Nottingham Forest

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance

What did you make of Nottingham Forest's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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What does Oliver Glasner have over Unai Emery?

After eight games since Glasner arrived at Crystal Palace in February 2024, Emery is still winless against the Austrian.

Glasner's Palace won 3-0 at Villa Park at the start of last season, and while the scoreline was closer this time, again the visitors deserved their victory.

After the draws against Liverpool and Tottenham, Forest's Glasner is getting to grips with his squad and a first win of the campaign will breathe further confidence into the squad.

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I'm really proud of the team's performance and the spirit they showed. We did better after 10 or 15 minutes but we were a little bit impatient in the final third.

"We were too impatient and eager. It was a little bit up and down. In the second half we moved the ball quicker and switched from left to right and we saw the confidence grow.

"Liam Delap's hit didn't surprise me because I see it in training. That's what a striker should do. I feel this goal gave him a lot of confidence because he was a lot more present. It was a top team performance."

Nottingham Forest striker Igor Jesus, who scored the 88th-minute winner: "It's our first win in the Premier League this season and we know how important it is for us. It's very important for us and we need to keep it going. I just want to say thank you to everyone who came to support us today."

Did you know?

• Four of Liam Delap's 14 Premier League goals have come against Aston Villa, his most against a single opponent in the competition.

• Morgan Gibbs-White has either scored or assisted in each of his last eight Premier League away appearances (six goals, four assists).

Listen to more from Glasner on BBC Sounds

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest

• Bournemouth v Brentford

• Chelsea v Hull City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town

• Liverpool v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Tottenham v Everton (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Sunderland v Arsenal (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

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Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

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This is a hard one because while Aston Villa still haven't won or scored in the Premier League, they got a good win over Club Brugge in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Nicolas Jackson got off the mark in that game and, although his finishing can be erratic, he's the kind of player who will mature and get better every season. I think he will do well for them.

Forest are also yet to win. I know there was controversy over Neco Williams' disallowed goal in their draw against Tottenham last time out but I do think they got the decision right in the end.

This is going to be close and I am tempted to go for another Forest draw, but Villa are obviously going to score in the Premier League at some point so I'll be brave and say they will edge it.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

Four days after kick-starting their season by beating Club Brugge in the Champions League, Aston Villa host a Nottingham Forest side similarly in a period of adaptation and without a top-flight win this season.

Villa spark?

Villa's slow start to the current campaign has prompted comparisons with the previous one, when they didn't score until their fifth league game but then ground out a hard-earned European victory against limited opponents. That sparked a remarkable run of 17 wins in 19 matches.

The difference this season is that, aside from the abysmal opening defeat by Brighton, Villa are at least showing an identity they lacked during the early malaise of 2025-26.

Their defensive structure has been swiftly remedied by Unai Emery, while a gradual improvement in the team's attacking play was accelerated against Brugge on Tuesday.

Expensive summer signings Ibrahim Mbaye and Ballon d'Or Young Talent of the Year nominee Johan Manzambi are still to come into the side too – both could make their debuts on Saturday as Villa seek to avoid becoming the first team in English league history to go goalless in their opening four games in successive seasons.

The Villans are on a run of six successive Premier League home wins against Forest and dismantled the visitors 4-0 to reach the Europa League final when the sides last met four months ago. However, six of Villa's starting XI that night, and nine of the 16 players used, are no longer at the club.

Glasner the difference-maker?

While Forest have not beaten Aston Villa away since 1994 and are winless after their opening three Premier League matches for the first time, Oliver Glasner might view this as the ideal fixture to bring his first victory in charge.

Glasner is kryptonite to Villa and Emery, with the Austrian unbeaten in all seven meetings and with an aggregate scoreline of 19-4 in his favour – all while at Crystal Palace. That sequence includes two victories at Villa Park during a 41-match home spell in which the Birmingham side were otherwise unbeaten.

Glasner has only ever enjoyed one longer unbeaten run against a manager, and he has never fared better versus a counterpart without ever losing. Similarly, it is the longest streak Emery has ever endured against another manager without winning.

The wing-back system that Glasner implemented at Palace and now Forest stretches Aston Villa's narrow set-up, while quick and willing runners on the counter-attack leave Emery's side vulnerable defensively.

Forest are not fully firing yet under Glasner but the Austrian has expressed his satisfaction with the club's dealings in the summer transfer window as he configures the squad to his blueprint.

Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nicolo Savona remains the only player sidelined with his knee inury. The defender has faced a few set-backs but has "reacted fine" to slow rehabilitation.

