Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa Premier League LIVE: Ola Aina’s low-driven long range strike stuns Unai Emery’s high-flyers in just the FIFTH minute as the hosts look to end winless run

Coming onto the ball, Aina put his foot right through that one!

He fires it past Emi Martinez into the bottom left corner of the goal – but really there wasn’t much that the 2023 Yashin Trophy winner could do about that!

It’s been a great start from Forest though, they’ve played some lovely football in the opening five minutes and get their reward.

What a start from Forest! Aina gets the breakthrough!

Some lovely football through the middle of the field here from Forest.

Awoniyi combines nicely with Dominguez, laying the Argentine up around 25-yards out from the penalty area before striking his shot just wide of the post.

Early chance for forest here, Niakhate with a long throw into the box but Villa manage to clear down field.

Former Forest star Brennan Johnson has opened up on his decision to move to Tottenham.

He said: ‘It was a really hard decision to make but it was the right time and the right club. It was the right decision.’

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The players are about to step out onto the field!

Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby line up for Villa today up front.

The duo have been in fine form of late and could be one of the most dangerous forward partnerships in the top-flight right now.

Watinks has returned nine goals and five assists in 14 appearances across all competitions, while Diaby has three goals and three assists this season.

And speaking on their partnerhsip, Curtis Davies said to Sky Sports: ‘I wouldn’t like to play against them.

‘They both find the goal, they both run at you. Ollie watkins has a physicality as well. They’re so confident at the moment. They have been given all of the tools to be in the right place to score goals.

‘Ollie Watkins is getting told to stay between posts, rather than running down the side like he used to Brentford . He’s getting in the box and he’s thriving from it.’

Steve Cooper has also spoken on the decision to drop goalkeeper Matt Turner for Odysseas Vlachodimos, who will make his debut for Forest.

He said to Sky Sports: ‘It felt like the right time. We’re pleased with Matt and we’ve got a strong goalkeeping department. It’s just a change that we feel is the rihgt one to make.

‘I made the call pretty early in the week. I spoke to Matt and he understood. We’re really pleased with him but there’s also some stuff we want to work on with him. Now we support Ode in his first game.’

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has lumped praise on Aston Villa, while revealing how his side can beat today’s opponents.

‘They are a great example of a club who have been back in the Premier League for a few years and have taken the time to look like they’re really going to become something.

‘The thing that will be difficult for us is that on the back of good form always comes confidence and momentum. It is what we all strive for and you only get it from positive results. So we’re playing them at the time when they’re on that good run of form and in sync with Unai Emery and his tactics.”

Steve Cooper’s side got the 2023-24 campaign off to a great start, winning two of their first four league fixtures.

Since then they have slumped, drawing four losing two of their subsequent matches.

Interestingly, they have failed to score a first-half goal in their past seven games.

Can they end that poor run today?

Aston Villa defeated Luton 3-1 last weekend with John McGinn, Moussa Diaby both scoring, while Tom Lockyer added the third with an own goal.

They’ll come into today’s match bounding in confidence having not been beaten by Forest in their last five outings…

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Aston Villa have climbed the league table in recent weeks and now have the chance to go fourth in the Premier League.

They’re unbeaten in six games and come into this match off the back of three straight victories.

But ahead of today’s clash at the City Ground, Emery said that he was trying to focus on one day at a time.

‘I always try to be focused in the moment. Last year we did work progressing as a team. I want to increase our level with them. I want to try to get another positive going ahead.’

On his side’s away from, Emery said: ‘We improved a lot at home. we are doing very good work at home . We have to try to play the same, getting confidence and feeling good. today is a good opportunity to get our best performance. That is always a massive challenge.’

Unai Emery meanwhile has named an unchanged team from the one that started against Luton last weekend.

Aston Villa starting XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne, McGinn, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, Zaniolo, Diaby, Watkins.

So Forest make three changes following their defeat by Liverpool last week.

Odysseas Vlachodimos starts in goal today replacing Matt Turner.

Danilo is back in the side following injury, while Harry Toffolo comes into the starting XI.

Forest starting XI: Vlachodimos, Aina, Niakhate, Murillo, Toffolo, Sangare, Mangala, Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Elanga, Awoniyi

Aston Villa come into today’s game in flying form having won all three of their last matches in all competitions.

They currently sit fifth in the table and a win today could put them two points ahead of Liverpool in fourth place – depending on the scores from this afternoon’s match between the Reds and Luton.

Meanwhile, Steve Cooper’s side come into this match off the back of a 3-0 defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s side last weekend at Anfield.

It was a tough game, that extended their winless run to six games on the bounce, but they will be hoping to undo that record this afternoon at the City Ground.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Nottingham Forest’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa.

Steve Cooper’s side are looking to end a seven-match winless streak, with their last Premier League victory coming back in September.

Unai Emery’s side come into this match in flying form, having been unbeaten in their last six outings across all competitions.

Stay tuned as we’ll have all the latest updates, commentary and team news ahead of the match coming up next!