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Sutton's predictions: Aston Villa v Nottingham Forestpublished at 08:43 BST 12 September
08:43 BST 12 September
This is a hard one because while Aston Villa still haven't won or scored in the Premier League, they got a good win over Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Nicolas Jackson got off the mark in that game and, although his finishing can be erratic, he's the kind of player who will mature and get better every season. I think he will do well for them.
Forest are also yet to win. I know there was controversy over Neco Williams' disallowed goal in their draw against Tottenham last time out but I do think they got the decision right in the end.
This is going to be close and I am tempted to go for another Forest draw, but Villa are obviously going to score in the Premier League at some point so I'll be brave and say they will edge it.
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:34 BST 11 September
19:34 BST 11 September
Noel Sliney BBC Sport senior journalist
Four days after kick-starting their season by beating Club Brugge in the Champions League, Aston Villa host a Nottingham Forest side similarly in a period of adaptation and without a top-flight win this season.
Villa spark?
Villa's slow start to the current campaign has prompted comparisons with the previous one, when they didn't score until their fifth league game but then ground out a hard-earned European victory against limited opponents. That sparked a remarkable run of 17 wins in 19 matches.
The difference this season is that, aside from the abysmal opening defeat by Brighton, Villa are at least showing an identity they lacked during the early malaise of 2025-26.
Their defensive structure has been swiftly remedied by Unai Emery, while a gradual improvement in the team's attacking play was accelerated against Brugge on Tuesday.
Expensive summer signings Ibrahim Mbaye and Ballon d'Or Young Talent of the Year nominee Johan Manzambi are still to come into the side too – both could make their debuts on Saturday as Villa seek to avoid becoming the first team in English league history to go goalless in their opening four games in successive seasons.
The Villans are on a run of six successive Premier League home wins against Forest and dismantled the visitors 4-0 to reach the Europa League final when the sides last met four months ago. However, six of Villa's starting XI that night, and nine of the 16 players used, are no longer at the club.
Glasner the difference-maker?
While Forest have not beaten Aston Villa away since 1994 and are winless after their opening three Premier League matches for the first time, Oliver Glasner might view this as the ideal fixture to bring his first victory in charge.
Glasner is kryptonite to Villa and Emery, with the Austrian unbeaten in all seven meetings and with an aggregate scoreline of 19-4 in his favour – all while at Crystal Palace. That sequence includes two victories at Villa Park during a 41-match home spell in which the Birmingham side were otherwise unbeaten.
Glasner has only ever enjoyed one longer unbeaten run against a manager, and he has never fared better versus a counterpart without ever losing. Similarly, it is the longest streak Emery has ever endured against another manager without winning.
The wing-back system that Glasner implemented at Palace and now Forest stretches Aston Villa's narrow set-up, while quick and willing runners on the counter-attack leave Emery's side vulnerable defensively.
Forest are not fully firing yet under Glasner but the Austrian has expressed his satisfaction with the club's dealings in the summer transfer window as he configures the squad to his blueprint.
Garnacho will improve at Villa - Emerypublished at 17:31 BST 11 September
17:31 BST 11 September
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery admits Alejandro Garnacho is yet to find his form but believes the Chelsea loanee is improving.
The forward has played just 31 minutes this season after arriving from Stamford Bridge in the summer with Emery preferring academy graduate George Hemmings.
He was an unused substitute in Tuesday's 3-2 Champions League win at Club Brugge but Emery expects the 22-year-old to make an impact at Villa Park.
"First is positive - his attitude. His attitude is very important, he is getting the commitment we need to achieve it," Emery said, before Saturday's visit of Nottingham Forest.
"Now he needs time. Time, hard work every day, and he is showing it with his attitude. Then, everything he is progressing.
"Every training session we are doing, he is showing he can play matches. He played a few minutes, but it was not enough, firstly due to the minutes he played and the things he showed.
