Nottingham – Manchester City : Preview & Prediction
Nottingham Forest became the first club in Premier League (PL) history to substitute two starting players within ten minutes against Fulham last time out, as center-backs Willy Boly and Scott McKenna suffered injuries. They lost 2-0 after those changes, but remain six points above the relegation zone thanks to a previous five-game unbeaten run in the league (G3, E2).
Forest remain unbeaten at The City Ground since being beaten by Fulham in mid-September (G4, E3), but will need all the help they can get against PL leaders Manchester City, as they have yet to beat a team that starts the day in the top eight at home during this campaign (E1, P2). The first clash between these two sides at this ground since both were in the First Division in 2001 will test all their resources, including a reshuffled back line.
Manchester City’s 3-1 midweek win over Arsenal suggests they will make life difficult for the Forest defense as they returned to the top of the PL with an impressive second half performance. Having secured a 6-0 win over Forest in August by scoring three times in each half, they will want more of the same to consolidate that potentially season-changing result as they bid to become only the second club to win three PL titles in a row .
The win ended a run of two consecutive away defeats in the PL and, interestingly, manager Pep Guardiola did not describe his latest trip to London as “as exhausting” as he did after their 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur. That defeat was the only one of the Cityzens’ last six away league games in which they failed to open the scoring, so they will likely be a threat from the start in this clash.
Players to watch: At home, Brennan Johnson has scored each of Nottingham Forest’s last three goals in the PL, opening the scoring here in their last two home league games. For the visitors, Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne set up Erling Haaland for an assist against Arsenal — it was the sixth time that has happened and the duo lead the PL in that statistic.
Quick Fact: Manchester City has won its last nine PL matches against promoted teams and has scored an average of 3.56 goals per game in those games.
Nottingham – Manchester City : Betting Tips
Manchester City – Win Odds: 1.35
