(Credit: Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Wed 29 April 2026 20:45, UK

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Nottingham Forest are being tipped to knock Aston Villa out of the Europa League and advance to the final of the competition.

That is the prediction made by former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, who explains why Nottingham Forest may have the upper hand in the semi-final.

The Tricky Trees will host the first leg at the City Ground off the back of a 5-0 victory at Sunderland, whilst Aston Villa make the short trip east having lost 1-0 at Fulham last time out.

The two clubs met at the City Ground earlier this month when Neco Williams cancelled out an own goal from Murillo to earn Vitor Pereira’s side a point.

Aston Villa though are 19 points clear of Nottingham Forest in the Premier League table, with the two clubs having had contrasting domestic campaigns despite their success in Europe so far.

Nottingham Forest have ‘mental edge’ over ‘labouring’ Aston Villa

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Nottingham Forest go into the first leg in better form than Aston Villa.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness says he “wouldn’t be surprised” to see Nottingham Forest score a few goals past Unai Emery’s side.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “My instant reaction is that Forest have got the edge because they just hit this run of form and they’re scoring some goals.

“Villa have been sort of labouring a bit in terms of a bit of pressure at the top, and they have had a bad run of form, then they suddenly recovered a little bit. But it just feels to me that, psychologically, Forest feel like they have nothing to lose, and they’re going into this with a free-flowing sort of situation.

“Nottingham Forest have felt really good in the last week or two. While the bookies would, I’m sure, have Villa favourites, I just feel that Forest have got an edge mentally at the moment. That’s something I wouldn’t be surprised about if Forest managed to turn them over.”

Tactical tweak changes Nottingham Forest’s transfer plans

Whilst Premier League safety isn’t yet secured, winning the Europa League would mean Nottingham Forest qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Pereira would have to be backed by the club to strengthen the squad in that scenario, with goalscoring having been an issue for much of the season.

Sources have told Football Insider that Nottingham Forest want to sign a striker this summer, whilst Taiwo Awoniyi could be allowed to depart.

It comes as Pereira has switched formations to accommodate two strikers up-front, as the club can not continue to rely upon 34-year-old Chris Wood for goals.