Pundits all predict same score as 'lackadaisical' Aston Villa man slated ahead of Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa go to the City Ground looking for their first away win at Nottingham Forest in five years and first in the top flight since January 1995 – when Dean Saunders was still banging them in.
The teams have met in the Championship and knockout tournaments more recently but Forest’s time out of the top tier has made this a relatively uncommon fixture.
However, the teams are very much back together now, side by side in the Premier League table and arguably both coveting the same European football qualifying spots. They meet in an tea-time kick-off level on points and both coming off the back of victories.
Which is probably why the pundits can’t separate them. Chris Sutton Paul Merson and Harry Redknapp have all predicted exactly the same scoreline.
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“This is fifth versus sixth, and I am expecting it to be close,” Sutton told BBC Sport.
“Aston Villa have found some form again recently, but this is another test of their squad after a Champions League game in midweek, something they have struggled with previously.
“I tend to back Nottingham Forest when they are at home but they seem just as good on their travels these days, maybe because they like to play on the counter-attack.
“I don't think they will lose this but I don't want to back against Villa either, so a draw seems like the most likely outcome, doesn't it? Sutton's prediction: 1-1.”
Former Villa midfielder Merson also predicted the same scoreline – while criticising forward Ollie Watkins for his last Premier League appearance.
“Nottingham Forest had a great result beating Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend,” Merson told Sportskeeda. “Going back to what I said earlier, Forest are a team that don’t draw a lot of games and that has helped them in the table.
“In their last eight league games they have won five and lost three. Imagine if they had drawn all them games instead? They wouldn’t be sitting fifth-place now! That’s my point.
“Aston Villa are slowly turning a corner, without being at their very best I must say. This is a hard game for both teams and I don’t expect many goals in it either. These two are level on points and have the same number of wins, draws and losses from their 15 games so far this season.
“A win might go a long way to determining who among these two will push hard for a European berth.
“Personally, I would still prefer to use Ollie Watkins as a starter in this Villa side. It’s simply because he doesn’t have the same impact as Jhon Duran while coming off the bench.
"He came off the bench against Southampton and did not leave a great impression, looking slightly lackadaisical up front. Duran on the other hand has been excellent off the bench and I want him to play that role again. Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1 Aston Villa 1.”
Meanwhile former Birmingham City boss Redknapp preferred to focus on Morgan Gibbs-White – while also not being able to split the clubs.
“Nottingham Forest are playing so well right now, they were superb against Manchester United last week. They’ve got a nice balance in the side, solid at the back with some real quality on the break,” Redknapp told BetVictor.
“It’s been an important week for Aston Villa. They got a narrow win over Southampton and that dramatic win against RB Leipzig in the week, they needed that.
“I really can’t split these two in current form. I’ve been so impressed by Forest; I think they’ll get a point at home. One to watch - I think Morgan Gibbs-White is a joy to watch when he’s at his form. He got a goal at Old Trafford and is usually involved in everything Forest do. Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa ”
