Callum Hudson-Odoi struck a second-half winner as Nottingham Forest enhanced their Champions League credentials with a terrific 1-0 Premier League win over Manchester City at the City Ground.
The lunchtime kickoff between third and fourth did not live up to the pre-game billing in the first half, where there was little to report on other than a Nico Gonzalez long-range rocket which clipped the outside of the post on its way behind.
The Tricky Trees' sturdy defensive shape effectively kept Pep Guardiola's men at arm's length, and it coincidentally took an outstretched arm from Ederson to tip a Hudson-Odoi strike onto the post midway through the second half.
However, the Englishman then came out on top in his next one-on-one with the Brazilian, beating Ederson at his near post for the deadlock-breaking goal with no fewer than 83 minutes on the clock to spark a Forest frenzy in the home crowd.
Thanks to a first win over Man City in the league since 1997, Forest have now moved four points clear of the champions in third place in the Premier League table, while Guardiola's side will drop out of the top four if Chelsea take at least a point against Leicester City on Sunday.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
A match that seemed destined to end in a dull 0-0 instead concluded with the Garibaldi fanbase breaking out into song again, and the way things are going, they will be belting out their chants all across Europe next season.
Neither Nuno Espirito Santo's side nor Guardiola's men gave the paying fans their money's worth in the first 45 minutes, but as the action gradually grew in entertainment value, Forest always looked the more likely to nab the winner.
Hudson-Odoi's endeavour certainly merited the Englishman's match-winning moment, but Ederson will not want to watch that one back, especially as he had done brilliantly to tip an earlier strike from his Forest counterpart onto the post.
From Hudson-Odoi's winner to a dogged defensive display, the Garibaldi once again demonstrated why Champions League football belongs at the City Ground next season, and why it perhaps does not belong at the Etihad.
Not for the first time this season, Erling Haaland cut an extremely isolated figure up front as the champions failed to convert plentiful possession into meaningful chances, and Saturday's drab display was yet more evidence that the golden era at Man City has come to its natural end.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. MAN CITY HIGHLIGHTS
15th min: Forest 0-0 Man City (Nico Gonzalez hits post)
© Imago
This one had the Forest fans behind Matz Sels's goal slightly worried!
Gonzalez picks up the ball and is afforded time and space to let fly from long range, and his fizzing effort smacks the outside of the post before going behind.
Sels likely had that one covered given it was at his near post, but that was the best chance of the first half by far.
Ederson save vs. Nottingham Forest (67th min, Nottingham Forest 0-0 Man City)
What a save this is from Ederson 👏
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 8, 2025
He pushes Callum Hudson-Odoi's effort onto the post to keep the score 0-0 🧤
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/XTGBFqb5pu
Taking inspiration from Alisson's magnificent display against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, fellow Brazilian Ederson keeps the visitors level with a stunning stop from Hudson-Odoi!
The former Chelsea winger cuts inside from the left - as he loves to do - and tries to bend one into the corner through a sea of bodies, but Ederson gets down low and manages to tip his strike onto the post.
Callum Hudson-Odoi goal vs. Man City (83rd min, Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man City)
Callum Hudson-Odoi fires Nottingham Forest into the lead against Man City! 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 8, 2025
How about that assist from Morgan Gibbs-White 😮💨
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/WiR5642xK3
It has taken 83 minutes, but finally the lunchtime kickoff explodes into life!
Morgan Gibbs-White plays a phenomenal cross-field ball to the feet of Hudson-Odoi on the right, and the winger faces up to Josko Gvardiol before somehow finding a gap at Ederson's near post!
Hudson-Odoi's side-footed strike hit Ederson's wrist before nestling into the back of the net, but the Citizens goalkeeper has to do much better there.
MAN OF THE MATCH - CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI
Callum Hudson-Odoi is bang in form for Forest! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/75yjcFMuAV
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 8, 2025
Had Saturday's showdown finished at half time, tackle master Nicolas Dominguez would have been a simple pick for the man-of-the-match prize, but the omnipotent midfielder is only just pipped to this prize by the match-winner himself.
Hudson-Odoi's first strike which Ederson tipped onto the post renewed the hosts' hope, and the 24-year-old took the ball down beautifully before getting the rub of the green for his goal.
Furthermore, Hudson-Odoi fashioned two chances for his teammates and won both of his ground duels in a memorable victory - does an England recall await the former Thomas Tuchel protege?
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. MAN CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Nottingham Forest 31%-69% Man City
Shots: Nottingham Forest 9-14 Man City
Shots on target: Nottingham Forest 4-3 Man City
Corners: Nottingham Forest 3-2 Man City
Fouls: Nottingham Forest 9-7 Man City
BEST STATS
Erling Haaland had just one touch in the Nottingham Forest box in the first half. #NFOMCI
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 8, 2025
Man City have lost 9+ games in a PL season for the first time this decade.
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) March 8, 2025
This is only their second 9-loss PL season under Pep Guardiola. pic.twitter.com/0rKGCXZ2Nh
Callum Hudson-Odoi has scored 3 goals following a dribble in the Premier League this season. Only Mbeumo (7), Haaland (6) & Iwobi (5) have managed more.
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 8, 2025
Caught Ederson out on his near post. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/zMbD7IySz7
WHAT NEXT?
In their final game before the international break, Nottingham Forest hit the road to face relegation-threatened Ipswich Town next Saturday, before heading to Brighton & Hove Albion for the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 29.
Coincidentally, Man City will pit their wits against the Seagulls in their next Premier League game on March 15, and Bournemouth will be their cup quarter-final opponents at the Vitality Stadium on March 30.
Ben Knapton
