Taiwo Awoniyi’s Nottingham Forest pile misery on Man City

Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late goal sealed a crucial 1-0 victory for Nottingham Forest against Manchester City, dealing a significant blow to City’s hopes of securing a top-four finish this season.

City, currently on 47 points in fourth place, are in the danger of slipping off the Top Four if fifth-placed Chelsea defeat Leicester City on Sunday.

The match, which was largely uneventful for the majority of the 90 minutes, came alive in the 83rd minute when Hudson-Odoi latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from Morgan Gibbs-White.

The winger showed composure and precision as he slotted the ball past Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson at the near post, sending the home crowd into raptures.

Despite dominating possession throughout, Manchester City lacked the cutting edge needed to unlock Forest’s backline, with their best chance of the game coming in the first half when Nico Gonzalez’s powerful strike narrowly missed the target.

Forest, on the other hand, grew into the game as it progressed. Anthony Elanga and Nico Dominguez combined well on the right flank, with Dominguez forcing a save from Ederson early in the second half.

Hudson-Odoi himself came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the half, only to see his low drive tipped onto the post by the Brazilian shot-stopper.

Pep Guardiola attempted to inject fresh energy into his side by introducing Kevin de Bruyne and Omar Marmoush with 20 minutes remaining, but the changes failed to spark a revival.

City’s frustration was evident as they struggled to create clear-cut chances, and Hudson-Odoi’s late strike ultimately condemned them to their ninth league defeat of the season—a joint-record under Guardiola’s management.

Nigerian international striker Taiwo Awoniyi was a late substitute in the encounter.

Nottingham Forest, now sitting comfortably in third place, extended their lead over Manchester City to four points.

For Forest, the victory not only strengthens their position in the race for Champions League qualification but also highlights their remarkable progress under manager Steve Cooper.

*Guardiola’s Frustration
Speaking after the match, Guardiola admitted his side’s shortcomings, stating, “We lacked creativity and urgency in the final third.

“Nottingham Forest defended well, but we need to be better if we want to achieve our goals this season.”

Taiwo Awoniyi was a late substitute in the match

The defeat leaves City with little margin for error in their remaining fixtures, as they aim to close the gap on the league’s frontrunners and secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

Manchester City must regroup quickly to keep their top-four hopes alive.

With the season entering its decisive phase, every point will be crucial in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the Premier League campaign.