Nottingham Forest

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Nottingham Forest won this game despite being 0-1 down at 86:14 - the latest they have ever trailed in a Premier League game they have gone on to win.

This was also the latest Aston Villa have led in a Premier League game they've gone on to lose since November 2019 vs Liverpool (1-0 up until 86:35, losing 2-1).

With 28 points, this is Forest's best points return after 16 games in a top-flight campaign since 1994-95 (also 28), going on to finish third that season.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance

What did you make of Villa's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Read the report and follow reaction

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and we will bring you all the key moments.

• Arsenal v Everton

• Liverpool v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Newcastle v Leicester

• Wolves v Ipswich

• Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 16 he takes on darts star Stephen Bunting, who is a Liverpool fan.

Bunting, who is ranked eighth in the Professional Darts Championship (PDC) order of merit, takes on Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt in the second round of the PDC World Championship, which starts at London's Alexandra Palace on Sunday.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

This is fifth versus sixth, and I am expecting it to be close.

Aston Villa have found some form again recently, but this is another test of their squad after a Champions League game in midweek, something they have struggled with previously.

I tend to back Nottingham Forest when they are at home but they seem just as good on their travels these days, maybe because they like to play on the counter-attack.

I don't think they will lose this but I don't want to back against Villa either, so a draw seems like the most likely outcome, doesn't it?

Bunting's prediction: 2-2

This game has got draw written all over it as well.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

After difficulties on and off the pitch last season, Nuno Espirito Santo has lifted Nottingham Forest to unexpected heights this campaign. On the other side of the pitch, it had been a tough few weeks for Aston Villa but three consecutive wins suggests Unai Emery's side may have turned a corner.

Their respective form sets up an intriguing Midlands derby at the City Ground on Saturday.

While the two sides go head to head on the pitch, we asked our fan writers for each club to go head to head off it.

They both to ask three questions of each other before the big game...

Saveena Johal
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

Here is what our Nottingham Forest fan Saveena Johal had to say on questions put by our Aston Villa supporter Richard Sutherland.

How far do you think Nottingham Forest can go this season?

Momentum surrounding our club is extremely high at the moment, given our recent well-deserved victory at Old Trafford. Off the back of a few recent sore defeats, bouncing up to fifth brings a great sense of hope, especially with Chris Wood in exceptional form.

We are undeniably clear of relegation, so setting our sights on a top-half finish feels reasonable. For our third consecutive season in the Premier League, the improvements are more than promising.

With the form of so many of your players, how worried are you about losing the likes of Morgan Gibbs-white, Murrilo, Callum Hudson-Odoi?

As long as we were to make good money on those players, I have full confidence in the current recruitment team bringing in worthy replacements.

At present, we have depth at centre-half with Morato and Andrew Omabamidele, as well as Elliot Anderson in midfield. Provided our strong form continues, those in our starting line-up would be unlikely to want to leave and, even if they did, we would appeal to any potential new signings.

After a difficult spell managing Tottenham and the great job that Steve Cooper did, how much credit do you give Nuno Espirito Santo for what he's achieved at Forest?

Beating Liverpool and Manchester United away in the very same season is no small feat and, up until now, was unheard of for our club.

Nuno's capabilities are clear and the team culture he has built is incredibly special this season. His backroom staff also deserve a lot of credit - who, interestingly, were not allowed with him during his time at Spurs.

We have a lot to praise him for both on and off the pitch, as witnessed through his community work. Right now we're flying - mainly thanks to him.

Find more from Saveena at Punjabi Forest, external

Richard Sutherland
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Here is what our Aston Villa supporter Richard Sutherland had to say on questions put by our Nottingham Forest fan Saveena Johal.

What do you make of your away form this season, and do you feel your Champions League run has impacted this?

Our away form started very well with wins at West Ham, Leicester and Fulham, however, defeats at Tottenham and Liverpool, while tough places to go, did bring us back down to earth.

This Saturday against Forest presents another tough test and, while our results after Champions League games have been patchy, I would put it down to player performance rather than the European hangover.

With Ollie Watkins recently on the bench against Southampton, how much of an impact do you think Jhon Duran could make if he were to start instead?

It is a difficult one because Ollie Watkins does so much work for the team, but Duran is a brilliant finisher and plays with so much freedom.

At the moment, I would say Watkins just shades it, but what a combination of strikers to have.

What areas of your team do you think will play to Forest's strengths in this match?

Our defence has been an issue for us this season, with only two clean sheets in the Premier League.

We have been susceptible to teams who like to break quickly and, with the speed that Forest possess in the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga, that will certainly cause Villa problems on Saturday.

Hopefully not too many though!

