Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester City: Callum Hudson-Odoi nets winner as Forest take huge step towards Champions League qualification | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest got the better of Manchester City courtesy of a 1-0 triumph in Saturday’s meeting at the City Ground.

Separated by only one point in the Premier League table at kick-off, both teams sought a crucial win to aid their quest for Champions League football next season.

Having returned from injury with a bang to score the winner against Tottenham Hotspur in his last league outing, Erling Braut Haaland had an early sight of goal but could only drag his right-footed effort wide.

Nico Gonzalez was the next City player to take a crack at Matz Sels’ goal inside the opening 15 minutes as the midfielder struck the upright from range.

Despite boasting a lion’s share of the ball possession, City were limited to efforts from outside the penalty area, with Gonzalez trying his luck from distance for the second time in 10 minutes.

Bernardo Silva had his side’s first real chance from inside the box, although the Portuguese was unable to keep his effort down.

Jeremy Doku stung the palms of compatriot Sels shortly afterwards as Pep Guardiola’s men continued their search for the opener.

After going 43 minutes without a shot on target, Forest finally called Ederson into action just before the interval through top scorer Chris Wood, whose effort was comfortably dealt with.

That brought to an end a largely uneventful first half with both sides remaining as they started the day.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side launched a typical counter-attacking move after the break, at the end of which Alejandro Dominguez managed to get his volley on target from an acute angle.

Not renowned for his aerial prowess, Morgan Gibbs-White was unable to direct his headed attempt from an Anthony Elanga corner on target.

Man City continued to dominate possession, but Forest continued to retain a threat on the counter-attack.

They nearly hit the champions on the break midway through the second half when Callum Hudson-Odoi had his shot tipped onto the woodwork by Ederson.

Guardiola sent on Omar Marmoush and Kevin De Bruyne, and the latter curled a left-footed effort wide of Sels’ goal within minutes of his introduction.

De Bruyne was presented with a direct free-kick 13 minutes from time, which drew a routine stop from Sels.

Forest had posed a much more significant attacking threat in the second half and took the lead seven minutes from time courtesy of Hudson-Odoi’s near-post finish.

City were almost caught on the break moments later when Hudson-Odoi found Wood in the box with a lovely cross, but the striker saw his effort blocked from point-blank range.

Mateo Kovacic came closest to drawing City level in the final knockings of the game, but Forest held on to secure a crucial win and move four points clear of the defending champions.

They now sit three points clear of Arsenal, who visit Manchester United tomorrow.