• Glasner said he is not happy with the explanation given by the Premier League to rule out Forest's goal against Tottenham last week for a handball by Neco Williams. However, the Austrian accepted the decision as it is a "democracy", and says the incident is "in the past".

• Forest have scored two goals in three Premier League matches, and Glasner says his team are missing "the final bit" in goalscoring situations and his solution is to create more of those situations.

• On squad depth, Glasner said: "Every position is occupied by two players. We have plenty of options which is positive, the new players are doing well and we can see they're training well every week. We can see how much of a positive impact Xaver Schlager has had so far. We want competition everywhere."

• Glasner also added that he was "surprised" by Schlager's start to the season after a difficult end to the 2025-26 campaign for the midfielder, and that his biggest strength is "trying to improve".

• On Jair Cunha receiving his first national team call-up for Brazil, he said: "It's a huge achievement for him at 21-years-old. You can see how quickly things can happen in football. We've been together for around two months and from day one he was listening, working hard and asking what he can improve."

Got a question about Forest? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

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Nottingham Forest head coach Oliver Glasner has praised Jair Cunha's "willingness to learn" after the defender received a first Brazil call up.

Brazil take on Australia twice and face India over the international break from late September into early October.

Cunha, 21, has won age-group caps for Brazil but has never had a senior call-up.

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray, Glasner said his advice will be for Cunha to "enjoy" the experience.

"Show who you are," said Glasner. "Show your strength. If you are called by, not just Brazil but Carlo Ancelotti, definitely one of the most successful and experienced managers in the world, you definitely deserve it.

"This would be my advice, play with confidence, train with confidence and enjoy the time."

Glasner's primary focus however will be helping Forest to a first win of their league campaign when they visit Aston Villa on Saturday. The Reds have not won at Villa Park since 1994.

"We are feeling we are dong well," said Glasner. "We know we can do better in a few parts of the game, especially the final third to create more chances and goals. We go there to get the win, with this confidence but every single Premier League game is this huge challenge.

"It's clear if something hasn't happened since 1994, it's definitely time to change it. We will be highly motivated to not be talking about these statistics anymore."

Listen to Glasner speak with Fray below or here on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League has announced it will stage seven matches on Boxing Day this year after releasing its festive schedule.

Four fixtures will be staged at 15:00 GMT, with further matches played at 12:30, 17:30 and 20:00.

The fixture programme for 26 December, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, is considerably bigger than last year, when one game was held.

Three matches will be played on Sunday, 27 December, while three further rounds of games will be held over a period up to Thursday, 7 January.

A round of evening midweek fixtures will staged on 29-30 December, while Leeds will host Everton (20:00) for the only match on New Year's Day.

The remainder of that round will be held over the weekend of 2-3 January, with the fourth round of games spread across the evenings of 5-7 January.

The Premier League has brought forward the announcement of fixture scheduling over the Christmas and New Year period after consultation with both broadcast partners and the Football Supporters' Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards.

Television scheduling for Premier League fixtures has been announced up to Monday, 2 November, with broadcast selections for the remaining games in November and December to be announced in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October respectively.

The Premier League has guaranteed clubs at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the festive period to address the concerns over a congested festive schedule that follows recent expansions of the European and international calendars.

Premier League Christmas and New Year schedule

Saturday, 26 December

12:30 Aston Villa v Leeds

15:00 Everton v Sunderland

15:00 Fulham v Brighton

15:00 Ipswich v Brentford

15:00 Spurs v AFC Bournemouth

17:30 Hull v Liverpool

20:00 Newcastle v Manchester City

Sunday, 27 December

14:00 Coventry v Chelsea

16:30 Manchester Utd v Nottingham Forest

19:00 Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Tuesday, 29 December

19:30 Hull v Leeds

19:30 Spurs v Brighton

20:15 Everton v Manchester City

Wednesday, 30 December

19:30 Coventry v Brentford

19:30 Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth

19:30 Fulham v Arsenal

19:30 Manchester United v Sunderland

19:30 Newcastle v Nottingham Forest

20:15 Aston Villa v Liverpool

20:15 Ipswich v Chelsea

Friday, 1 January

20:00 Leeds v Everton

Saturday, 2 January

12:30 Brighton v Manchester United

15:00 Arsenal v Ipswich

15:00 Brentford v Crystal Palace

15:00 Liverpool v Coventry

15:00 Nottingham Forest v Fulham

15:00 Sunderland v Hull

17:30 AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa

Sunday, 3 January

14:00 Chelsea v Newcastle

16:30 Manchester City v Spurs

Tuesday, 5 January

19:30 Arsenal v Brentford

19:30 Brighton v AFC Bournemouth

19:30 Everton v Aston Villa

19:30 Nottingham Forest v Hull

20:15 Sunderland v Liverpool

Wednesday, 6 January

19:30 Crystal Palace v Chelsea

19:30 Fulham v Spurs

19:30 Ipswich v Coventry

20:15 Leeds v Manchester City

Thursday, 7 January

20:00 Manchester United v Newcastle

Nick Mashiter
Football news reporter

The latest on Nottingham Forest's planned stadium work has been the subject of several questions sent in via our Ask Me Anything form for the Reds.

