Match Report- Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City. City Victorious In Huge Game At Both Ends Of The Table.

 

Nottingham Forest put up a valiant effort against Premier League and European champions Manchester City but ultimately fell short as it was City who came away with a 2-0 win at the City Ground. A goal in each half by Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland puts City in closer reach of the Premier League top spot as Forest are still in a fight for survival. 

Nuno Espírito Santo made two changes from the defeat at Everton. Nicolas Dominguez wasn’t involved at all with Giovani Reyna dropped to the bench as Willy Boly and Anthony Elanga replaced them. Nuno with a switch of formation with Boly making his second appearance since December. Pep Guardiola made two changes from his side that thumped Brighton & Hove Albion. Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden were replaced by Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku. Grealish making a return to Nottingham having spent time on loan at Notts County over the river in 2014. 

It was Manchester City with the first effort of the game. Kevin De Bruyne on the left side of the box had a low shot saved by Belgian teammate Matz Sells as the shot went towards the bottom corner. De Bruyne looking for a better game at the City Ground after last seasons frustrating display. 

The league champions did take the lead just after the half an hour mark. De Bruyne’s corner was met at the front post by a rising Gvardiol who’s header found the back of the net. A second league goal of the season in the league for the Croatian defender who joined from German side RB Leipzig in the summer as he put City ahead. Forest were temporarily down to ten men at this stage with Neco Williams off the pitch injured, and he would eventually be replaced by Gonzalo Montiel. 

Forest came close to an equaliser when Ola Aina powered a cross from the left with Montiel getting it to Chris Wood who couldn’t convert from close range. Another game where Wood could have added to his goal scoring record. 

Forest had another big chance go begging. A Callum Hudson-Odoi corner eventually bounced to Murillo who tried to flick it home from close range with it just going over. Another chance Forest would be disappointed not to score from as they looked to defy the odds against City again. 

That was it for the first half and a half Forest would be content with. They were not letting City create chances and were certainly trying to get at them in such an important game. City clinical from a set piece and saw a large percentage of the ball which was always going to happen. The Blues did make a half time substitute with goalkeeper Ederson coming off with an injury and being replaced by Stefan Ortega. Kovacic came also came on for Doku. 

Forest came close early in the second half. Anthony Elanga skipping past Kyle Walker before pulling the ball back for Wood and his shot was brilliantly blocked by Gvardiol to keep the score at 1-1. Wood struggling to find the net again which came as a suprise considering the season he has had. 

City came close with De Bruyne involved again as he put the ball in behind for Julian Alvarez but he couldn’t keep his shot down as it sailed over the bar. 

Forest had a another chance to equalise. Elanga flashing the ball across the six yard box but Wood couldn’t quite get a foot onto it. Forest were putting up a fight but couldn’t find the finishing touch. 

Selz had to produce again for Forest with De Bruyne taking range from outside the box but the keeper  made an acrobatic save for the Reds. De Bruyne pulling the strings for City and causing a lot of issues for Forest. 

City did then get their second. De Bruyne yet again playing a ball in behind and substitute Haaland rolled the ball home. A 32nd goal of the season for the striker that sealed the game for the champions with twenty minutes to go. 

Forest came close to pulling one back when Callum Hudson-Odoi had a dipping shot well saved by Ortega. Hudson-Odoi with his trademark cutting in on his right foot which has been a dangerous weapon for Forest this season. 

But that was it for the game with Manchester City claiming a 2-0 win. A big result in the title race as they go one point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. They’re next fixture is a home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Forest defeated but a performance to be proud of as they gave the European Champions a good game. The Reds sit 17th one point clear of Luton Town and two points clear of Burnley. They next travel to Bramall Lane to face already relegated Sheffield United in a massive game in Yorkshire. 

Match Report: Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest. Toffees Grab Big Three Points As Forest Struggle Again.

 Everton claimed what could be a massive three points in the Premier League relegation battle after beating fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Goodison Park. Goals in each half by Idrissa Gana Gueye and Dwight McNeil ultimately got the Blues over the line with yet another disappointing afternoon for Forest to look back on. 

Sean Dyche made four changes from his sides humiliating defeat at Chelsea. Seamus Coleman, Amadou Onana, James Garner and Beto all came out the side with Gueye, Jack Harrison, Andre Gomes and Dominic Calvert-Lewin replacing them. Both Calvert-Lewin and Jarrad Branthwaite were both doubts going into the game so it was a big bonus for Dyche to have them both available for an important encounter. Nuno Espírito Santo made two changes from the side that drew to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Both Andrew Omobamidele and Ryan Yates dropped to the bench with Moussa Niakhate and Nicolas Dominguez coming into the side. Niakhate making his first start since the 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa in February. There was a spot for Anthony Elanga on the bench who returned following an injury. 

