Overview
- Ollie Watkins broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time before captain John McGinn scored twice after the interval, with Morgan Gibbs-White replying for Forest.
- Villa climb provisionally above Manchester City into second place, three points behind Arsenal and 12 clear of fifth-placed Chelsea.
- The victory extends Villa’s formidable home run to 11 straight wins at Villa Park in all competitions.
- Unai Emery’s selection tweaks paid off as he made four changes, with Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara returning from bans to start.
- Forest’s losing streak reaches four league matches, and keeper John Victor’s error on Villa’s third was followed by his substitution through injury ahead of a midweek trip to West Ham.