Guardiola defends Ederson after Man City are beaten by Nottingham Forest | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says he does not put any blame on Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson after his side were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest.

Callum Hudson-Odoi’s second-half strike handed Forest a huge win in the race for Champions League football while handing a significant blow to City’s own hopes of making the top five.

Goalkeeper Ederson was beaten at his near post for the goal, having earlier made a superb stop to keep out Hudson-Odoi by tipping his strike onto the post.

And Guardiola refused to criticise his goalkeeper.

“It is what it is,” he said.

“I never blame a player. I prefer to praise. I never blame.

“I didn’t see the action but it’s football. A good action from Hudson-Odoi so nothing to say.”

Forest went into the game a point and one place above City and have now moved four points clear of them following victory.

Chelsea sit just a point behind Guardiola’s side having played a game less, while Newcastle are just three points behind the Sky Blues.

“It was a tight game,” Guardiola said.

“At the end it was one transition. We missed the pass, they did a transition and they scored the goal.

“We were a little bit slow in our process. We struggled to create chances but always we give credit to the opponent because they defended really well.

“We controlled the main threat, long balls to Wood and second balls, really good, and after that the transitions always we were really good especially in the first half.

“Everyone was so connected but our game was a little bit slow and we could not contact in the final third. When we arrive in the final third we did not have enough brilliance in our actions.

“We have to win games. We have not won enough games in a row to be secure.

“We have ten games left and we have to win a lot of games to qualify. It’s as simple as that.”