It was a tight game. We didn’t create many chances but we defended really well and controlled the transitions for almost all of the game.

 

They defended really well and we were not precise enough in the last moment.

 

Defensively we were really, really good. [Abdukodir Khusanov] played very well.

 

We have 10 games to quality [for the Champions League]. We have 10 finals, the next one is Brighton.

 

2:40PM

Ola Aina speaks to TNT Sports

It’s a massive result for us. We knew City were hot on our tails and we needed to get a result – thankfully we did.

 

[On facing Jeremy Doku] It’s tough. He’s very direct, a really tricky player. I was telling him on the pitch, ‘You need to chill man!’

 

He’s a tough opponent and one that I like to test myself against. I’m sure he likes to test himself against me. It was a good battle today.

 

2:35PM

Another away day to forget

That was City’s sixth league defeat away from home this season, more even than Manchester United, and their 11th in all competitions. Those 11 defeats have come in the last 17 games, a run that would have been unimaginable even five months ago.

 

Pep Guardiola consoles Mateo Kovacic, left.

Pep Guardiola consoles Mateo Kovacic, left. Credit: DARREN STAPLES/AFP

2:31PM

Callum Hudson-Odoi’s reaction

Look at this crowd. It’s amazing! They give us energy in every single game and we fought for every ball.

 

I’m absolutely buzzing with the goal. I’m happy for the team – it’s not just me, it’s the whole performance. We worked hard and we deserve this. We can enjoy it now but we have to recover and go again next week.

 

[On Morgan Gibbs-White’s pass for the goal] Every time I tell him, ‘Just look for me, look for me, look for me’, and he found me. With that quality he’s got, he’s a special player.

 

2:24PM

FT: Nottm Forest 1 Man City 0

A famous win for Nottingham Forest! They have beaten the champions of England for the first time since December 1994 and are surely heading for Europe, probably in the Champions League.

 

An intriguing match – cagey in the first half, frantic in the second – was settled by a late goal from the impressive Callum Hudson-Odoi. Let’s hear what he has to say.

 

2:21PM

90+2 min: Nottm Forest 1 Man City 0

So close to an equaliser! Kovacic, 25 yards out, cuts across a sweet strike that beats the flying Selz and curves this far wide of the far post. It may even have brushed the post.

 

2:19PM

90 min: Nottm Forest 1 Man City 0

There will be four added minutes. City are having almost all of the ball now but Forest continue to threaten on the break; they’ve managed this game superbly.

 

2:18PM

87 min: Nottm Forest 1 Man City 0

Forest dramatically take the lead with seven minutes of the 90 left. A lovely feathered pass by Morgan Gibbs-White to Callum Hudson-Odoi and a deceptive near post finish. The curious part of this is City – so much of the ball but no real urgency and intensity to overwhelm Forest. There is still a bit of time left.

 

Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates his dramatic late goal.

Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates his dramatic late goal. Credit: Chris Radburn/Reuters

2:17PM

87 min: Nottm Forest 1 Man City 0

Forest substitution Taiwo Awoniyi replaces the goalscorer Callum Hudson-Odoi.

 

Incidentally, it looks like his shot from the goal took a slight deflection off Gvardiol, almost a block tackle. But the ball didn’t really deviate as a result and Ederson should certainly have saved it.

 

2:15PM

85 min: Nottm Forest 1 Man City 0

Almost a second for Forest! Wood has a shot on the turn very well blocked by Khusanov in the area, though it looked like Wood had a better option coming up in support.

 

I think Hudson-Odoi was booked for his celebration.

 

2:12PM

Goal!

83 min: Nottm Forest 1 Man City 0 (Hudson-Odoi) The City Ground has gone berserk! Callum Hudson-Odoi has put Forest ahead after a bad mistake from Ederson.