Find more from Richard at The Villa Park Podcast, external

Image source, Getty Images

I do not think Nottingham Forest can challenge for the top four this season, but finishing in the top half of the table would be a realistic target for them. They need to continue the form they are in for as long as possible to build up points on the board.

Having been fighting relegation in the previous campaign, they are probably in a little bit of a false position. But having said that, they could do what Newcastle did two seasons ago and surprise everyone by finishing in a European spot.

What will help Forest is a lot of the so-called 'bigger teams' have struggled to find consistency this season and that is reflected in the league table.

They had a lot of players when Steve Cooper was there and he just could not find a style, but Nuno Espirito Santo has found something that suits them as a whole team. It looks settled and the starting XI plays to their strengths.

Defensively they have looked solid, but in attack they have pacey wide players and a target man in Chris Wood. He keeps scoring and is having the season of his career, so everything looks good.

I can see why Forest fans are hoping to see another striker come in, but Taiwo Awoniyi is probably at their level and if he is given a run of games, he should be good enough cover if Wood were to get injured.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Commentators spend hours and hours preparing for each match they cover, writing pages upon pages of notes in order to be prepared as well as possible.

But what happens if those notes suddenly vanish?

"It's never a good idea to go into a commentary under-prepped, but it can be dropped on you," BBC Radio 5 Live's Alistair Bruce-Ball told the latest episode of The Commentators' View podcast.

"I remember a few seasons ago at West Brom for the opening game of the season. it was a lovely sunny day and I was sitting in the commentary position there with all my notes in front of me.

"Then, a gust of wind took the notes off the gantry, down into the fans below, and all the notes I'd done all week for the game had completely gone. I was just doing the commentary without any notes at all! Actually, it sharpens you up in a way, and you've really got to switch on - you've not got that crutch to lean on."

"That happened to John Acres last week," said fellow commentator Conor McNamara. "I was at the Manchester United-Nottingham Forest game, which he was doing for 5 Live, and it was very stormy.

"So when he got out of the car in the car park, apparently his notes fell from his hand, and in that classic if you've got buttered toast it's always the buttered side that lands down way…

"So whatever way he'd been doing his notes in the car, when he got out of the car, the wind blew, it turned onto the inked side and landed face down. It totally smudged.

"He showed it to me - totally indecipherable!"

As the two reflected on shared pain, Bruce-Ball suddenly remembered what exactly happened at West Brom: "t wasn't a gust of wind, it was a wasp that flew into my mouth while I was talking, and I panicked and swished my hand at the notes.

"So, I actually flipped my notes, and honestly just watching them fly in the air and just disappear. I can't remember who the summariser was sitting alongside me, and we both just looked at each other like… eek!"

Listen to the full episode now

Image source, Getty Images

Chief football writer at The i newspaper and Nottingham Forest supporter Daniel Storey spoke to BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast about the Reds' success this season: "I'm going through an almost weekly period of having to reinforce to myself that if we concede a goal, we are not going to now tumble down the Premier League.

"And, when we score it is not, 'Oh no, we have scored too early' - even though it did feel like that at Old Trafford for a while.

"We're almost having to psychoanalyse each other and give ourselves therapy that, actually, things are OK. We won't win every week because everyone seems to be beating everyone else in the league at the moment.

"The exception to that is Liverpool and Chelsea. We have gone away to and won against Liverpool and drawn against Chelsea.

"So, there is no need to be afraid. There is a process of making that feel normal, because it is hard to escape that feeling of being in the Championship when it was all about needing to go up. In the Premier League, it was all about needing to stay up.

"This is a completely new experience."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

On the latest Shut Up And Show More Football, BBC Radio Nottingham's David Jackson is joined by The i's chief football writer and Forest fan Daniel Storey.

The week, the team talk about the Reds' form this season and just how far they can rise this campaign. Plus, Storey discusses his challenge to attend a home game of all the 92 league clubs - culminating at the City Ground.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo believes the club has "a good platform" to "build something nice" but refuses to be drawn in to talk of a push for Europe.

The Reds face Aston Villa on Saturday, who are playing in Europe for the second consecutive season after a 13 year hiatus.

"We are creating something, we have a good platform and ambition to grow and improve," said Nuno.

"I really believe we are trying to build something nice together that can allow us to compete - this is what we have to look at."

Nuno, who last managed in a European competition in 2021 with Tottenham in the Europa League, says he's ignoring the comments about Forest potentially returning to Europe for the first time in almost 30 years.

"I'm not listening to that, honestly," he said. "But, I don't go too much away from my house, there's been a lot of actions the club have been doing around Christmas time and what I see is happy people.

"What I tell them is 'let's enjoy the journey, let's stick to our principles and see where we come from and want to go - let's just enjoy it'.

