Nottinghamshire

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

This was not a game that will live long in the memory, but it may well prove to be one of the most important victories of Nottingham Forest's magnificent season.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side showed little as an attacking force before half-time but rarely looked like conceding against a Manchester City side who lacked the pace and ingenuity to break down their resolute hosts.

Having kept Pep Guardiola's team at bay in the first half, Forest raised the tempo after the interval and tested Ederson within seconds of the restart, Nico Dominguez volleying Anthony Elanga's cross into the arms of the Brazilian from a tight angle.

But it was Callum Hudson-Odoi who sparked an otherwise uneventful second period into life.

Ederson did well to deny the 24-year-old midway through the half, tipping his goal-bound effort on to the post, but he failed to keep out the winger's effort with seven minutes remaining as Forest edged closer to a place in next season's Champions League.

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Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Nottingham Forest's victory against Manchester City: "It was a tough game everybody saw how good Manchester City are, they had us on the ropes but the boys worked very hard. Of course they were going to have chances but then it was then about us taking ours.

"It was good today. It started with Anthony [Elanga] and Chris [Wood] trying to cut the lines to give time to the back lines but definitely a very good defensive display. We tried to block and then break through the middle with Anthony.

"The focus does not change. We are on to the next one, Ipswich. It [beating City] shows the progress of the squad but there is so much football to be played. Let's focus on the journey and move on to the next one."

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have won 11 Premier League games this season without conceding a goal, more victories than they managed across their previous two seasons in the competition combined (7 in 2022-23 and 3 in 2023-24).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Forest's performance

What did you make of City's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Six matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (12:30)

• Liverpool v Southampton - full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town

• Brighton v Fulham

• Brentford v Aston Villa (17:30) full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Everton (20:00)

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

This is a big game in the race for the Champions League places, and a tough one to call.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola rested a few players for last weekend's FA Cup win over Plymouth and Erling Haaland is fit again.

Nottingham Forest are at home, but their fans don't mind them sitting in and hitting teams on the break, which is what they will do here.

It wasn't so long ago people were lauding Forest, but they have not won in the Premier League since beating Brighton 7-0 on 1 February.

I don't think there is too much wrong with Nuno Espirito Santo's team, though. They are still in the FA Cup and, in the league, they have lost narrowly away to Fulham and Newcastle and then they drew with Arsenal, which seemed a decent result to me.

I had a look at Forest's remaining 11 league games and, in the reverse fixtures this season, they have won nine, drawn one and lost one.

That shows that if they keep their squad fit and available then they have got a great chance of a top-five finish, which will probably get them in the Champions League.

Their one defeat in that sequence above actually came when they were well beaten by Manchester City at the start of December.

It will be much closer this time but, although I hate to go against my boyhood club, I still fancy City to nick the points.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

On the latest episode BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast, Colin Fray and David Jackson spoke about the possibility of Nottingham Forest beating Manchester City at the City Ground on Saturday.

"If Forest could get a win, which is something that has evaded them since they returned to the Premier League, that sends out a bit of a statement about where they are," Fray said.

"I still think there is this thing around the country of people waiting for Forest to falter. This has been a very difficult run of fixtures that they have had and they're still in third place as they come into this next game in this tricky run against Manchester City.

"If they could get a win and extend their lead over City to four points, then I think that really sends out a statement about the frame of mind and the form that Forest are in.

"If it were to go the other way, Manchester City were to leave with the three points and push Forest down to fourth, then you would have a lot of people around the country saying: 'OK, let's see what Forest have got.'

"The City Ground has been good to Forest lately. They have no need to be underconfident in any way against City at the weekend.

"It's a great chance to lay down another marker at this stage in the season."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Colin Fray
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter

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In the final part of our Q&A with BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray, we take a look at the options Forest have to change games.