 

The move started with a sweet 70-yard crossfield pass from Gibbs-White to Hudson-Odoi, who has just moved over to the right wing after the substitution of Elanga. Hudson-Odoi ran into the area, moved outside Gvardiol and forced a shot that beat Ederson at the near post.

 

At first it was hard to work out what had happened because it was hard to see how Ederson could be beaten at the near post from that angle. Replays confirmed Ederson was perfectly positioned but could only help the ball into the net as he thrust out his left hand.

 

2:09PM

80 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Forest substitution Ibrahim Sangare replaces Anthony Elanga, a pragmatic change that suggests Forest won’t be unhappy with a draw.

 

2:07PM

78 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

De Bruyne’s free-kick is too straight and held comfortably by the crouching Selz.

 

2:05PM

77 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Marmoush is fouled just outside the area by Yates, who is booked. This is a chance for City…

 

Ryan Yates fouls Omar Marmoush.

Ryan Yates fouls Omar Marmoush. Credit: DARREN STAPLES/AFP

2:05PM

75 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Doku plays a neat one-two with De Bruyne on the edge of the Forest area. Milenkovic reads the play well and comes across to make an important challenge.

 

City are having a good spell here.

 

2:01PM

72 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

A loose ball breaks to De Bruyne, who curls wide from 15 yards with his left foot. He was under pressure but it was still a decent chance.

 

Kevin De Bruyne shoots wide.

Kevin De Bruyne shoots wide. Credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images

1:58PM

70 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Forest substitution Ryan Yates comes on for Nicolas Dominguez and takes the armband from Morgan Gibbs-White.

 

1:58PM

69 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Double substitution for City Omar Marmoush and Kevin De Bruyne replaces Savinho and Phil Foden.

 

After a quiet first half, both teams are now playing as if there no points for a draw.

 

1:56PM

67 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Stunning save by Ederson! Hudson-Odoi cuts into the area from the left, dummies a couple of defenders and rifles a shot through the crowd towards the far corner. Ederson sees it at the last minute and somehow gets down to his left to fingertip it onto the post. That’s one of the saves of the season.

 

1:55PM

66 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

A football match is threatening to break out at the City Ground.

 

After a first half of limited entertainment, the second half is far more open with Forest displaying more attacking intent.

 

Morgan Gibbs-White, the Forest captain, is becoming more influential.

 

Jeremy Doku has switched from the left to the right to try and test Wales international Neco Williams.

 

Pep Guardiola watches on anxiously.

Pep Guardiola watches on anxiously. Credit: Chris Radburn/Reuters

1:54PM

66 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

At the other end Savinho’s shot from 15 yards is blocked by Milenkovic, an even better piece of defending.

 

Savinho’s shot is blocked.

Savinho’s shot is blocked. Credit: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

1:54PM

65 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Dominguez finds Gibbs-White, who runs a backpedalling defence and cracks a left-foot shot from 20 yards that is really well blocked by the lunging Khusanov. He’s starting to show the qualities that made City want him.

 

1:53PM

64 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Ruben Dias, wandering forward in open play, has a shot from 20 yards that is comfortably saved by Selz. It feels like a goal is coming at one end or another.

 

1:52PM

63 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Dominguez’s excellent cross bounces across the face and is cleared by Lewis. Forest are attacking with greater intensity and speed in the second half.

 

1:50PM

62 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Double substitution for City Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic replace Matheus Nunes and Nico Gonzalez, who are both on yellow cards.

 

1:49PM

59 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

This hasn’t been an entertaining game, but the stakes and contrast in styles make it genuinely intriguing.

 

Nico Gonzalez, on a yellow card, stops a Forest break with a foul on Elanga. Careful now.

 

1:46PM

56 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

A City corner is headed down by Haaland to Bernardo Silva, whose shot from the edge of the area is blocked. Forest break through Gibbs-White, who wins a 51:49 with Nunes and is brought down. A clear yellow card.

 

1:41PM

52 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Anderson wins a corner for Forest, who have started the second half well. Elanga takes, Gibbs-White heads wide in front of the near post.