Well, the redevelopment of the City Ground is getting closer, with Rushcliffe Borough Council's planning committee meeting on 16 September to consider the club's proposals to raise the capacity to over 50,000.

The applications is for full planning permission to redevelop the Peter Taylor Stand and Trent End and for "demolition of existing buildings/structures".

Forest are also seeking planning permission to redevelop the Brian Clough Stand in the future.

The plans have the backing of local residents and the city's MPs so the development is expected to be granted. It is a case of going through the right process - which takes time.

Of course, it was hoped worked would have started in the summer, but it is a complex process, with things like transport plans to take into consideration when there are an extra 20,000 fans in the area.

An awful lot of work has gone on behind the scenes so once the plans are given the green light they can proceed.

We could see a little work start during the season but, given the Premier League campaign is under way, nothing significant is expected to start until next summer.

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Former Nottingham Forest winger Paul Anderson says Oliver Glasner "has the personnel" to play his preferred wing-back system, but believes it will "take time" to fully bear its fruits.

"I've been coaching for over five years now and I love the formation," he told BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast.

"It allows you to outnumber an opposition team anywhere on the pitch. It also gives you the option of having two strikers - one of which can drop into the middle of the pitch and give you the option of four midfielders.

"That way, you can either overload the middle of the pitch or go man-to-man when you're playing against a back four.

"You've got to have the personnel to play it, though. You've got to have intelligent players that can drop in and work off each other, and your wing-backs have to be fit.

"It probably would have suited me as a player because I was quite a defensive winger anyway. It would have been hard work, but I would have loved it."

Despite the Reds failing to win any of their opening three league matches this season, Anderson did highlight some positives.

"Nottingham Forest have very strong centre-backs at the minute," he said.

"I've been very impressed by Jair Cunha as well, he has been making it hard for Ousmane Diomande to make it into the team, despite the club spending money on him.

"There is always going to be a question mark over Murillo's fitness, but if he is fit and at 100% then this formation suits him perfectly. The same goes for Nikola Milenkovic - it is perfect for him.

"It also suits the midfield. It is a formation which is going to allow Morgan Gibbs-White and James McAtee more space in there.

"So they definitely have players in the squad who can do a job in this formation, it is just going to take time to come together."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds here

Former Forest winger Paul Anderson has joined BBC Radio Nottingham for their latest instalment of the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast.

Alongside regular hosts David Jackson and Colin Fray, Anderson discusses wing-backs, VAR and the City Ground.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Nottingham Forest content on BBC Sounds

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest should not have been awarded a penalty at Liverpool for Alisson's challenge on Neco Williams, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has said.

But the KMI Panel added that the decision did not reach the threshold for a video assistant referee intervention, so Michael Oliver was correct not to send referee Sam Barrott to the pitchside monitor.

Williams was brought down by Alisson after releasing a shot in the 68th minute.

Morgan Gibbs-White scored to put Forest 2-1 in front, before Victor Munoz secured a 2-2 draw for Liverpool with an 82nd-minute equaliser.

The KMI Panel voted 3:2 that Barrott should not have given the penalty, but supported the VAR outcome 5:0.

It is possible for the panel to judge them differently because a VAR intervention has a higher threshold than an on-field decision.

"The contact from Alisson was inevitable as a consequence of his momentum in attempting to save the ball," the KMI Panel said. "The contact made was not reckless and below the threshold for a penalty.

"However, the non intervention by the VAR was unanimously supported on the basis that it was not a clear and obvious error."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's global head of football Edu leaving after just over a year at the City Ground.

Here are some of your comments:

Sean: We tried it and it didn't work for us. A turbulent, four-manager season isn't really what was expected. The thing with transfers is that you really need to work with the manager because they know the team best. From the moment Edu and Nuno Espirito Santo fell out it was always going to be a problematic appointment. Hopefully we've learned from this experiment.

Nicholas: About time Edu left the club, as it was primarily him who upset the apple cart. The harmony that Nuno brought to the club was lost needlessly and started the demise, which will be hard to rekindle for any future manager. I'm glad he's gone. It should have been Edu and not Nuno who left this time last year.

