An Aly Cissokho cross to the far post hits Jordan Ayew and drops wide of the goal. A second opportunity goes begging for Villa.

Ross McCormack hits the post! He was two yards out.

Image source, Rex Features

Jordan Ayew did well and picked out Villa's new man Jonathan Kodjia, who squared the ball across the six-yard box to McCormack at the back stick but he can't find the net.

It's the first real, clear-cut chance of the game.

Villa keeper Pierluigi Gollini receives treatment on the field after rushing out to meet and clear a dangerous ball into the box from Forest. He's hurt but he will continue.

Forest come forward again through Mustapha Carayol but Tommy Elphick gets a vital foot in for Villa to stop the former Middlesbrough man's run.

Henri Lansbury curls in a dangerous corner for the visitors, but Aly Cissokho does just enough to flick the ball away from danger.

Colin Fray
BBC Radio Nottingham Sport

"No atmosphere in the place will suit Forest, that is for sure."

So far, neither side has has had much to make noise about. Silence, it seems, is deafening.

Image source, Rex Features

Roberto di Matteo will be hoping for his second win as Aston Villa manager today. He will be relatively happy with their controlled start to this match, but he'll expect more efforts on goal from his team soon.

Forest's Matty Cash can't continue any further after his earlier injury, so he is replaced by Thomas Lam.

Jordan Ayew tries to curl a free-kick up and over the wall, but his effort isn't testing Vladimir Stojkovic in the Forest goal. It is too high and curls over. Both keepers are still yet to be forced into a save.

Villa's Gary Gardner tries a first time shot from range but it goes high over the bar. He never really caught it.

Forest's first meaningful attack comes down their left wing through debutant Mustapha Carayol, but Villa head the cross away.

It's been a quiet past 10 minutes or so.

Matthew Cash receives some treatment, limps off and now limps back on again - he will look to continue, for the time being.

On comes the physiopublished at 11 mins

11 mins

Aston Villa 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Forest's Matty Cash is down, hurt. It was a relatively standard challenge for the ball with Tommy Elphick, but he hasn't landed well and he is in real pain.

This doesn't look good for the visitors.

Villa are enjoying most of the ball so far, passing it around confidently in the Forest half.

"We're Nottingham Forest, we'll sing on our own," say the away fans.

Their side last won away at Villa Park in 1994, when Stuart Pearce opened the scoring and Steve Stone added a second.

Villa earn another early corner but this time Ross McCormack's delivery can't get past the first man.

It is a lively start from Villa, but no chances to tell you about just yet. Both sets of fans are creating a decent atmosphere.

The hosts win an early corner as Henri Lansbury turns the ball behind. Forest struggle to clear the deep delivery but eventually the ball is out, back on the halfway line.

Nottingham Forest, playing in black and red shirts, black shorts and black socks, get this game started, as the sun comes out in the midlands.

The teams stride down the tunnel and emerge onto the field at an overcast but mild Villa Park.

The first meeting between these two sides in the 21st century is about to begin.