Nottingham Forest

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Ipswich have not won any of their past 14 Premier League games against sides in the top three of the table since a 1-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield in January 1995 (D2 L12). Those 12 defeats in that run have come by an aggregate score of 40-3.

Ipswich are the only side in England's top four tiers without a league win so far in 2025 - their longest run without a league victory from the start of a calendar year in their history.

This will be Nuno Espirito Santo's 50th Premier League game in charge of Nottingham Forest. He has won 21 of his 49 so far, with only Brian Clough (27) and Frank Clark (25) winning more of their first 50 top-flight games in charge of Forest.

Ten games to go and we need your positivity.

It is looking likely the Premier League will be awarded an extra Champions League spot for the 2025-26 season, so finishing fifth will mean a seat at Europe's top table.

We want you to tell us, in just one sentence, why Nottingham Forest will qualify for the Champions League

Let us know here

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We asked you what one thing no-one is talking about at Forest but really should be.

Here are some of your comments:

Matt: I think more praise should be given to Neco Williams. He completely nullified Mohamed Salah back in January and his work rate every match is incredible. There' are so many standout players for Forest this season - just want to make sure they all get the plaudits!

Renzel: Williams is performing at an outrageous standard, and while he is starting to get recognition from the Forest faithful, he isn't getting the plaudits he deserves from the press/media.

Mark: Need a new contract sorting as soon as possible for Ola Aina. Arguably the best full-back in the Premier League this season.

Neil: Strength in depth - or lack of - is the major concern for us. It's been a brilliant season but we have been lucky to keep our best players fit for most of this season. On the occasions they were not ,then our replacements have not been up to the required standard at this level. That needs addressing in the summer. Investment needed for potential Champions League campaign!

Geoff: It is no accident that Forest are doing so well. Compared with other teams we have had fewer long term injuries and that is no accident either. Few hamstring injuries, compared with others highlights the quality of the conditioning team and fitness programme. Long may it continue?

Matt S: Great leadership as every player understands and repeats the message - one game at a time and stay humble. Fabulous owner and fabulous recruitment.

Nottingham Forest's magical season just keeps getting better and better.

Saturday's win against Manchester City strengthen Forest's position in the race to qualify for the Champions League, while Nuno's side are also through to the last eight of the FA Cup.

And there is no doubt plenty more going on that you know far more about than we do.

So tell us, what's one thing - good or bad - that no-one is talking about at Forest but really should be?

Let us know here

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Ex-Nottingham Forest captain and manager Stuart Pearce, speaking to Talksport about the supportive messages from his former club following his health scare earlier in the week:

"It was incredibly humbling. It was really nice to hear Nuno's message as well and that I am part of their family and my history with the club dictates that.

"Fantastically humbling, it really was, but it's what I expect from that football club - they're incredible."

On his health and recovery: "I had a virus that just sort of attached itself to my heart that just needed clearing, rebooting and going through the process I think.

"When I get home I obviously will have some medical checks there and go and see my GP and one or two other things, I'm sure.

"But I feel brilliant in myself and have done since mid-last week to be honest with you, but I'm in really good hands."

• Read more from Pearce here

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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One of Nottingham Forest's biggest problems in recent years has been not knowing their best starting XI.

Of course, that was largely down to the well-documented amount of signings the club made after coming up from the Championship.

That promotion-winning season had a fairly predictable starting XI, with only the occasional injury or tactical tweak changing the line-up. Ryan Yates is now the sole survivor of that entire play-off final squad.

Loan signings were a key part of that team, which explains much of the rebuilding job that has been done since, but the advantage Nuno Espirito Santo has had this season is that the core of his current squad are not all new arrivals.

The key additions of Nikola Milenkovic and Elliot Anderson last summer were the final jigsaw pieces of a well-rounded side.

Forest have been extremely fortunate with injuries this season, although this is down to lessons being learned from previous years. The fitness and conditioning staff that have been put in place are absolutely proving their worth.

Plus, Nuno's focus on working with a smaller squad has been made possible by a natural reduction due to expiring contracts and the end of loan deals.

All of this has meant the Reds' line-up for most of this season has been fairly settled. Partnerships have formed and understandings have developed, with confidence and belief growing from that consistency.