Scott: The right decision, if rather late. As an interested observer, rather than a participant (obviously), Edu seemed like the wrong guy in the wrong position. He seems to have cost us Nuno, which remains a sacking offence in itself, and appears to have contributed little. Let's move on.

Doug: About time Edu was biffed out of the club, as he brought nothing and added nothing to Forest. We are better off without him. Good riddance.

Stuart: Good riddance. Caused nothing but trouble from the day he arrived, contributed nothing and caused the departure of many a good man.

Global head of football Edu has left Nottingham Forest after just over a year at the City Ground.

The former Arsenal midfielder has not attended a games since February and his exit, with his contract believed to have been terminated, has been expected.

His position came under the spotlight after a falling-out with Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked last September, the first of four managers at Forest last season.

• Read more on the story

Nuno hinted at internal tensions and said at the time his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had changed.

Edu is not expected to be replaced, with Forest's chief football officer George Syrianos assuming his responsibilities.

What do you think about this development?

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We asked for your views on the decision to rule out Neco Williams' goal against Tottenham for handball - and the wider impact of VAR on the game. Lower down this page you can see Forest fan Ellie Molloson explain she's sometimes "scared" to celebrate a goal given VAR can intervene.

Here are some of your comments:

Matthew: Wow, I'm a Forest fan since Clough became the manager in the 70s. I've seen a lot to frustrate me - but never been scared to celebrate a goal. Most times you can tell if it's going to be reviewed but sometimes you get caught out like Saturday. But it's part of the game, seen plenty of goals given over the years that shouldn't have been.

Steve: VAR is re-reffing the games. It's not what it was brought in for. It wasn't a clear and obvious mistake by the ref. It's made the game worse in my view as someone who goes to games home and away.

Ken: The fan experience has certainly been ruined but on this occasion, it was at least the correct decision. I wish Stuart Atwell had been this decisive when he allowed Sesko's goal to stand in May earlier this year!

Richard: Not that it makes any difference now, but 'clear and Obvious' never came into this decision from either VAR or the referee. The ref never went to check the monitor and even this video of poor quality (which wasn't available at the time) is not CLEAR AND OBVIOUS.

Nottingham Forest fan Ellie Molloson has expressed unhappiness with the VAR decision to disallow Neco Williams' goal against Tottenham Hotspur in the 0-0 game on Saturday.

Williams was adamant the ball came off his head and did not touch his hand after the VAR disallowed his goal. New footage - which you can watch below on this Nottingham Forest page - has since emerged of the incident.

Supporter Molloson said: "We were told at the start of the season there would be a higher threshold for on-field decisions being overturned. Already we have a very questionable decision.

"It ruins the fan experience, it's scary to celebrate goals now because no matter how sure you are there is a risk.

"I've gone back and watched that clip so many times and I still cannot comfortably say that is a hand ball. It's not clear, it is not obvious.

"Forest have been robbed two points."

Has the fan experience been ruined by VAR? Do you worry celebrating goals too early? Should the goal have stood? Get in touch with your views here.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

New video footage has been released that shows the ball coming off Neco Williams' arm in the lead-up to his disallowed goal in the 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Nottingham Forest defender bundled the ball home in the 67th minute but video assistant referee Peter Bankes stepped in to rule out the goal for accidental handball.

Williams and Forest manager Oliver Glasner were adamant after the match that there was no proof the ball touched an arm.

While the footage vindicates the VAR's decision, it may not end the arguments about the decision to rule out the goal.

The new camera angle was not one of those available to Bankes during the game - so it is unlikely to end the anger from Forest fans over the validity of the intervention, even if we know the VAR was ultimately correct.

On the new footage, Williams touches the ball with his left arm then his right forearm before it goes into the net.

The VAR hub only has access to the broadcast cameras, and this camera was one of several which does not transmit as part of match coverage.

Bankes believed the proof on the angles he had available came from the ripple of Williams' shirt as the ball touched his right forearm.

BBC Sport understands that Pro Ref - the new name for the refereeing body that was previously called Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) - is completely happy with the decision to rule out the goal.

There is irritation within Pro Ref about how the story has developed, partly because Williams was so unequivocal that the ball had not touched his arm - when there is now evidence to the contrary.

"I've seen the images and the replays and at not one moment did I think I handballed it," Williams told Sky Sports.

"I have seen all the images and at not one moment can you tell that has clearly hit my arms, because it never. I knew straight away I've headed it down in between my arms. It didn't hit my arm."

The feeling is that if Williams had not been so certain with his comments that the criticism would not have been as strong.

Read more on the context surrounding Williams' disallowed goal