Aston Villa emphatically returned to winning ways and heaped more misery on struggling Nottingham Forest with a commanding 3-1 victory at Villa Park on Saturday, 3 January 2026. The result, powered by goals from Ollie Watkins and a John McGinn brace, solidified Villa's position in the Premier League's top four while plunging Forest deeper into a relegation battle.
Milestone Man Watkins Breaks the Deadlock
The match was a personal celebration for Ollie Watkins, who was making his 250th appearance for Aston Villa. The striker had a golden chance to mark the occasion inside two minutes but was denied by Forest goalkeeper John Victor. Despite dominating possession, Unai Emery's side found a resolute Forest defence difficult to penetrate until first-half stoppage time.
Then, the moment arrived. Morgan Rogers fed Watkins, who turned and from 20 yards out fired a shot that squeezed through the keeper's hand and into the top corner. The goal was Watkins's fourth in three games over the festive period and proved the pivotal moment in a tense first half.
McGinn Double Seals Villa's Historic Home Run
Villa doubled their lead just three minutes after the restart. A move involving Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash ended with John McGinn powering home from 12 yards. Forest, seemingly dead and buried, conjured a lifeline just after the hour mark. Morgan Gibbs-White was found by Ola Aina and produced a sublime lofted finish over Emiliano Martinez to make it 2-1.
Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished in the 73rd minute in spectacular fashion. Forest goalkeeper John Victor raced out to meet a through-ball but completely missed it, leaving McGinn to curl into an empty net from 35 yards. The embarrassed keeper injured himself in the process, summing up a wretched day for the visitors.
Consequences for the Premier League Table
The victory was crucial for Aston Villa, bouncing back from a midweek thrashing at Arsenal. It secured an 11th consecutive home league win, their best streak at Villa Park since 1990, and temporarily moved them into second place. More significantly, it opened a 12-point gap over fifth-placed Chelsea, tightening their grip on a Champions League qualification spot.
For Nottingham Forest, the outlook is bleak. This fourth successive defeat marks their worst run in the Premier League since late 2023—a period that cost former manager Steve Cooper his job. The pressure is mounting on current boss Sean Dyche, with a crucial trip to fellow strugglers West Ham on Tuesday now taking on monumental importance in their fight for survival.
