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Pearce 'humbled' by Forest supportpublished at 17:21 11 March
17:21 11 March
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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."
Why Forest's success this season 'has been very simple'published at 12:19 11 March
12:19 11 March
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?
Forest felling City is no surprisepublished at 10:38 11 March
10:38 11 March
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.
Murillo is a 'magnificent piece of scouting'published at 09:08 11 March
09:08 11 March
Media caption,
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."
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man City: The fans' verdictpublished at 11:27 10 March
11:27 10 March
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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.
'Forest in such a strong position now'published at 08:07 10 March
08:07 10 March
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."
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester City: Dogged hosts earn statement winpublished at 15:07 8 March
15:07 8 March
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.
'They had us on the ropes but we worked very hard'published at 14:57 8 March
14:57 8 March
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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."
Did you know?published at 14:52 8 March
14:52 8 March
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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).
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man City - send us your thoughtspublished at 14:24 8 March
Sutton's predictions: Nottingham Forest v Man Citypublished at 18:51 7 March
18:51 7 March
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.
'Win against Man City would send out a statement'published at 18:35 7 March
18:35 7 March
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."
Forest Q&A: Are the back-ups good enough for the Premier League?published at 12:44 7 March
12:44 7 March
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.
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.
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