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Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest: Crucial six-point swing at Villa Park, predicted XI

By Josh Tonti

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25: James Chester of Aston Villa during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Birmingham City at Villa Park on November 25, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25: James Chester of Aston Villa during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Birmingham City at Villa Park on November 25, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Forest have been one of the EFL Championship’s pleasant surprises on the season, with a record of 7 wins, 9 draws, and 4 losses. Aitor Karanka has his team just 1 point outside a playoff spot.

With a heavy schedule of difficult fixtures coming, it’s important that Aston Villa keeps the train moving on Wednesday against Nottingham Forest.

But this isn’t the same Forest of years past; manager Aitor Karanka has his club – so far – as serious promotion contenders.

Despite not being highly-regarded entering the year, the veteran-led squad is producing results. Ex-Villan of 6 months Lewis Grabban leads Forest in scoring with ten league goals, followed by midfielder Joe Lolley on 5.

Other notable over-30-somethings receiving minutes include, Adlène Guedioura, Daniel Fox, Daryl Murphy, Michael Dawson, and goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon. Midfielder Claudio Yacob featured in Saturday’s victory over Hull City.

For Villa it’s mostly status quo on the injury front, with the added caveat that Albert Adomah was injured in Sunday’s win. He was in a walking boot post-match so it’s safe to assume he won’t take part in this one, but the boot is often an early precautionary protection measure as well. We should know more during Dean Smith’s post-match press conference.

Aston Villa Predicted XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Hutton, Tuanzebe, Chester, Taylor; Hourihane, McGinn, Grealish; Bolasie, Abraham, Kodjia.

Substitutes: Bunn, Bree, Elmohamady, Whelan, O’Hare, El Ghazi, Hogan. 

Mile Jedinak is still believed to be sidelined, as is Henri Lansbury, who was forced off after 8 minutes at the weekend. If John McGinn still can’t go, Glenn Whelan will retain his place in the starting XI.

With injuries, Anwar El Ghazi and Callum O’Hare stay on bench with a chance to impress late in-game. There is one more bench spot up-for-grabs with Adomah missing. That should go to James Bree if he is fit. Otherwise, we could be looking at another Academy prospect earning the call.

Next. Kodjia Stepping-Up For Villa. dark

WHEN: Wednesday, 28 November, 2018 @ 19:45 GMT / 2:45 p.m. EST

WHERE: Villa Park

PREDICTION: 3-2 Aston Villa victory (Abraham, Tuanzebe, Grealish)

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