- Forest face Aston Villa this weekend
- Match has taken place on April 5 previously
- Delve into the history books ahead of trip to West Midlands
On just two previous occasions since the forming of both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa have the clubs gone head-to-head on April 5, with the third fixture on this date to take place this weekend.
Interestingly, these fixtures occurred in successive seasons in the late 1970s and early ‘80s; both were held at Villa Park, and each side would claim a win by a single goal.
In 1978, Brian Clough’s Forest travelled to the second city unbeaten in six games sitting top of Division One, and most likely fully of confidence.
The home side sat 10th in the division and over 44,000 packed into Villa Park to take in the drama.
It would take 86 minutes before those inside the stadium would witness the opening goal of the game as Tony Woodcock ultimately secured the win for the Reds in Birmingham.
Results would go in Forest’s favour that day, meaning Clough’s team would extend their lead at the top of the First Division to seven points.
Two years later and Forest were on the road to Villa Park once more, however on this occasion the Reds sat in fifth place in the table.
Form should have been on Forest’s side, but as we know, football isn’t played on paper and the home side would claim the points that day. After Des Bremner opened the scoring for Villa, Garry Birtles would level the scoreline before the half-hour mark.
Goals either side of half-time from Allan Evans and a Larry Lloyd own-goal put the home side two goals clear before Ian Bowyer set up a dramatic conclusion 15 minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish.
The home side would hold on and claim the points to leapfrog the Reds in the Division One table.
Forest have only ever faced one other West Midlands-based outfit on April 5, that being West Bromwich Albion in 1986, with the two sides playing out a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.
There have been some home matches on April 5 however, indeed Forest’s last match on the date came in 2021 with Queens Park Rangers the visitors Trentside.
Goals from Alex Mighten, Lewis Grabban and Joe Garner put the Reds three goals to the good in NG2 before Lyndon Dykes pulled one back for the away side in the final moments of the contest.