Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late strike gave Nottingham Forest a brilliant 1-0 win over Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a blow to their hopes of Champions League qualification.
It appeared a game which pitted third against fourth at the City Ground was heading for a stalemate before Hudson-Odoi controlled a beautiful cross-field pass from Morgan Gibbs-White, cut inside and beat Ederson at his near post in the 83rd minute.
The goal sealed a momentous win for Forest, allowing them to up a four-point gap on struggling City, who could now fall below Chelsea, into fifth, if the Blues win at home to lowly Leicester on Sunday.
Nottingham Forest
Manchester City dominated possession but struggled to carve out clear chances, going closest when Nico Gonzalez struck Matz Sels’ right-hand post with a stinging drive in the first half, soon after Erling Haaland had fired narrowly wide.
That early Haaland effort proved one of only two shots from him throughout an afternoon in which Forest again defended doggedly, as in their goalless draw at home to second-placed Arsenal last time out.
The hosts grew in belief as Manchester City continued to labour in front of goal in the second half, despite sending on Kevin de Bruyne and Omar Marmoush, and almost broke the deadlock earlier.
Hudson-Odoi was the protagonist on that occasion, too, but his curling shot was brilliantly saved by a full-stretch Ederson, only for the goalkeeper’s lapse at his near post to allow the same player to score the decisive goal soon afterwards.
As Nottingham Forest celebrated another memorable victory, which significantly boosts their own hopes of Champions League qualification, City are left facing a major fight to qualify themselves, with Newcastle, Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham and Aston Villa close behind them as well as Chelsea.
SkySports