That is why this well-drilled team, as we saw on Saturday, were able to nullify current Premier League champions Manchester City - as well as Arsenal and other opponents - with a game plan that shifted in formation throughout the 90 minutes.

Forest's success this season is very simple on paper - we have a team of talented individuals who complement each other and know how to perform their roles to a tee, plus a manager playing to their strengths and personalities.

Not everything works out in reality, but could it be that the stars are aligning - the two on the crest specifically - for this great club to take its place at Europe's top table again?

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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The Nottingham Forest v Manchester City game should have been considered the tie of the weekend, after all this was third v fourth, but it didn't get that billing.‌

The reasons were that City aren't the team of recent years and Forest aren't one of the big-name clubs, even though as twice European Champions in days gone by, they could make a decent argument against that outlook.‌

It takes a few years at the business end of the Premier League to be considered box office and even if that is harsh on those who visit the top four or five now and again, it is just the deal. It doesn't take anything away from the fact that Nuno's men beat Pep's and already no-one is particularly surprised.

Many Forest players are rightly being considered for England call ups. Ola Aina chose Nigeria as the call from England took too long, but Morgan Gibbs-White should add to his measly two caps very soon even in a crowded creative midfield area where Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and, yes, even Cole Palmer are each having relatively lean spells.‌

Callum Hudson-Odoi is another who might get a chance after a six-year long international absence. His weakness back in those Chelsea days was that he stopped taking players on after a serious injury. He has rectified that now with the help of a supportive manager and a playing style that suits him.‌

It is still a big ask for Forest to hold on to this form, but every week it looks more likely that they may grace the Champions League again very soon, something that even the staunchest Forest fan would not have believed 12 months ago.

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Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo remains a key figure for Nuno Espirito Santo's side, so it is hard to believe he made so few first team appearances for Brazil's top flight team Corinthians before signing in 2023.

"This is a magnificent piece of scouting," South American football expert Tim Vickery told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"It was 25 games and out. Forest must have had him on their radar after 10 first team performances and what a bargain they got, and what a profit they are going to make."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts on Nottingham Forest's Premier League game against Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

James: We were lucky to win that. Not denying the goal, it was amazing from MGW, but the rest was pretty uneventful. But a win is a win, and it helps our chances of Champions League.

Becca: Disciplined and cultured from Forest. This was a game where nerves could've got the better of us, but we never looked in danger of conceding thanks to another excellent display from (arguably) the best full-back pairing in the League! What a season this is turning out to be! The assist from MGW wasn't bad either! COYR

Pete: People moaning about a dull game miss the point. A team costing a fraction of the amount of another team played to their strengths. Sometimes it has to be like chess. Don't like it - go shopping instead.

Man City fans

Simon: Another toothless display from City, which sums up the whole season. Loads of possession and no end product. One of the greatest strikers ever and we rarely get the ball to him.

Jeff: I feel this was the worst performance of our season so far. We fielded a strong XI who had no need to recover from Champion's League fatigue due to earlier capitulations. Forest were there for the taking but our well paid senior pros failed to deliver once again.

AB: The current City team reminds me a lot of the 2018 World Cup Spanish team - toothless, outdated tiki-taka and aimless passing.

Former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast about Nottingham Forest: "If you know who you are and what you are, nobody can tell you what you're supposed to be. They know the identity of who they are and they play true to it. Everyone plays their part, it's a united atmosphere that Nuno has created there.

"It's great for English football and for the club. It's nice to see Forest doing what they're doing, the same as last season when it was Villa getting to the Champions League."

Presenter Darren Fletcher added: "I think it's starting to get into the realms now of them not having to worry about everyone else. They've just got to win five or six more games and they'll be in regardless, because everyone's got to play each other.

"They're in such a strong position now. I felt like that win against Manchester City was huge because there was a possibility that they could have come out of the weekend in fifth, and then you're starting to panic a little bit because you've have that cushion for so long.

"It felt like that they had to have that one on Saturday for a multitude of reasons."

Listen on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool 3-1 Southampton

• Brentford 0-1 Aston Villa

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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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."

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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