In what was potentially a season-defining showdown from the City Ground on Saturday lunchtime, Nottingham Forest claimed a dramatic late 1-0 victory against Manchester City.
With neither goalkeeper forced into a save during the first-half, chances came at a real as neutrals were treated to a nervy affair from the two Champions League contenders.
While Brazilian shot-stopper Ederson might have produced a sensational stop to deny Morgan Gibbs-White, Forest didn’t have to wait much longer to grab a famous winner on home soil.
Sending the City Ground into overdrive, it was former Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi who proved to be Forest’s hero as the England international powered home from a tight angle in the final few minutes.
Watching their respective top-four dreams taken a real blow away from the Etihad, Pep Guardiola’s men can have few complaints following what was another toothless domestic display.
On an afternoon when Nottingham Forest shored up their spot in the top-four chase, we have taken a look at the main talking points from the City Ground.
Forest take a giant leap towards a famous Champions League ticket
While Nottingham Forest might have spent the majority of last season looking over their shoulder at another looming relegation scrap, Saturday’s hosts have firmly cemented their spot as one of Europe’s ultimate surprise packages this time around.
Embarking on what has been a real fairytale this year and rightfully receiving a string of plaudits from across Europe’s elite, Nuno Espitito Santo finds his squad sat firmly in the driving seat to punch an iconic Champions League ticket in 2025.
Breaking a host of long-standing records this season and still placed in bronze medal position, the former Tottenham boss saw his high-flying squad make another heavyweight statement here.
Overcoming the defending champions and taking another giant leap towards a top-four finish come May, Nottingham Forest have also gained a fearsome reputation for their continued success at the City Ground.
Ending Saturday’s showdown holding a five-point buffer from slipping out of the Champions League spots, Santo’s record-breaking squad will be next seen when they travel to relegation scrappers Ipswich.
City suffer another domestic blow
Watching their Champions League adventure come to a thumping end last month as they fell to a 6-3 aggregate defeat at the hands of Spanish giants Real Madrid, Manchester City are facing the real prospect of ending the season without a single piece of silverware to show for their troubles.
Travelling to the City Ground on Saturday lunchtime only just clinging to their spot in the top-four, Guardiola’s men were more than aware that they faced a potentially season-defining battle in Nottingham.
However, while the defending champions might have signed off February with a nervy 1-0 victory away at Tottenham, Man City came crashing back down to hearth here.
Drastically failing to find any kind of stability and now losing three of their previous five Premier League appearances, Saturday’s guests know that they could finish this weekend’s fixtures sat outside the top-four.
With City’s superstar squad once again cutting another disgruntled figure at the full-time whistle, time is starting to tick away for Guardiola’s camp.
Attacking issues haunt Guardiola
With Guardiola stating after Saturday’s 1-0 loss in Nottingham that his squad has 10 cup finals coming up in the race to book an essential Champions League ticket, the former Barcelona boss will have a real headache over his side’s struggles in the final third.
While Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland might have continued to shine this season after notching 20 goals in his 27 Premier League appearances so far this season, City have drastically failed to find any kind of fluidity in attack.
Putting in another toothless domestic display here and failing to create any kind of sustained pressure, the Sky Blues have now notched just a single goal from their last three Premier League appearances.
Slumping to a routine 2-0 defeat at home against bitter rivals Liverpool on February 23rd, Guardiola’s camp have also failed to notch more than a single strike in four of their previous five Premier League outings.
Match Report
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood
Subs: Yates, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi
Manchester City: Ederson, Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, Gonzalez, Savinho, Silva, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Lewis, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Marmoush
Goals: Hudson-Odoi (83’)
Yellow Cards: Nottingham Forest: Yates, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White – Manchester City: Gonzalez, Nunes
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
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