Aston Villa versus Nottingham Forest has become a fixture with genuine pattern and history in recent seasons — and reviewing the head-to-head provides useful context for Sunday's GW30 encounter at The City Ground. The recent meetings: Villa have won the majority of their Premier League encounters with Forest — but not all, and not always comfortably. Forest at home have produced the most competitive performances, particularly in the first half of matches where the crowd and the physical intensity of The City Ground creates an environment that can disorganise even well-prepared opponents. The common Villa approach against Forest: patience. Do not be drawn into Forest's direct style early. Weather the first 25 minutes. Use Watkins' movement to create chances when Forest's organisation begins to settle. Forest's most successful approach against Villa: set pieces. Dead balls have produced the majority of Forest's goals against Villa in recent meetings. Defensive concentration from Villa is essential. Emery's record in this specific fixture type — the compact away game against a physically direct opponent who seeks to disrupt — is among the best of any Premier League manager. He rarely loses these games. Sunday continues the series. Based on history, Villa should — and will — win. 📅 Sun 12 Apr, 05:00 UTC | The City Ground 🏆 GW30 | Head-to-Head History