It has been a challenging week for Nottingham Forest, both on and off the field. A disappointing 2-0 defeat to Premier League relegation rivals Everton has left the team just one point above the bottom three. However, the loss itself has been overshadowed by the club’s public criticism of some controversial refereeing decisions on social media, which has landed them in trouble with the governing body of the competition.
On-Pitch Performance
Now, Nottingham Forest needs to focus on their performance on the pitch and improve their recent record. They have only managed one win in their last nine league fixtures, with three draws and five losses. Despite the tough competition they face in Manchester City, playing at the City Ground will provide some relief. Forest is unbeaten in their last three matches at this venue, with one win and two draws. Moreover, they have only lost three of their previous 16 home top-flight head-to-head matches, winning ten and drawing three.
Manchester City’s Dominance
As for Manchester City, even under the pressure of knowing that their title rivals Arsenal had already won, they managed to secure a convincing 4-0 victory against Brighton in their recent match. The Citizens are currently on an 18-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, with 14 wins and four draws. Their last league defeat came against Aston Villa in December. It seems unlikely that they will suffer a similar outcome against Nottingham Forest, as they aim to achieve a top-flight double over their opponents for the first time since the 1990/91 season. Manchester City currently holds the best points-per-game average away from home in the league, with 2.19.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, will be looking to secure a win in his 300th Premier League match in charge of the club. If he achieves this, he will become only the fifth manager in the competition’s history to reach this milestone with a single club.
Key Players to Watch
In this match, Nottingham Forest could look to their top league scorer, Chris Wood, for inspiration. Wood has scored 12 goals so far this season and even found the net in the same fixture last year, securing a 1-1 draw. On the other hand, Manchester City’s Phil Foden has been in outstanding form, scoring 15 goals across all competitions in 2024. Seven of his goals have come between the 50th and 70th minutes of matches.
Nottingham Forest’s Corner Challenge
One area where Nottingham Forest has struggled this season is in winning corners. Only Sheffield United has a lower average of corners won per Premier League match. Forest’s average stands at 3.91 corners won per game, highlighting an area where they need to improve.
In conclusion, Nottingham Forest faces a tough challenge against Manchester City, who are in dominant form. However, playing at the City Ground provides some hope for Forest, who have a strong home record against top-flight opponents. The match will be a test for both teams, and fans will be eagerly watching to see if Forest can overcome their recent struggles and secure a positive result.
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