"Progressively, I am seeing him better. The most important thing is being consistent and demanding through the attitude he has. Then, I believe and I trust that he will achieve his best performance."
Emery has started just three of his summer signings in the Premier League so far - Zion Suzuki, Joao Gomes and Nicolas Jackson - as he eases his 10 new boys in.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka also started in Belgium, with Matty Cash suffering a muscle problem, and Emery believes they will take time to gel.
He said: "We are in two sides at the same time, being involved in a process. One is to compete in each competition. The Premier League is the priority.
"We must get our performance as soon as possible in the structure we have and with the players we have, knowing each other and how we want to perform.
"The second side we have is that we have to build a team with the new players we have. Have we achieved it? Not yet."
Emery on Garnacho, progress and Forestpublished at 15:38 BST 11 September
15:38 BST 11 September
Melissa Edwards BBC Sport journalist
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Alejandro Garnacho still "needs time" to settle in but is showing a "positive attitude". Emery added: "Every training session we are doing, he is showing he can play matches. He played a few minutes, but it was not enough. But, progressively, I am seeing him better. The most important thing is being consistent and demanding through the attitude he has. Then, I believe and I trust that he will achieve his best performance progressively."
Emery said his priority is rebuilding the squad and adapting the new players by utilising the work he has done over the past three years at the club because, the "idea and plan is not changing".
He also said that players such as Tyrone Mings, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash are "very important" in helping the new players adjust to the team.
George Hemmings made his Champions League debut on Tuesday and Emery said the 19-year-old midfielder is one of the young players already showing potential and "performing at the level more or less we want".
When asked whether he is seeing progress in his side away from matchdays, Emery said: "Yes, but obviously we are not showing it on the field playing games. Everything we are working [on] tomorrow will be on the pitch. Of course, we are starting to play during the week - three matches a week. This is the process when you're not training so much and you must rest and try to adapt the new players in training work. We're in this process but it's necessary to show tomorrow how we're improving."
Nottingham Forest are also in a period of change after a busy transfer window, which included recruiting manager Oliver Glasner after he left Crystal Palace. Emery said: "Nottingham Forest and us, we know each other so well because we've played a lot of times in the Premier League and last year in the Europa League. The new coach is trying to settle his structure and ideas as well. His coaching is fantastic. He did brilliantly at Crystal Palace and before in Germany. He is a successful coach and very, very competitive. We always struggle playing against Glasner."
He added: "I am expecting a very difficult match, 90 minutes playing consistently from our gameplan and resilience when we need it. And trying to improve things, adapt to them and compete in the way we need - while respecting Nottingham Forest as a team and respecting his coaching."
Why does Emery not start Abraham?published at 16:16 BST 10 September
16:16 BST 10 September
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
The role of forward Tammy Abraham under Unai Emery has been the subject of several questions sent in via our Aston Villa Ask Me Anything form, with some of you wondering why he does not get more starts.
The short answer is Abraham has not done enough to convince the manager he is worthy of a regular starting spot.
Villa needed a striker in January and since Abraham was available for a decent price and knew the club - something which was crucial for Emery - he was seen as a good option and he returned to the West Midlands, following his 2018-19 loan from Chelsea, for £18.25m from Besiktas.
It was a positive move for the 28-year-old too because, at the time, he felt being back in the Premier League would give him a better chance of an England recall.
But just three goals in 16 appearances last season was not enough to prove to Emery he was able to deliver on a regular basis - so much so that the head coach was willing to let Abraham leave this summer, with the forward rejecting Ipswich and Everton.
Abraham has been happy at Villa and BBC Sport reported in July he was not looking to leave and wanted to fight for his place.
Therefore, Emery issued a challenge to him now the window has closed: show me you can improve and do what I need.
Nicolas Jackson is first choice and when Brian Madjo is back from injury Abraham could be third choice, so it will be an interesting few months before the winter window.
Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.
We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.
