Aston Villa lost ground in the race for the Premier League title when they were beaten 4-1 by leaders Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday.
However, Unai Emery’s side have won their last seven league games at Villa Park, so they will be confident that they can get back to winning ways against Nottm Forest.
The visitors have issues at the other end of the table after four defeats in their last five league games and need to keep their distance away from the relegation zone.
Team news
Villa’s Evann Guessand is at the Africa Cup of Nations, but the hosts will be boosted by both Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara being available after they missed the game at Arsenal through suspension.
Ross Barkley, Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings are injured, while Forest have both Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare in Morocco on international duty.
Chris Wood, Ryan Yates and Ola Aina are all injured for the Tricky Trees, but hopes are high that Dan Ndoye will be available after a late fitness test.
The stats
Ten of Villa’s last 11 matches have featured at least three goals, and they had won 11 successive games before they were beaten by Arsenal on Tuesday.
Emery’s side have scored at least twice in 10 of their last 12 matches.
Forest have lost four of their last five Premier League games.
Both teams have scored in four of the last six occasions these two teams met, but both teams have found the net in just one of Forest’s last eight league away matches.
Prediction
Villa’s defeat at Arsenal on Tuesday was a big blow, but they completely merit their standing at third in the table, and it should not take them much to get back on the horse and see off Forest on Saturday.
The Villans made a slow start to the campaign with a goalless home draw against Newcastle, and they then lost 3-0 on their own patch to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.
However, they have had a perfect record on home turf since then, beating the two teams above them in the table, Man City and the Gunners.
They have a strong attack, with Ollie Watkins back full of confidence following three goals in his last two matches, including a brace in the impressive 2-1 victory at Chelsea, while Morgan Rogers has once again been an outstanding performer.
Forest were limp in a 2-0 home loss to Everton on Tuesday and need to get their act together with third-from-bottom West Ham just four points behind them, but their defence is likely to be severely tested, and Villa could run in more than two goals as they get back on track.