"My job is to prepare my players to compete, because if the team goes well then the club will go well and the city will be happy - this is what we want."

Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are "no big issues" regarding injuries and the club.

• On the win against Manchester United: "It was a good game, a fantastic result and a memorable moment for all of us at the club, in the game we were lucky in the moments we scored which makes a big difference on the momentum of the game. After that we held onto the advantage and managed the game well."

• His message to the players to ensure they keep focus: "Realise we've achieved nothing - it's just the beginning, the big challenge is to stay focused and look for improvement. Compete always to the maximum that you can because every game you face is very difficult starting on Saturday against Villa. The challenge is to perform, compete and to do everything you can to maintain the standards we want."

• On Chris Wood becoming Forest's all-time Premier League top scorer: "He's in his peak, I hope he continues - he's in his best moment. There's no age, nothing of that - everything is possible. The squads are getting younger and younger because we're looking at the next player. Sometimes you don't realise a 33 year old can perform as good, his knowledge acquired from his career that he reflects on the pitch is immense."

• Nuno said he's not "surprised at all" that Forest are where they are in the table, but when asked if there are raised expectations he said: "I'm not listening to that - but I don't go too much away from my house."

• He added: "We realise the importance of the club and community and what I see is happy people - what I tell them is let's enjoy the journey, stick to the principles, see where we come from and where we want to go - just enjoy it. My job is to prepare the players to compete, if the team goes well, the club will and the City will be happy - this is what we want."

• On if the club is ready for a European campaign: "We have a good platform and ambition to grow and improve. We are creating something, I really believe we are trying to build something nice together than can allow us to compete - this is what we have to look at."

• He was asked about the 2034 World Cup being held in Saudi Arabia and spoke about his time in the country: "My personal experience was good, very welcome and well treated. It was a good experience in my life on all levels - culturally it was very nice. It's a country that wants to develop and host big events, you can see it all over sport. You just have to make sure everyone is going to be safe and enjoy the game - this is what is more important."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

BBC Sport, with the help of data from website Premier Injuries, external, has taken a look at which side has suffered most from injuries this season.

Fabian Hurzeler has had a tough start in English football from an injury perspective - although his side sitting seventh in the Premier League table suggests he is more than capable of coping with it.

West Ham fans may be even more frustrated about their season when they learn that they have had the least amount of injury setbacks in the top flight.

Comparing the injury situation now with the same stage last season, the overall numbers are actually down, according to Ben Dinnery of Premier Injuries Ltd.

"Year on year, there has been about a 20% reduction in the number of injury incidents and about a 30% reduction in the 'burden' on clubs - the amount of days missed by injured players," he said.

His data is calculated from the opening day of the season, so players who were already injured going into the campaign - such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries to Brentford's Rico Henry, Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings and Brighton's Solly March - do not count.

"Perhaps the narrative [of an increase in injuries] is driven by some high-profile managers and the prominence of major injuries to higher-status players, such as Manchester City's Rodri," Dinnery added.

"The injury narrative is not being pushed by Kieran McKenna at Ipswich or Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler.

"They are not using their sidelined players as excuses, even though Ipswich have lost some huge players as they try to adapt to the intensity and rigours of Premier League football.

"Brighton didn't have a great record last year, but had European football to contend with. The headline numbers are one thing, but football is a contact sport. Perhaps it is testament to their recruitment of a squad with strength and depth that they are still doing well despite the number of injuries."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Saturday's win at Manchester United - the first for 30 years - shows the growth at Nottingham Forest.

Of course, United are still in disarray despite the recent appointment of Ruben Amorim as manager but that should still not take away Forest's credit.

It proves the 1-0 win at Liverpool in September will not be a one-off and that there is tangible long-term progress within the squad under Nuno Espritio Santo.

Next, Aston Villa visit the City Ground on Saturday with Unai Emery's side sixth and level on points with Forest.

If there is an opportunity to get into Europe this season then beating those in direct competition is key. Villa, despite Tuesday's 3-2 Champions League win at RB Leipzig, have not been their consistent best this season and can be exposed,

After that is a trip to home specialists Brentford and the Boxing Day trip to Tottenham meaning fifth-placed Forest could put some real distance between themselves and the chasing pack.

Any fears of relegation are long gone, attention turns to a consistent European challenge and a smart January transfer window would push Forest further into contention.

Full commentary of Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa on BBC Radio 5 Live from 17:30 GMT on BBC Sounds

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It is the season that keeps on giving. Football, not Christmas, that is.

After almost a quarter of a century out of the top flight, Nottingham Forest have got some catching up to do. And they're ticking a lot off the list very quickly this year.

Following September's 1-0 win at Anfield — our first in 55 years — the Reds added to that at the weekend with our first victory at Old Trafford in 30 years.

