In what was probably a season-defining showdown from the Metropolis Floor on Saturday lunchtime, Nottingham Forest claimed a dramatic late 1-0 victory in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
With neither goalkeeper compelled right into a save through the first-half, possibilities got here at an actual premium as neutrals have been handled to a nervy affair from the 2 Champions League contenders.
Whereas Brazilian shot-stopper Ederson might need produced a sensational cease to disclaim Morgan Gibbs-White, Forest didn’t have to attend for much longer to seize a well-known winner on dwelling soil.
Sending the Metropolis Floor into overdrive, it was former Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi who proved to be Forest’s hero because the England worldwide powered dwelling from a decent angle within the ultimate couple of minutes.
Watching their respective top-four desires taken an actual blow away from the Etihad, Pep Guardiola’s males can have few complaints following what was one other toothless home show.
On a day when Nottingham Forest shored up their spot within the top-four chase, now we have taken a have a look at the primary speaking factors from the Metropolis Floor.
Forest take an enormous leap in the direction of a well-known Champions League ticket
Whereas Nottingham Forest might need spent nearly all of final season trying over their shoulder at one other looming relegation scrap, Saturday’s hosts have firmly cemented their spot as certainly one of Europe’s final shock packages this time round.
Embarking on what has been an actual fairytale this 12 months and rightfully receiving a string of plaudits from throughout Europe’s elite, Nuno Espitito Santo finds his squad sat firmly within the driving seat to punch an iconic Champions League ticket in 2025.
Breaking a bunch of long-standing information this season and nonetheless positioned in bronze medal place, the previous Tottenham boss noticed his high-flying squad make one other heavyweight assertion right here.
Overcoming the defending champions and taking one other big leap in the direction of a top-four end come Might, Nottingham Forest have additionally gained a fearsome status for his or her continued success on the Metropolis Floor.
Ending Saturday’s showdown holding a five-point buffer from slipping out of the Champions League spots, Santo’s record-breaking squad will probably be subsequent seen after they journey to relegation scrappers Ipswich.
Metropolis undergo one other home blow
Watching their Champions League journey come to a thumping finish final month as they fell to a 6-3 mixture defeat by the hands of Spanish giants Actual Madrid, Manchester Metropolis are dealing with the true prospect of ending the season with no single piece of silverware to point out for his or her troubles.
Travelling to the Metropolis Floor on Saturday lunchtime solely simply clinging to their spot within the top-four, Guardiola’s males have been greater than conscious that they confronted a probably season-defining battle in Nottingham.
Nevertheless, whereas the defending champions might need signed off February with a nervy 1-0 victory away at Tottenham, Man Metropolis got here crashing again right down to fireplace right here.
Drastically failing to seek out any sort of stability and now dropping three of their earlier 5 Premier League appearances, Saturday’s friends know that they might end this weekend’s fixtures sat outdoors the top-four.
With Metropolis’s celebrity squad as soon as once more reducing one other disgruntled determine on the full-time whistle, time is beginning to tick away for Guardiola’s camp.
Attacking points hang-out Guardiola
With Guardiola stating after Saturday’s 1-0 loss in Nottingham that his squad has 10 cup finals developing within the race to e book a necessary Champions League ticket, the previous Barcelona boss may have an actual headache over his aspect’s struggles within the ultimate third.
Whereas Norwegian celebrity Erling Haaland might need continued to shine this season after notching 20 targets in his 27 Premier League appearances up to now this season, Metropolis have drastically failed to seek out any sort of fluidity in assault.
Placing in one other toothless home show right here and failing to create any sort of sustained stress, the Sky Blues have now notched only a single objective from their final three Premier League appearances.
Slumping to a routine 2-0 defeat at dwelling in opposition to bitter rivals Liverpool on February twenty third, Guardiola’s camp have additionally didn’t notch greater than a single strike in 4 of their earlier 5 Premier League outings.
Match Report
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wooden
Subs: Yates, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi
Manchester Metropolis: Ederson, Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, Gonzalez, Savinho, Silva, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Lewis, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Marmoush
Targets: Hudson-Odoi (83’)
Yellow Playing cards: Nottingham Forest: Yates, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White – Manchester Metropolis: Gonzalez, Nunes
Pink Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
