Nottinghamshire

Pep Guardiola's team selection will be absolutely crucial here.

Both of Manchester City's goals against Aston Villa on Tuesday came from their players being prepared to run at defenders - firstly Omar Marmoush and then Jeremy Doku, who had started the game on the bench.

But Pep appears to be very cautious at the moment, and has not been using his out-and-out wingers, Doku or Savinho, very much because he wants to try to control the middle of the pitch.

Doku and Savinho both started when Forest beat City at the beginning of March, which was City's last defeat, seven games ago, but it's unlikely that they will both start at Wembley.

That does not make this tie any easier to call, though.

Forest bounced back from a couple of defeats with a win over Tottenham on Monday, which was a huge result for their top-five hopes, and we know the way they are set up to counter-attack can cause City problems.

I am not just saying this because Forest were my boyhood team, but I want anyone but City to win the FA Cup this season.

I've got nothing against City but it would be a great story if any of the other three teams won it because they have either not won anything for so long or, in Crystal Palace's case, they have never won a major trophy at all.

Despite that, I just have a feeling that City are going to put in a good performance here, and earn the right to reach their third straight FA Cup final.

As much I hate to say it, I am expecting Pep to find a way to win, the same way they did against Everton and Aston Villa - although I hope I am wrong. My predictions are so bad at the moment, there is a good chance I will be.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Former defender Steve Cook believes Nottingham Forest will have a "fan advantage" over Manchester City at Wembley in their FA Cup semi-final.

On BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast, he spoke about his experience playing for Forest at Wembley in the 2022 Championship play-off final against Huddersfield Town.

Cook said: "We knew the atmosphere would be leaning in our favour, and I think that will be the same on Sunday.

"The Forest players will know they have a fan advantage and it's huge. When we walked out it was like a home match, but bigger and better.

"The fans will have a huge part to play. They played a big part in the play-off final. They'll know because every home match they turn up, and you've seen how well the players have responded to it.

"The players in the play-off final knew how much it meant, and the players now will know."

You can listen to the full podcast here

Image source, Getty Images

Since the 2021-22 campaign, Ryan Yates has had a hand in eight FA Cup goals in 13 games for Nottingham Forest (four goals, four assists), five more than any other player.

He also scored the winning penalty in the quarter-final shootout against Brighton in March.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you earlier for the team talk you would give to the Forest players 15 minutes before they walk out at Wembley for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final.

Here are some of your replies:

Donna: Just play the way you have all season. Hold your heads high and enjoy it if you can. Whatever the outcome, just know that the whole of Nottingham is so proud of you all. COYR!

Mark: Fight for every ball, get in the Manchester City players' faces and don't give them a minute to rest on the ball. Be the best you can be and you know you can recover in the following days after putting all your energy and effort into the game. Fight for each other, back each other up and do it for the fans and yourselves. Go and make history.

Karl: This is it, guys. We have come this far, now let's go out there and play the way we know we can. There are 34,000 Forest fans out there and they are with you, so let's give them a team and performance they can be proud off. Work as a team and work for your brothers in arms. Let's not come off that pitch with any regrets. This is our time.

Tino: Lads, no-one wants to tell their grandchildren that they were beaten in a semi-final. Let's go give them a medal to hold! Ready... FOR NUNO AND A NEW RED-AND-WHITE DAWN!

BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray, speaking on the latest episode of Shut Up And Show More Football: "The whole season has been joyous. From a club perspective, they wont want this to be the culmination. They'll want 17 May, the final, or the qualification for the Champions League. That would be the culmination. But certainly this is one of the huge steps Forest have taken this season.

"We have talked about 'next steps' and this is another step for Forest, their first semi-final at the new Wembley. It is another example of how far Forest have come this season, and who knows what is to come after Sunday."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you to name the current Nottingham Forest player from a series of clues.

The correct answer is Willy Boly.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo knows it is "impossible" to ignore the scale of Nottingham Forest's FA Cup semi final against Manchester City.

Forest face City in their first FA Cup semi-final since 1991 on Sunday as they look to continue their outstanding season.

They sit third in the Premier League with five games remaining in the race for the Champions League.

Either Crystal Palace or Aston Villa await in the final as Nuno looks to keep his squad focused.

He said: "It's the same, we have to look at the game as the same. The approach is exactly the same, you don't have to shield them, it's impossible to shield a squad when there's so much information.

"We have to go as a group of players and staff to compete. That's the best way to enjoy a semi final, to compete."

Neco Williams and captain Ryan Yates are banned for the game but will travel with the squad

Nuno added: "They can do whatever they can, all the squad is going to travel. There's going to be a moment where we are all together. They have to give a hand outside of the pitch."

Former Nottingham Forest striker Robert Earnshaw says Champions League football next season is more important to the Reds than one day of celebration in the FA Cup.

He joins Ben Croucher and former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown on The Football News Show to look ahead to Sunday's semi-final...

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Sunday (16:30 BST)

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nuno is "proud" to be taking Forest to an FA Cup semi-final: "We cannot thank (the fans) enough. There's a lot going. That shows the support of the fans, the city is happy. What can I say to them? Sing as high as you can."

• The Forest boss is dealing with injuries going into the match against City: "We have a lot of concerns. We are assessing players day by day and players coming back. There's still tomorrow to go. Moreno the same and players who have had issues from previous games."

• Nuno is treating Sunday's match no different to any other: "Inside our preparation, this game is not different form any other one. We have retained our normal cycle of preparation. It's a special occasion and we have to enjoy it. It is the same approach. I am delighted we are going to Wembley to compete in a good team. It's a long journey, a stressful one, we have to compete and go and play."

• Chris Wood's return to goalscoring form is a positive: "I believe the game against Everton was hard, he was back to competing and did a good game. We felt Chris was comfortable and there's always improvement."

• Monday's Premier League win at Tottenham gives Forest confidence going into the run-in: "It helps a lot, the best way to prepare for the matches is when you perform well from the previous one. We bounced back from previous performances and the players are confident."

• Nuno wants his team to give it everything they have to reach the FA Cup final: "It's the same, we have to look at the game as the same. The approach is exactly the same, you don't have to shield them, it's impossible to shield a squad when there's much information. We have to go as a group of players and staff to compete. That's the best way to enjoy a semi-final, to compete."

Follow all of Friday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news