It took just under half an hour for the home side to take the lead as Gueye opened the scoring. Following a Forest clearance, the ball fell out to the Senegalese midfielder and his low shot from the edge of the box rolled into the bottom corner. A big goal for the Toffees and a second league goal for Gueye who is on his second stint at the club. 

Forest came close to an equaliser when Giovani Reyna headed the ball down to Morgan Gibbs-White who’s volley fell to Chris Wood at the far post and he was denied brilliantly by Jordan Pickford from close range. It looked almost a certain equaliser for the Reds but England’s number one doing brilliant to keep Wood out. 

That was it for the first half as Everton went into the break 1-0 up. The encounter between the two clearly showing why they’re are both fighting for their life at the bottom end of the Premier League table with both sides showing poor performances. A big second half was needed by Forest if they wanted to pick any points up. 

Forest were the first side to create a chance in the second half. Murillo with a long ball forward that James Tarkowski tried to head away but he headed it into the path of Gibbs-White who’s shot from the left side of the box went just wide. Almost a moment to forget for Everton as Forest came close to an equaliser. 

Everton then doubled their lead with 15 minutes to go. McNeil wasn’t closed down on the edge of the box and his low shot hit the inside of the post and went over the line to get his third league goal of the season and to secure three points. McNeil causing Forest problems again after scoring in the reverse fixture at Christmas as poor defending from Forest let them down again. 

That was the final action of the game as Everton claim a big three points for survival. The result could see them as good as safe as they sit four points clear of Forest and five points clear of Luton Town. Next up for the Toffees is the Merseyside derby where they host Liverpool. Forest with another poor showing and a real opportunity missed to build a gap between them and Luton. The Reds will feel disappointed with decisions again but ultimately it’s the performance that cost them. They sit one point clear of Luton and now only three clear of Burnley ahead of their home game against champions Manchester City. 

Match Report: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers. Gibbs-White Scores Against Former Club As Cunha Bags Brace.

 It was another thrilling encounter between Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers as both sides had to settle for a point after a 2-2 draw at the City Ground. Former Wolves man  Morgan Gibbs-White scored for the home side along side Danilo with Matheus Cunha finding the net twice for the visitors as Forest get another point in an entertaining relegation battle. 

Nuno Espírito Santo made one change from the side that lost at Tottenham Hotspur. Anthony Elanga wasn’t involved at all as Giovani Reyna replaced him as he made his first Forest start since arriving on loan from Borussia Dortmund in January. Gary O’Neil also made just the one change after his side lost 2-1 at home to West Ham United. Rayan Ait-Nouri came out the squad through injury and he was replaced by Cunha who made his first start since netting a hat-trick at Chelsea at the start of February. 

It was Forest with the first close effort of the game as Ryan Yates took aim from just outside the box but his low shot was held well by Jose Sa in the Wolves goal. Since helping getting the club promoted, Yates is still yet to score in the top flight and was looking to change that but was denied by Sa. 

It was then the visitors who came close to scoring and how they didn’t score will be questioned. Yates with a poor pass back which fell to Joao Gomes on the left but his shot was brilliantly blocked on the line by Murillo with Pablo Sarabia putting the follow up wide from close range. Forest and Yates really let off with Murillo with a vital block on which has done on more then one occasion. Wolves left wondering how they were not ahead. 

Then Wolves did take the lead five minutes before half time. Cunha receiving the ball around the half way line and then went one on one with Andrew Omobamidele and as he entered the box he cut in from the left and found the top corner. A brilliant finish from the former Athletico Madrid man and even more better as he didn’t have many options around him. A first goal since returning from injury for the Brazilian. 

Forest drew level though in first half stoppage time. Reyna’s corner was met at the front post by Gibbs-White and he rose highest to head into the far corner to level the score against his former side. A rare goal from a corner for Forest with this being just their second goal from one this season. Gibbs-White with his trademark celebration with his fingers to his ears in front of the Wolves fans, who have been giving tough time since his move from the West Midlands. 

That was it for the first half with both sides going in level. Not many chances for either side with Forest probably the better of the two but the game was getting more fiery as it went on. 

Just after ten minutes of the second half was played, Forest completed the turnaround. Gibbs-White entering a congested box where Matt Doherty put in a challenge with the ball falling to the feet of Danilo to score from close range. A second league goal of the season for the Brazilian as he gave Forest a vital lead with Gibbs-White being involved again. 

