major events
31 minutes: Anderson’s ball hung and Murillo really could have done better.
30 minute: Villa are now back in shape, Forest needing to run at Anderson alone, and his shot is deflected. Corner ball, and he’ll take it.
28 minutes: Better than the jungle, it must be said. And this could also open up space for villas. The disappointment is finally going away.
27 minutes: The ball is clipped to the back post by Gibbs-White. It was only Dominguez and several Villa players to reach there. Forest were awarded a free-kick and Murillo was wide for his teammates.
25 minutes: Tielemans set up Duran, then both Cash and McGinn swung at the ball.
24 minutes: Chris Wood stands out from the crowd. Not much is being done for the big guy.
22 minutes: Anderson and Hudson-Odoi try to force something, and it’s really forcing it. No flow for any attack. Not a great advertisement for the Midland Powerhouse. Hudson-Odoi’s cross comes and goes. Konza eventually clears the Villa lines.
20 minutes: Tremendous noise from both their fans. It is that time of year. There has been a lack of shine in football. Yates, who was recovered, was hit by a bullet. It ends somewhere in the courtyard behind the stand.
18 minutes: Duran took his first shot on goal and it would have been miraculous if it had gone in. So far no team seems capable of doing anything here.
15 min: Yates needs treatment but seems to be okay with continuing. It’s been largely forgettable so far.
12 minutes: Ryan Yates, the Forest captain, has knocked out. Same is the case with Morgan Rogers. There are some players who are showing wear and tear due to the heavy schedule.
9 minutes: Unai Emery patrols the touchline, his hangdog expression always reminiscent of Steve Coogan as Mr Hannity. His team has regained possession but little change is taking place.
8 minutes: Some tackles going in. Forest keeper Matz Selz looks hurt and then Duran takes a kick.
7 minutes: Forest – as you would expect from Nuno’s team – are maintaining their shape.
Bogdan approached: “I’m not a fan of either of these two teams, but the fact is that they have jointly become European champions three times. So this is a match between two clubs that are perhaps bigger than anyone thought, two teams whose tradition and history should be respected.
Both teams have had to remain in the wilderness since then, but upon visiting them, you will be left in no doubt what a big club they are. In fact, both love touring.
5 minutes: Villa are dominant in possession, Forrest sitting back, Chris Wood dropping back to help. Hudson-Odoi failed to keep the ball in when the counter pointed.
4 minutes: Gibbs-White and Anderson link up but the ball in the center is no test for Martínez.
3 minutes: Morgan Rogers’ blonde hair – is that new? “Please, I’ll take Abel Xavier.” Villa is pushing hardest.
Kintyre’s poop means we’re going to the Knotts
1 minute: The stakes are high for the Midlands derby, and it makes a nice change. It’s been a few decades since this was a regular thing. 21 year old Jhon Duran got the starting touch yesterday.
Welcome to the Jungle plays and it’s show time at the City Ground.
Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images (top); Shawn Botterill/Getty Images.
Late news: Pau Torres is back, Tyrone Mings feeling ill in warm-ups.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Matze Sales, Ola Aina, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Neco Williams, Ryan Yates, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Nicholas Dominguez, Chris Wood.
Sub: Morato, Taiwo Awoniyi, Harry Toffolo, James Ward-Prowse, Jota Silva, Anthony Elanga, Ramon Sosa, Willy-Arnaud Bouly and Carlos Miguel.
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rodgers, Boubacar Kamara, John Duran.
Sub: Ross Barkley, Emiliano Buendia, Ollie Watkins, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Ian Matson, Amadou Onana, Lamarre Bogarde, Robin Olsen.
These results make it a battle of fifth versus sixth.
The work was completed at 3pm on Saturday afternoon, and produced some surprising results.
A change from Forest’s spectacular defeat. Manchester United’s, and that’s Dominguez for Jota. For Villa, Duran started as expected and Tyrone Mings replaced Pau Torres.
Teams – Duran starts
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Matze Sales, Ola Aina, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Neco Williams, Ryan Yates, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Nicholas Dominguez, Chris Wood.
Sub: Morato, Taiwo Awoniyi, Harry Toffolo, James Ward-Prowse, Jota Silva, Anthony Elanga, Ramon Sosa, Willy-Arnaud Bouly and Carlos Miguel.
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rodgers, Boubacar Kamara, John Duran.
Sub: Ross Barkley, Emiliano Buendia, Ollie Watkins, Pau Torres, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Ian Matsen, Amadou Onana, Lamarre Bogarde, Robin Olsen.
Quiz time, and it’s tough.
Early team news.
Alex Moreno cannot play for Forest as he is loaned to Villa.
Ollie Watkins is a doubt, so we could see John Duran get another start after his winner against Southampton last week.
Preface
Aston Villa, who have had a dip in form, look to have got their mojo back to celebrate two much-needed Premier League wins with a big win at Leipzig. With Nottingham Forest in the hunt for the place Villa aspire to, Nuno has been hailed as a miracle worker in the East Midlands. With two former European Cup winners seeing good days once again, this could be a pre-Christmas cracker.
Kick-off is at 5.30pm. Join me.