Music & methods - why Forest could be Europa League favourites

Music & methods - why Forest could be Europa League favouritesImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Winning the Europa League was one of Nottingham Forest's targets in pre-seasonByNick MashiterFootball reporterPublished7 minutes agoCan two-time European champions Nottingham Forest end Aston Villa's dreams to chase their own?They host their fellow Premier League side in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday as both sides look to end a trophy drought stretching decades.Forest, winners of the European Cup back in 1979 and 1980, have battled relegation all season, with Vitor Pereira their fourth boss since September.Villa are on the brink of sealing a top-five spot in the Premier League and qualifying for next season's Champions League, having won the old version of the competition themselves back in 1982.But after injuries and a mid-season drop in form, Unai Emery's side have shown their frailties recently and there is belief at the City Ground that Forest can prevail after an eight-match unbeaten run. Braga or Freiburg await in the final in Istanbul on 20 May, so after Forest's recent revival and Villa's stumble in the second half of the season, are Pereira's men now favourites to triumph in the all-English tie?Pereira lifts players and trophy hopesTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedFigure caption, Forest thrash Sunderland to boost survival hopesForest, without a major trophy since 1990, are second in the Premier League form table over the last six games - behind Brighton - having scored 15 goals, including Friday's 5-0 thumping of Sunderland.Nine of them have come in the last two games following comprehensive wins over Burnley and the Black Cats which should provide the platform for survival.West Ham and Tottenham's late wins on Saturday ensured there is still work to do in the run-in - and Pereira has underlined the Premier League is th...