David asked: As soon as Ibrahim Sangare and Danilo were substituted against Ipswich in the FA Cup, the game changed. There was more urgency and Forest became quicker and had more intensity. Are Sangare and Danilo suited to the Premier League? I don't think so.

Colin answered: There are a couple of things here within the same question.

I don't doubt that the game changed after those substitutions, but remember that the two who came on were Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson, and given their form this season, it is no surprise that everything improved in Forest's play.

The other thing to consider is that both substituted players are still on their way back from injury, and neither have had many minutes so far this season. Injury and illness has blighted Sangare's Premier League career so far, so I still do not think we have seen the best of him.

As for Danilo, he was impressive at times during the previous season and a half, and scored some crucial goals. Remember he is still young, too. At 23, there is plenty of football ahead of him.

• Not a Forest fan? Find and follow your club here

Dave P asked: Taiwo Awoniyi is really struggling this season as back up for Chris Wood. Do you think Nuno Espirito Santo should see this as an opportunity to bring in some of the under-21s? I want to see what the next generation looks like on the big stage.

Colin answered: The issue here is that those younger players who might be able to step up are, in the main, out on loan gaining valuable experience in lower leagues.

In addition, it is a big ask these days to throw younger, inexperienced players in at Premier League level.

One of the consequences of moving out of the Championship, where there are perhaps more opportunities to give youth a chance, was that it will take an exceptional talent to be able to 'swim' rather than 'sink' when tried out at the very top level.

Listen to full commentary on every Nottingham Forest game, and In The Game every weeknight from 18:00, on BBC Radio Nottingham.

And subscribe to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds.

Colin Fray
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter

Image source, Getty Images

In the second part of our special Q&A with BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray, we consider what impact European qualification would have on Forest.

Simon asked: Will qualifying for Europe, and in particular clinching a coveted Champions League spot, help to completely remove any future concerns about having to sell a star player to comply with PSR rules?

Colin answered: It will certainly help... but I wouldn't say it would remove the threat all together.

More money would be coming into the club - significantly more if Forest were able to hang on to a Champions League spot. But the squad would also need significant investment to become strong and deep enough to cope with the extra games and travelling, and to avoid a slump in domestic form while playing in Europe. So, more income, but more outgoings too.

• Not a Forest fan? Find and follow your club here

Jill asked: When we were successful in Europe in the late 1970s (yes I remember it well), there were fewer games played to reach the European Cup final. Do you think when Forest play in one of the European tournaments next season, they risk performing poorly in the Premier League because of the small squad? They seem to struggle when there is more than one game a week.

Colin: There's a general feeling in football that qualification for European football, while a massive incentive and achievement, does bring with it the potentially major pitfall of having a negative impact on the domestic season.

I think there's little doubt that if Forest DO qualify for Europe, Nuno Espirito will be looking to add strength and depth to his squad to help them try to mitigate that potential danger.

Come back later on Thursday for the third part of our Q&A where Colin takes a deeper look at the current Forest tactics

Listen to full commentary on every Forest game, and In The Game every weeknight from 18:00, on BBC Radio Nottingham.

And subscribe to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds.

Colin Fray
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter

Image source, Getty Images

In the first part of our Q&A with BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray, we take a look at Forest's recent form.

Dave asked: While this season has been magnificent so far, to what do you attribute the recent dip in form? Tiredness, quality of opposition, squad depth... ?

Colin: Completely agree with the use of the adjective "magnificent" to describe the season so far. The relative dip in form has to be taken in the context of how outstandingly good Forest were in their December and January run.

To continue to perform at that level, in the Premier League, in every game, was probably unrealistic.

When you factor in the opponents Forest have faced recently - most of whom gave them problems in the first half of the season, too (Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle, Arsenal), you can understand why there may have been a dip. That said, they are still third and unbeaten at the City Ground since November.

Return later on Friday for the second part of our Q&A looking at the race for Europe and how it could affect Forest's need to comply with PSR.

• Not a Forest fan? Find and follow your club here