Premier League releases festive football schedulepublished at 16:14 BST 10 September
16:14 BST 10 September
Image source, Getty Images
The Premier League has announced it will stage seven matches on Boxing Day this year after releasing its festive schedule.
Four fixtures will be staged at 15:00 GMT, with further matches played at 12:30, 17:30 and 20:00.
The fixture programme for 26 December, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, is considerably bigger than last year, when one game was held.
Three matches will be played on Sunday, 27 December, while three further rounds of games will be held over a period up to Thursday, 7 January.
A round of evening midweek fixtures will staged on 29-30 December, while Leeds will host Everton (20:00) for the only match on New Year's Day.
The remainder of that round will be held over the weekend of 2-3 January, with the fourth round of games spread across the evenings of 5-7 January.
The Premier League has brought forward the announcement of fixture scheduling over the Christmas and New Year period after consultation with both broadcast partners and the Football Supporters' Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards.
Television scheduling for Premier League fixtures has been announced up to Monday, 2 November, with broadcast selections for the remaining games in November and December to be announced in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October respectively.
The Premier League has guaranteed clubs at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the festive period to address the concerns over a congested festive schedule that follows recent expansions of the European and international calendars.
Rob: A performance that gives us hope for the season ahead. Great displays right across the team with the added bonus of accomplished cameos from Alysson, Lamare Bogarde and Ross Barkley off the bench. John McGinn, Joao Gomes and Boubacar Kamara looked composed throughout, and Zion Suzuki showed his quality once again. The future is bright.
Prit: Villa finally got their season going. It was a very well-deserved victory and despite hanging on for the last half hour, Villa fully deserved the three points. Good to see Nicolas Jackson get his first goal, a commanding performance by Pau Torres and Joao Gomes was very self-assured - he just needs to cut out the bookings.
Ged: A decent performance at a very tricky venue against a good team. Club Brugge rarely lose at home. Some standout performances for Villa, and Jackson earned his goal - he ran his heart out this match.
Marshall: Aston Villa were too negative, passing around at the back instead of attacking. They do it too often when there are better options available.
Dennice: Still shaky, but it feels good to start winning this season, and winning away from home in the Champions League is the icing on the cake. Hopefully the lads will be boosted by this result when we host Nottingham Forest over the weekend.
Darren: Good to get a win and a few goals. Villa were very good in patches, but also showed that we are still trying to evolve and gel as a team and that it will take time.
Arsenal wrongly denied penalty at Villa and Maatsen escaped red - panelpublished at 11:03 BST 9 September
11:03 BST 9 September
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty at Aston Villa for Ian Maatsen's challenge on Bruno Guimaraes, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has ruled.
The KMI Panel added that the Villa defender should also have received a second yellow card for the foul, and been sent off.
The Gunners were leading 1-0 eight minutes into stoppage time when Guimaraes broke into the box and Maatsen made a desperate attempt to stop the Brazil international getting his shot away.
The KMI Panel voted 5:0 that it was an on-field error by referee Jarred Gillett, and a missed intervention by video assistant referee James Bell.
"Clear contact was made on the attacker's standing leg and Maatsen made no contact with the ball," the KMI Panel said.
It added that "the challenge was reckless and therefore a second caution should have been awarded".
It is the first refereeing error logged for Arsenal since the VAR failed to intervene to overturn Myles Lewis-Skelly's red card against Wolves in January 2025.
Brugge win 'can't be underestimated' - Nevinpublished at 09:36 BST 9 September
09:36 BST 9 September
Image source, Getty Images
Former Chelsea and Everton winger Pat Nevin says you "can't underestimate the importance" of Aston Villa's 3-2 Champions League win over Club Brugge on Tuesday "for their entire season".
Villa breathed life into their season as they edged to a narrow Champions League victory which marked their first win and first goals of the campaign.
"Just to score some goals is important for Villa," Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"That does really work on the confidence of the players.
"When the confidence is flowing and you're scoring goals it becomes kind of easy and you pass it in and don't think about it. But, for a team that can also happen.