That lead didn’t last long though as Wolves equalised five minutes later. A Sarabia corner was headed on target by Max Kilman who was denied by Matz Sels but the ball fell to Cunha who netted his second. The striker entering double figures for Premier League goals as he scored his tenth and eleventh of the campaign with Forest conceding yet another set piece. 

Danilo came close to netting a brace as well just three minutes after the goal. His curling shot from the edge of the area was tipped over the crossbar by Sa. A frantic few minutes on Trentside. 

Forest then had a big chance to win the game. Substitutes combined as Rodrigo Ribeiro played a ball in behind for Divock Origi but he was torn between shooting and playing it across to Chris Wood and ultimately sent the ball too far across goal. A big chance wasted by the former Liverpool man with Forest fans clearly frustrated. 

Both sides pushed for a winner but ultimately couldn’t find one with the game finishing 2-2. A point Forest will take but they will be disappointed that they could not claim all three. The Reds remain 17th and sit one point above the relegation zone with a trip to Everton next up for the Reds with the gap between those to just one point. Wolves struggled to show why they are higher in the league then Forest but Cunha came up when they needed him to. They sit 11th in the table as they next host title hopefuls Arsenal at home where they will look for a strong end of the season. 

Match Report- Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Nottingham Forest. Van De Ven Scores Stunner As Forest Return To Defeat.

 

It was an unhappy return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Nuno Espírito Santo as his Nottingham Forest side fell to a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur as the Premier League relegation battle takes another twist. Mickey Van De Ven and Pedro Porro added to a Murillo own goal to get Tottenham over the line despite a first half goal from Chris Wood. The result leaves Forest looking over their shoulder with Spurs claiming a big win for their Champions League hopes. 

Ange Postecoglou made one change from the side that drew away to West Ham United. Pape Sarr replaced Rodrigo Bentancur in the midfield as Spurs looked to go four unbeaten. Nuno named an unchanged side from the Reds brilliant display at home to Fulham in midweek as he looked for a similar outcome. 

With 15 minutes of the first half played, the home side found the opening goal. Heung-Min Son playing the ball to Timo Werner on the left side and his low cross was put into his own net by Forest defender Murillo to give the home side the lead. A disappointing moment for the Brazilian who was in the wrong place at the wrong time which gave Tottenham what was a deserved lead. 

The home side almost doubled their lead in similar fashion. Werner on the left again put a low ball across which was met by former Forest man Brennan Johnson but he was brilliantly denied by Matz Sels from close range to keep the score down. Forest seemingly struggling to deal with the low balls into the box with former academy graduate Johnson almost adding a second. 

The away side then found their leveller just after the 25 minute mark. Anthony Elanga on the right playing a ball into the box to in-form man Wood who found the far corner with a neat finish. That’s now four goals in four games for the Reds top scorer who is having a brilliant time under Nuno, who will be hoping to keep the 32 year old for from how until the end of the season. 

Wood really should have had two. Ola Aina pulled the ball back to Ryan Yates and his shot was saved but Wood was on hand for the rebound but hit the post from close range. It looked like a certain goal for the striker after his recent run of form so it was a shock to everyone that he missed. 

That was it for the first half with an even encounter between the side. Tottenham started off the better but Forest ended the half the better team and were looking to carry that momentum into the second half and try to claim an important three points. Spurs did make a change at the break with Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojberg replacing Yves Bissouma and Sarr. 

Spurs then retook the lead after 56 minutes. Son laid the ball off to defender Van De Ven on the edge of the area and his left footed shot flew into the top corner to give them the lead. A second league goal for the Dutchman who’s shot gave Sels no chance and put Forest to the soil. 

The home side then found their third of the game with just over half an hour to play. James Maddison with a cross from the left which was flicked on by Bentancur and met by Porro who’s first time shot found the back of the net. A first Premier League goal of the season for the former Sporting man and a goal which wrapped up three points for the North London side. 

So it was Spurs who walked away with the three points after a comfortable second half performance. A big win in their race for top four with the result taking them up to fourth and level on points with Aston Villa who sit below them on goal difference. Next up is a trip to St. James Park to play Newcastle United where they will look to go four unbeaten. For Forest, it’s a disappointing result after a solid first half display from the Reds. They remain 17th but only ahead of Luton Town on goal difference. Nuno faces another former side next as they host Wolverhampton Wanderers as the season is reaching crunch time.