Aston villa in danger as their key player Emi Martinez has been suspended due to…

Despite dropping points in five of their last eight Premier League games, Aston Villa remain in pole position in the race to finish fourth.

Tottenham and Manchester United are hot on Villa’s heels though, so Unai Emery will be demanding his players build on last weekend’s 2-1 victory at Fulham with a home win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Having started the season with a 10-game unbeaten run at home, the Villans have lost their last two league fixtures at Villa Park against Newcastle and Manchester United.

But league victories on their own patch against Arsenal and Manchester City highlight their capabilities and they will be expected to stamp their authority when entertaining a Forest side still in grave relegation danger.

The Tricky Trees snapped a four-game winless run with a 2-0 victory at home to West Ham last time out, leaving them four points above the relegation zone.

Team news
Defensive injuries persist for Aston Villa, who remain without Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa and long-term absentees Tryone Mings and Kortney Hause.

Emi Buendia, Boubacar Kamara and Jhon Duran are also missing for Emery’s men.

Forest will have Africa Cup of Nations finalists Ola Aina, Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare back available after they were rested for last weekend’s win over West Ham.

The visitors have Gonzalo Montiel and Chris Wood both ruled out, but star striker Taiwo Awoniyi is back to full fitness.

The latest Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest odds are available on LiveScore Bet
The stats
Aston Villa have won nine of their 12 home league matches this season, scoring 31 goals along the way.

The Villans have seen both teams score in nine of their last 11 league matches on home soil.

There have been three or more goals netted in seven of Villa’s last nine league fixtures.

Forest, meanwhile, have won only twice in 12 attempts on their travels and they have lost five of their last nine.

The visitors have failed to score in only one of their last 10 league matches, with both teams scoring in eight of those fixtures.

Villa have lost only one of their last seven competitive meetings with Forest.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest recorded a much-needed win over West Ham last time out
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest recorded a much-needed win over West Ham last time out
Prediction
Aston Villa are going through a tricky period and results and performances have certainly dipped since earlier on in the season when they were being talked up as surprise title candidates.

However, Emery’s men still have a top-four finish in their sights and they will be feeling much happier about matters after an Ollie Watkins brace inspired them to last weekend’s 2-1 victory at Fulham.

Having recorded nine wins in 12 home league games this season, Villa should be able to find a way past a Forest side still scrapping to secure their top-flight survival.

But the visitors pack a punch in the final third with Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga assisting Awoniyi and they have failed to score in only one of their last 10 league games.

With Villa having conceded in nine of their last 11 home league matches, a much-improved Forest are fancied to get on the scoresheet, although it may simply be in vain.