A late aim from Callum Hudson-Odoi sealed an important win for Nottingham Forest over Manchester Metropolis in a lunchtime Premier League prime 4 showdown on the Metropolis Floor on Saturday afternoon.
Metropolis began on the backfoot and needed to maintain their floor in defence after a fast flurry of assaults from the hosts, underscored by a nervy go again by Matheus Nunes – nowhere close to supposed goal Abdukodir Khusanov – leading to a house nook.
Chris Wooden, who has been in superb goalscoring type for Forest this season, nearly provided Erling Haaland with the products after seven minutes when his failed clearance close to the sting of the realm discovered his Norwegian counterpart, whose effort beat Matz Selz in aim and was simply huge of the submit.
Metropolis’s January midfield signing Nico Gonzalez took issues in his personal arms when his sensational strike from 25 yards struck the submit – by which level the Premier League champions have been in charge of the sport and having fun with their finest spell in possession.
Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva have been offered with good probabilities to interrupt the impasse earlier than the interval, with winger Jeremy Doku on the coronary heart of fairly a number of Metropolis strikes after starring in current league begins in opposition to Liverpool and Tottenham.
The second half proved to be a extra end-to-end sport between the highest 4 hopefuls, with Khusanov – one of many first names on Pep Guardiola’s teamsheet having impressed since his January arrival – making his presence felt in defence with an inspiring set of recoveries and tackles to maintain Forest at bay.
Guardiola launched Kevin De Bruyne and Omar Marmoush to affect proceedings, with Mateo Kovacic additionally approaching for Nico Gonzalez and Rico Lewis changing Matheus Nunes, who was struggling earlier than half-time however stayed on into the start of the second half.
Ederson made an excellent save to thwart Callum Hudson-Odoi after 66 minutes however the Metropolis goalkeeper would come up second finest when the ex Chelsea winger discovered the web after 85 minutes squeezed the ball via the close to submit – which appeared to have taken probably the most delicate deflection off Josko Gvardiol.
Mateo Kovacic practically volleyed house from simply outdoors the realm in stoppage time however Metropolis endure one other defeat and one that would have main implications of their pursuit of Champions League soccer subsequent season.
Right here’s how the Manchester Metropolis squad fared in a disappointing afternoon in Nottingham.
Participant Rankings:
Ederson – 5/10
Made an excellent save to disclaim Callum Hudson-Odoi after 66 minutes and was good along with his distribution however conceded a aim that shouldn’t have gone in via his close to submit.
Matheus Nunes – 6/10
Very shaky begin and he all the time has a questionable determination in him. Runs his socks off and appears extra like himself in his pure midfield place however he wasn’t having one of the best of video games even previous to being taken off for Rico Lewis.
Abdukodir Khusanov – 8/10 (POTM)
Khusanov continues to impress and was by far and away Metropolis’s finest participant on the pitch. Rock strong, no-nonsense defending and made a string of essential interceptions to disclaim Hudson-Odoi and Wooden.
Ruben Dias – 7/10
At his calm, assured self as common and was having a little bit of a row with Guardiola on Metropolis’s defensive position near half-time. Couldn’t have executed something about Hudson-Odoi’s aim.
Josko Gvardiol – 7/10
Didn’t do a lot incorrect and supplied some potent attacking risk by combining nicely with the likes of Doku, Savinho and Silva on the left flank.
Bernardo Silva – 6.5/10
Couldn’t discover the ball within the superior midfield positions and solely regarded far more a risk after De Bruyne got here on.
Nico Gonzalez – 6/10
Did nicely to thwart Forest in midfield however there’s a cause Rodri has received a Ballon d’Or and nobody else on the earth can tie his laces. If you’ve had one of the best on the earth working the sport for years, anybody else can be missing by way of requirements.
Savinho – 6/10
Couldn’t discover Haaland and didn’t pose as a lot an attacking risk as he often does. Didn’t have assist from Silva and Foden in what was a colorless attacking efficiency all spherical from the guests.
Phil Foden – 6/10
Barely got here into the sport however had an excellent likelihood to web the opener simply after half-hour. Have to see extra from Foden, he’s gone lacking in video games and he must step up his sport.
Jeremy Doku – 7/10
Metropolis’s brightest attacking spark in opposition to Liverpool and Tottenham loved his fair proportion of possession out huge however his finish product is his personal worst enemy.
Erling Haaland – 6.5/10
Didn’t bully Forest’s centre halves and after lacking an opportunity created by Chris Wooden early on, he didn’t pose a lot of a risk.
Substitutes:
Rico Lewis – 6/10
Introduced on for Nunes at right-back and did his finest to open up the opposition defence within the remaining levels of the sport.
Mateo Kovacic – 6.5/10
Almost snatched some extent by volleying house from outdoors the field in damage time.
Kevin De Bruyne – 6/10
Was Metropolis’s most important artistic outlet when he got here on however Forest defended resolutely and even De Bruyne couldn’t break them down
Omar Marmoush – 6.5/10
Acquired Metropolis greater up the pitch by combining with Haaland and successful some vital fouls.