Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late strike saw Nottingham Forest score a shock 1-0 win over Manchester City at the City Ground, handing Pep Guardiola’s men a damaging Premier League defeat.
Before this match, having averaged the league’s lowest possession this season Forest had lived up to its billing as a team of plucky underdogs — a point ahead of City. As expected, City had the vast majority of possession but could not find a way through a disciplined Forest defence.
City’s best early opportunity went to Erling Haaland, who saw a shot go wide through a deflection, while Nico González hit the outside of the hosts’ post. They reached half-time without a goal, although their record of not trailing at half-time in the league so far this season remained intact.
The second half played out similarly until Hudson-Odoi came close to opening the scoring in the 67th minute, thwarted by Ederson and the post. But in the closing seconds Morgan Gibbs-White’s raking pass found Hudson-Odoi, who came inside and drilled a shot past Ederson at his near post.
City applied for an equalizer, but late Mateo Kovačić volley flew narrowly wide. The result sees Forest climb to third and end an 18-year wait for a league win over City, while the champions now face the prospect of dropping out of the top four.
