Match Report
21 points for Aston Villa (2nd), 14 for Nottingham Forest (13th): a 7-point gap. Scoring rates set the scale: Aston Villa 1.75 scored and 0.75 conceded per game, Nottingham Forest 1.88 and 0.88, with the league averaging 1.34.
Aston Villa entered with three losses in a row. Nottingham Forest had won five straight, having scored in 9 consecutive games. The last-five ledger: Aston Villa 6/15, Nottingham Forest 15/15.
15 meetings are on record — 7 won by Aston Villa, 4 by Nottingham Forest, 4 drawn, at 3.33 goals per meeting. History points to goals: 60% of the meetings had three or more, and both sides scored in 73%.
Villa Park staged the fixture, a ground that holds 42,640. On the scoreboard, Aston Villa led 1-0 at the break; 3 second-half goals set the final 4-0.
Goal scorers
Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins (36'), Emiliano Buendía (58'), John McGinn (77'), John McGinn (80')
Key stats
Possession: Aston Villa 51% · Nottingham Forest 49% · Total shots: 18-7 · On target: 10-2 · Corners: 6-3