturday.

However, Forest have scored in all of their last eight league games and it would be no surprise to see them get on the scoresheet, even if they do come away from Birmingham with a defeat.

#PickYourPunt - Ollie Watkins and Callum Hudson-Odoi to score anytime @ 7/1

Under the proviso both teams can get on the scoresheet on Saturday, Ollie Watkins and Callum Hudson-Odoi are the standout candidates to find the back of the net.

Watkins bagged himself a brace last time out against Fulham, while former Chelsea starlet Hudson-Odoi has scored in all of Forest’s last three Premier League games.

The pair both getting on the scoresheet using Betfred’s #PickYourPunt is an attractive 7/1.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.