The 2-1 win that day in 1994 saw Stan Collymore and Bryan Roy lead the line with a goal and an assist respectively. That duo's long-standing status as leading Premier League goal scorers (with 22 and 24 each) was overtaken by Saturday's birthday boy Chris Wood, as the 33-year-old added to his already impressive tally this season.

So what's left for Forest this season? The remarkable third-placed finish in 1994-95 with 77 points is perhaps beyond them. But there were 22 teams competing back then and our current points per game isn't a million miles away. And given that Nuno Espírito Santo's side have nothing to fear at the moment, very little should intimidate them.

The owner Evangelos Marinakis has grand ambitions and as he repeated last week, "nothing is impossible". Mistakes have been made since he took over in 2017 but who doesn't make mistakes? More importantly, lessons were learned and then some. The club now has everyone pulling in the same direction and must have their eyes on other records to be broken this season.

The pace, of course, never lets up in the Premier League and Nuno knows as well as anybody that complacency is the worst thing in football. But he will already be glad of this season's greetings, even if there's still a long way to go. And maybe he's got a few more gifts for supporters to come.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

Slobodan Maricic
BBC Serbia

Image source, Getty Images

It all seemed like a blast from the past.

A Serbian defender jumps in the opponent's box at the Old Trafford and puts the ball in the net with a strong header.

No, former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic did not return to the pitch, but for a brief moment Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic strongly reminded of him.

That is why the second minute of the match at the so-called 'Theatre of Dreams' will forever be saved in his mind under the title - the moment when I scored my first Premier League goal.

"I'm happy about the goal, a special moment for me, but the victory comes first", Milenkovic said after the 3-2 victory on Saturday.

The 27-year-old might have been named player of the match but, as he made sure to emphasise, he is "proud of the whole team, how we defended and functioned as a group".

Milenkovic, born in Belgrade and raised at the academy of FC Partizan - one of the two Serbian football giants - arrived in Nottingham this summer from Italian side Fiorentina, where he had spent seven years.

He quickly found his place in the heart of Forest's defence and this has paid off heavily for coach Nuno Espirito Santo. In 15 league games Forest have played this season, they have conceded only 18 times. That makes them one of the best defences, after Liverpool and Arsenal.

As a result, the Serbian media are full of praise for Milenkovic. Some are saying that he spent too much time at Fiorentina, while others are speculating which big club might snatch him if he continues with his level of performances.

In the meantime, Forest continue to be the most pleasant surprise of the Premier League season so far.

Their current fifth-place position has sparked the imagination of fans that the former European Cup champions might soon have their first matches in continental competition for more than 30 years.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Matt: At 3-1 down, I was hoping we would show some fight and character, which never came even after Bruno Fernandes made it 2-3. And for some inexplicable reason we stopped passing the ball to Amad Diallo, our one bright spark! Very frustrating afternoon overall but I can't have too many complaints - Forest deserved the win.

Tim: That performance truly shows this group of players are not capable or able to fathom out new systems, but will truly understand their bank statements. Ruben Amorim has one hell of a task on his hands.

Harris: We keep the ball at the back far too long. The back three holding the ball while slowly walking forwards, endlessly passing sideways or backwards, does not challenge the opposition or get the ball into scoring areas. Possession and hold-up play are all very well - but what has happened to speed and urgency? Forest kept putting the ball into the box quickly where anything can happen. And did. We need to do the same.

Nottingham Forest fans

Dan: Any 'new manager bounce' soon evaporated against a Forest side that reinvigorated itself after a disappointing performance on Wednesday night. We looked organised, disciplined and together. We had little possession but most of the genuine attacking threat. It's not about percentage of possession - it's what you do with it.

Rob: Thought Forest were superior in all areas but a special mention goes to Ryan Yates who goes unnoticed but is so good at breaking up the play. Perhaps not the most skilful of players but so effective at what he does! Come on you Reds.

Callum: Absolutely incredible performance - six points against Liverpool and Manchester United. Last season and in our first season back in the Premier League, we'd lose those sort of games - we have had far too many 3-2 defeats for me to remember. Those last 20 minutes were stressful for fans but the players knew what their roles were and held out brilliantly.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Nottingham Forest commentator Colin Fray spoke to BBC Radio Nottingham on the importance of Saturday's win at Manchester United: "I think they have re-established a few credentials for those who were beginning to doubt - mainly those nationally who were thinking the first 10 games were a flash in the pan.

"They've come here against some very good players - it is only the third time United have lost here in 13 games this season - Forest have come here and laid another marker down.

"They are back in fifth and have re-established themselves a bit."

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's four Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-2 Man City

• Man Utd 2-3 Nottingham Forest