EPL: Forest Secure Historic Win Over Manchester City to Consolidate Top-Four Spot

Nottingham Forest stunned Manchester City with a 1-0 victory, marking their first league win over City since 1997 and keeping them firmly in the top four of the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest secured a stunning 1-0 victory over Manchester City at the City Ground, thanks to a late strike from Callum Hudson-Odoi. This result allowed Forest to claim all three points and further cement their position in the top four of the Premier League.

Manchester City's defeat was a significant setback in their pursuit of a UEFA Champions League spot. However, Nottingham Forest's remarkable season continued, as they achieved success despite having the league's lowest average possession. This impressive result saw Forest move one point above City ahead of the match, highlighting their determination to secure a top-four finish.

What a win for Nottingham Forest against the reigning champions!#NFOMCI pic.twitter.com/4KoV1ZuiTU

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 8, 2025

Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola, dominated possession throughout the match, a characteristic that has become synonymous with the team. However, despite their control of the ball, they struggled to create meaningful scoring opportunities against a resilient Nottingham Forest side.

The first half saw City create a few half-chances, with Erling Haaland's early snapshot deflecting wide, while Nico González's effort from distance struck the outside of the near post. These opportunities were the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock in the first half, with Forest displaying promising flashes that ultimately failed to yield a goal.

Nottingham Forest maintained their impressive record of not trailing at halftime in any of their home Premier League matches this season. After the restart, the hosts remained disciplined and organized, with the pattern of play continuing in a similar vein until Forest began to gain momentum. Callum Hudson-Odoi capitalized on this shift in tempo, crafting a golden opportunity in the 67th minute that was denied by a combination of Ederson's quick reflexes and the inside of the post.

As the match wore on, Guardiola introduced fresh legs from the bench, bringing on Kevin De Bruyne and Omar Marmoush in an attempt to inject new life into City's attack. However, neither player was able to truly test Matz Sels in the Forest goal, and the contest appeared to be heading towards a draw.

The City Ground = Fortress 👊

🌳 @NFFC pic.twitter.com/WrwEA0pkIL

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 8, 2025

In a dramatic turn of events, Morgan Gibbs-White's exceptional raking pass unlocked the City defense, providing Hudson-Odoi with the space to drive towards goal. Hudson-Odoi then showcased his skill, shifting outside and striking the ball beyond Ederson's reach at his near post, securing a stunning victory for Nottingham Forest.

Manchester City's attempts to respond to Hudson-Odoi's late strike were thwarted by a resilient Nottingham Forest defense. Despite a venomous volley from Mateo Kovačić flying narrowly wide, City were ultimately unable to break down the well-organized Forest unit, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat.

This surprise victory marked Forest's first league win over Manchester City since December 1997, ending a run of seven losses and two draws. The triumph kept Nuno Espírito Santo's side firmly in third place, maintaining their position within the top four for the entirety of 2025.

The implications of this result could be significant, as Manchester City's grip on a guaranteed UEFA Champions League qualification spot begins to slip. A win for Chelsea over Leicester City on Sunday would see City drop out of the top four, adding pressure to their already fraught pursuit of a Champions League berth.