"The fact they hadn't scored a goal so far this season and so many important and vital players had left the club - it was always going to have a huge effect of the teams' confidence. They needed something to lift them very quickly.
"I don't think you can't underestimate the importance of the win, not just for the Champions League but for their entire season. Particularly to also get three goals and for their new striker Nicolas Jackson to score too.
"I do always hope the very best for them because the attitude is great. The manager is brilliant with what he does, he doesn't seem to complain too much even when it's all ripped out from underneath him for financial reasons.
"But, I still think in reality it is going to be a tough season for Villa fans."
Belgium battle could be a blessingpublished at 08:19 BST 9 September
08:19 BST 9 September
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It is a new chapter for Aston Villa and, against Club Brugge, they turned the page.
A first win of the season, albeit more nervy than anticipated, lit the spark for Unai Emery's side.
The visitors were in a commanding and deserved position at half-time, John McGinn's opener making him the club's all-time record European goalscorer with 12.
Emi Buendia's strike and Nicolas Jackson's first Villa goal - benefiting from Yann Sommer's rush of blood - had them cruising.
Brugge were poor and George Hemmings, Villa's first Champions League/European Cup teenage starter in 43 years, could have had at least one.
Yet the hosts made it uncomfortable for Unai Emery's men with Nicolo Tresoldi's penalty after Aaron Wan-Bissaka's blatant handball setting up an anxious last half an hour, during which Tresoldi hit the post.
It can be viewed as a blessing in disguise that Villa had to battle their way through and ride out the hosts' pressure to earn their first win of the season - adding the grit and determination to the quality of the opening half to prove they can get the job done.
Not that they needed the evidence themselves, Emery and his squad always have that faith and the internal desire to progress no matter the obstacle.
It was the same last season. A below-par 1-0 win over limited Bologna - thanks to another McGinn goal - got Villa going and they hardly looked back.
The victory kicked off the staggering run of 17 wins in 20 games which formed the backbone of returning to the Champions League and giving Villa momentum to win the Europa League.
Since then, of course, Villa's spine has been torn out and Emery has to integrate 10 new players into his methodical methods.
Three points in Brugge may not spark another relentless run but it gives Emery and Villa the foundations of this new era.
Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa: What Emery and McGinn saidpublished at 21:26 BST 8 September
21:26 BST 8 September
Media caption,
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking after Villa's 3-2 victory over Club Brugge: "I am so happy today. Thankfully, because we know how we are in the way. What the responsibility we have and I have. But the players as well they have responsibility.
"They need to to keep our standards high to show everybody this is the way that we can achieve the process in our targets and, of course, we are improving after Brighton, after Arsenal, after Hull City. Today another step forward.
"Collectively, tactically, the structure, individually, this victory is through it and, of course, we must work hard. It is the only way. This is the process that we must try to set strong [standards]. Today we did one very important step forward to show it and be resilient in the second half when we were struggling.
"Of course, very important for this Champions League to start with those three points. Hopefully, it gives us confidence for the next matches in the league. Saturday Nottingham Forest, then Carabao Cup, then Tottenham.
"Nicolas Jackson very important [goal] for him. Progressively getting minutes with some players, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, after the injury of Cash it was very important, but he was so tired.
"Again, a good match played Hemmings, again he is improving. We must try to add more players, new players in this structure, this demand and this process we are."
Aston Villa captain John McGinn, speaking to Uefa: "It's a new Villa and it was a big test for the new players to dig in.
"It was Joao Gomes and George Hemmings' first Champions League game.
"It's not easy to go away at a place like this in difficult weather conditions. Club Brugge were pushing and pushing and pushing and we had to stand strong. We managed to do that.
"It was so important to show a real gritty performance and get a victory at a very, very tough place to play."
Did you know?
Aston Villa have won 18 of their 28 matches across the Champions League and European Cup, with their 64.3% win percentage the best of any team in the competition's history to play 10+ matches.
