Callum Hudson-Odoi scored a late goal as Nottingham Forest beat Manchester City 1-0 to take a huge step towards Champions League qualification.
While both sides hit the post, it was a game of few chances before a lovely move from Forest set Hudson-Odoi clear on the right, and he beat Ederson at his near post in the 83rd minute.
The win puts third-placed Forest four points clear of closest challengers City in the Premier League with 10 matches each to go, with Chelsea — who are at home against second-bottom Leicester City on Sunday for their game in hand — a point behind Pep Guardiola’s outgoing champions.
Here, our writers break down the key talking points of the match.
Glorious — and crucial — goal
It was not exactly another smash-and-grab raid, but it was another memorable strike from Callum Hudson-Odoi.
When Morgan Gibbs-White picked out the winger on Forest’s right side, he still had much work to do. But it was also a rare opportunity for the Chelsea academy graduate to prod and probe at the City defence.
And he did exactly that, producing clever footwork to twist and turn and create half a yard of space for a shot. He used that gap brilliantly, somehow finding a space for a second time to beat Ederson at his near post.
(Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Hudson-Odoi also scored the goal deep into the second half that suggested Forest might be capable of something special when they beat now champions-elect Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in September. This one felt just as significant, as he struck with seven minutes of the 90 remaining to give Forest a victory that felt every bit as significant as that one.
Paul Taylor
Question marks over wingers
This was a pretty sloppy afternoon for most of the players involved but the performances of City’s wingers are under the microscope after an eye-catching but ultimately fruitless display in a 2-0 home loss against Liverpool a couple of weeks ago.
The problem is both Savinho and especially Jeremy Doku are very skilled dribblers and can excite fans, but they can frustrate in equal measure with their lack of end-product. It is easy to feel sorry for striker Erling Haaland in that regard; as he tries to work out which run to make, either one of his wingers is stepping left and right to get around their man, and then the ball, when it is delivered, does not reach him anyway.
Haaland was off-target with a couple of early efforts here (one deflected, to be fair, the other scuffed), so it is not as if he did his job faultlessly, but this was another match where City’s wingers looked like they might make something happen, only for it not to materialise.
Sam Lee
Nuno’s tactical nous
Nuno Espirito Santo delivered another tactical masterclass.
The team named by Nuno did not really contain any surprises. But the manner in which they lined up was slightly unexpected. Forest started with a 4-4-2, with Anthony Elanga pushed up into a more advanced role alongside Chris Wood.
When Forest were out of possession, one of them always dropped deeper to help out defensively, with Forest generally having two banks of four sitting between City and their goal. Forest were defensively solid and disciplined. But it also left Wood and Elanga looking slightly isolated. A clever effort from Wood just before the interval was Forest’s only shot on target in the first half.
But just as they had done at Anfield earlier in the season, Forest were rewarded for going more attacking later in the game. After switching to their more usual 4-2-3-1, it was Hudson-Odoi who made the breakthrough. After the goal, Morato was introduced to go three at the back and help see the game out.
Paul Taylor
Four subs, no Grealish
This was a match where Guardiola was both willing and able to bring on four substitutes to try to freshen up City’s performance but none of them were Jack Grealish. The England winger started against Plymouth in the FA Cup last weekend and Guardiola said he would be able to play today, noting it had been seven days between matches, perhaps a nod to his earlier assertion that Grealish has not had the fitness to play every three days at times this season.
Gonzalez strikes at goal (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
The 29-year-old was pictured out and about in Manchester and the north east last weekend and, in isolation, that should not really be a problem given he had two days off, but it is a pattern at this point and while Guardiola did not want to comment on it at his press conference, the team selection might have done that for him.
Sam Lee
Two sides of Ederson
The thing with City at the moment is that you can never be quite sure what to expect and that was obvious all over the pitch, but perhaps most notably in goal. Ederson had made a world-class save down to his left to deny Hudson-Odoi and at that point it looked like it might have ensured this largely uneventful match ended goalless, but the next time they faced each other the Forest winger came out on top, firing in at the near post. Goalkeepers are always questioned when beaten like that and this one certainly looked saveable. After his heroics earlier, it was a real disappointment for the Brazilian.
Sam Lee
Forest eye Europe
It was not three points that made certain of Champions League qualification for Nottingham Forest — but it was a massive demonstration of intent, nevertheless.
If anyone had begun to doubt Forest’s ability to secure a top-five finish in the Premier League, following three games without a win, this performance was a reminder of everything that has underlined their remarkable rise this season.
Defensively disciplined and resolute, Forest once more struck on the break to secure a 1-0 win that gave them a small but immensely valuable four-point cushion between them and fourth-placed City.
Forest have only conceded ten goals at the City Ground — and this may have been Matz Sels’ most significant clean sheet yet.
Paul Taylor
What did Nuno Espirito Santo say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What did Pep Guardiola say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Nottingham Forest?
Saturday, March 15: Ipswich (Away), Premier League, 3pm UK, 10am ET
What next for Manchester City?
Saturday, March 15: Brighton (Home), Premier League, 3pm UK, 10am ET
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(Top photo: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images))
