Match Report and Player Ratings: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

A late goal from Callum Hudson-Odoi sealed a crucial win for Nottingham Forest over Manchester City in a Premier League top-four showdown on Saturday afternoon.

City started on the back-foot and had to hold their ground in defence after a quick flurry of attacks from the hosts, underscored by a nervy pass back by Matheus Nunes – nowhere near intended target Abdukodir Khusanov – resulting in a home corner.

Chris Wood, who has been in fine goalscoring form for Forest this season, almost supplied Erling Haaland with the goods after seven minutes when his failed clearance near the edge of the area found his Norwegian counterpart, whose effort beat Matz Sels but was wide of the post.

City’s January midfield signing Nico Gonzalez took matters in his own hands when his sensational strike from 25 yards struck the post – by which point the Premier League champions were in control of the game and enjoying their best spell in possession.

Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were presented with good chances to break the deadlock before the interval, with winger Jeremy Doku at the heart of quite a few City moves after starring in recent league starts against Liverpool and Tottenham.

The second half proved to be more end-to-end between the top four hopefuls, with Khusanov – one of the first names on Guardiola’s team-sheet having impressed since his arrival – making his presence felt in defence with an inspiring set of recoveries and tackles.

Guardiola introduced Kevin De Bruyne and Omar Marmoush to influence proceedings, with Mateo Kovacic also coming on for Nico Gonzalez and Rico Lewis replacing Matheus Nunes, who was struggling before half-time but stayed on into the beginning of the second half.

Ederson made a great save to thwart Callum Hudson-Odoi after 66 minutes but the City goalkeeper would come up second best when the ex Chelsea winger found the net after 85 minutes squeezed the ball through the near post – which appeared to have taken the most delicate deflection off Josko Gvardiol.

Mateo Kovacic nearly volleyed home from just outside the area in stoppage time but City suffer another defeat and one that could have major implications in their pursuit of Champions League football next season.

Here’s how the Manchester City squad fared in a disappointing afternoon in Nottingham.

Player Ratings

Starting XI

Ederson – 5/10

Made an outstanding save to deny Callum Hudson-Odoi after 66 minutes and was good with his distribution but conceded a goal that shouldn’t have gone in through his near post.

Matheus Nunes – 6/10

Very shaky start and he always has a questionable decision in him. Runs his socks off and looks more like himself in his natural midfield position but he wasn’t having the best of games even prior to being taken off for Rico Lewis.

Abdukodir Khusanov – 8/10 (POTM)

Khusanov continues to impress and was by far and away City’s best player on the pitch. Rock solid, no-nonsense defending and made a string of crucial interceptions to deny Hudson-Odoi and Wood.

Ruben Dias – 7/10

At his calm, confident self as usual and was having a bit of a row with Guardiola on City’s defensive line close to half-time. Couldn’t have done anything about Hudson-Odoi’s goal.

Josko Gvardiol – 7/10

Didn’t do much wrong and provided some potent attacking threat by combining well with the likes of Doku, Savinho and Silva on the left flank.

Bernardo Silva – 6.5/10

Couldn’t find the ball in the advanced midfield positions and only looked much more a threat after De Bruyne came on.

Nico Gonzalez – 6/10

Did well to thwart Forest in midfield but there’s a reason Rodri has won a Ballon d’Or and no one else in the world can tie his laces. When you’ve had the best in the world running the game for years, anyone else will be lacking in terms of standards.

Savinho – 6/10

Couldn’t find Haaland and didn’t pose as much an attacking threat as he usually does. Didn’t have support from Silva and Foden in what was a drab attacking performance all round from the visitors.

Phil Foden – 6/10

Barely came into the game but had a very good chance to net the opener just after 30 minutes. Need to see more from Foden, he’s gone missing in games and he needs to step up his game.

Jeremy Doku – 7/10

City’s brightest attacking spark against Liverpool and Tottenham enjoyed his fair share of possession out wide but his end product is his own worst enemy.

Erling Haaland – 6.5/10

Failed to bully Forest’s centre halves and after missing a chance created by Chris Wood early on, he didn’t pose much of a threat.

Substitutes

Rico Lewis – 6/10

Brought on for Nunes at right-back and did his best to open up the opposition defence in the final stages of the game.

Mateo Kovacic – 6.5/10

Nearly snatched a point by volleying home from outside the box in injury time.

Kevin De Bruyne – 6/10

Was City’s main creative outlet when he came on but Forest defended resolutely and even De Bruyne couldn’t break them down

Omar Marmoush – 6.5/10

Got City higher up the pitch by combining with Haaland and winning some important fouls.