John McGinn netted his 12th goal in major European competitions for Aston Villa, surpassing Ollie Watkins to become the all-time leading goalscorer for the Villans in Europe.
Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa: How the players ratedpublished at 20:20 BST 8 September
20:20 BST 8 September
Aston Villa XI:
Zion Suzuki: One solid early save denied Jan Virgili but he could not stop Hugo Vetlesen's leveller and was sent the wrong way by Nicolo Tresoldi for Club Brugge's penalty. 6
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: A full debut for the right-back - in place of the injured Matty Cash. He could not stop the cross for Brugge's equaliser and conceded the second-half penalty. 5
Pau Torres: His run through the absent Brugge midfield set up John McGinn's opener, and he helped Villa ride out the pressure as the hosts chased a leveller. 7
Victor Lindelof: The defender has rarely let Villa down since his arrival on a free last summer, and was solid once again in Belgium. 7
Ian Maatsen: Booked early for dissent after failing to win a throw-in so had to walk a tightrope but did that well and held firm as Brugge pushed. 6
Joao Gomes: Returned for the first time since his opening-day red card and set up Emi Buendia to score. 6
Boubacar Kamara: The midfielder made more passes than any other Villa player and tried to keep things ticking in the centre while battling second-half Brugge pressure. 7
John McGinn: The captain scored Villa's first goal of the season with a fine strike and forced Yann Sommer into a save. He is now the club's highest scorer in Europe with 12. 8
Emi Buendia: Shot wide early but netted his first since scoring in the Europa League final in May and remains crucial to the Villa rebuild. 7
George Hemmings: The first teenager to start for Villa in Europe's elite competition since 1983 should have marked the occasion with an early goal. 6
Nicolas Jackson: The striker helped start the move for Buendia's goal and scored his first Villa goal after benefiting from Sommer's rush of blood. 7
Aston Villa substitutes:
Lamare Bogarde (on 68, Wan-Bissaka): 6
Alysson (on 68, Buendia): 6
Ross Barkley (on 68, Kamara): 6
Tammy Abraham (on 81, Jackson): 6
Subs not used: Marco Bizot, James Wright, Tyrone Mings, Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho, Ibrahim Mbaye.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Champions League commentary on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Porto v Manchester City" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Man City match".
Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.
Emery nominated for Ballon d'Or coach of the yearpublished at 16:28 BST 8 September
16:28 BST 8 September
Image source, Getty Images
Unai Emery has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or Men's Coach of the Year award.
The Villa manager ended the club's 30-year wait for a trophy by winning the Europa League in May and delivered a fourth-place Premier League finish.
Johan Manzambi, who signed from Freiburg in the summer for a club record fee of just over £50m, has also been nominated for Men's Young Talent of the Year.
The ceremony will take place on Monday, 26 October 2026.
Jackson scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for Chelsea, but the stats slightly favour Watkins across the period when they both played in the Premier League between 2023 and 2025.
In his first Premier League season, the 25-year-old scored 14 goals and contributed five assists, compared with Watkins' 19 goals and 13 assists.
In 2024-25, Jackson scored 10 goals to Watkins' 16 in 382 fewer minutes. He only had eight fewer shots, but his conversion rate of 13.2% was inferior to Watkins' 19.1%.
Yet Jackson's time at Bayern Munich - helping them win the Bundesliga last season - gave him a 21.1% conversion rate, scoring eight goals in 1,004 minutes of game time.
It is why Emery trusts Jackson, but the unknown is being able to gel a new core of players together, however high their potential.
Between them, Watkins and Morgan Rogers scored 46% of Villa's goals in the Premier League last season.
Rogers and Lucas Digne provided 12 assists, with Youri Tielemans adding four and Watkins three.
All four have left, so 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye and Chelsea loanee Garnacho will be expected to be the supply line, with Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham supporting Jackson.
Image source, BBC Sport