 

1:38PM

49 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Dominguez is able to continue. He’s moving a little gingerly but seems to be okay.

 

1:37PM

48 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Elanga’s very deep cross is volleyed towards goal by Dominguez and saved comfortably by Ederson. It was a lovely effort from a tight angle – but he has injured himself in the process.

 

1:35PM

46 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

City begin the second half. No substitutions.

 

1:30PM

Half-time verdict

Finely balanced contest, with Manchester City edging it on possession and chances.

 

Nuno Espirito Santo will be satisfied with the defensive performance but his Forest team are arguably showing the champions too much respect.

 

Forest are at their best when on the front foot with wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga attacking full-backs with speed.

 

City’s Phil Foden has looked menacing and it still appears that the personal battle between Jeremy Doku and Ola Aina will be pivotal.

 

1:19PM

HT: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

A scrappy, slightly laboured first half ends goalless. Manchester City had the better openings, with Nico Gonzalez hitting the outside of the post from long range, but there was very little in it.

 

Nico Gonzalez hit the post early on for Man City.

Nico Gonzalez hit the post early on for Man City. Credit: Getty Images/Sportsphoto/Allstar

1:16PM

43 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

One shot on target leads to another. Selz’s long kick clears the City defence and is met by Wood, who tries a half-volleyed chip on the run from 20 yards. He doesn’t get enough on it and Ederson makes a comfortable save.

 

1:14PM

43 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

The first shot on target comes from Doku, who dummies Aina and Dominguez beautifully before rifling a low drive from 25 yards. Selz gets down to his right to make a comfortable save.

 

1:12PM

39 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Anderson wins the ball off Foden but then follows through and whacks him in the shin. Had he caught Foden with his studs rather than the side of the foot he would have been sent off. It wasn’t a great challenge either way.

 

Play continues and Gibbs-White slices well wide from the edge of the area after a good pick-out by Hudson-Odoi.

 

1:10PM

38 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

City are managing Forest’s counter-attacks very well. They’ve been susceptible in transition for most of the season but have looked a bit better since Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez came into the team.

 

1:06PM

35 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Foden finds some space on the left and slides a precise cutback towards Bernardo Silva on the edge of the area. He smashes a first-time shot over the bar.

 

1:04PM

33 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Nico Gonzalez is dispossessed by Dominguez, then brings him down and is booked.

 

Elanga’s free-kick just evades the sliding Gibbs-White at the far post. Gvardiol seemed to get a touch on the ball but a goalkick was given.

 

Josko Gvardiol challenges Morgan Gibbs-White.

Josko Gvardiol challenges Morgan Gibbs-White. Credit: Mike Egerton/PA

1:03PM

31 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Chance for City Foden plays a give-and-go with Gvardiol in the area and sweeps a shot that is blocked by Dominguez. Replays suggest it was going well wide, which makes it a missed opportunity for City.

 

1:01PM

29 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Never mind the first goal – the first shot on target could be crucial. So far it’s 0-0 on both counts.

 

Erling Haaland is yet to hit the target.

Erling Haaland is yet to hit the target. Credit: Catherine Ivill /AMA

12:58PM

27 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Gibbs-White is booked for a tactical foul on Doku.

 

12:57PM

25 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Pep Guardiola watches on from the sidelines.

Pep Guardiola watches on from the sidelines. Credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images

12:55PM

23 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Khusanov, who has been increasingly impressive since that nightmare start against Chelsea, nips in front of Wood to clear a potentially dangerous long pass. City have handled Wood well so far.

 

12:53PM

21 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

As John says, the first goal feels especially important in this game. City look the likelier scorers at the moment, though Forest carry a threat on the counter-attack and from set-pieces.

 

12:50PM

18 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Forest are the masters of low possession this season and are perfectly happy for City to keep the ball.

 

The only issue with this strategy against teams packed with talent like City is that it depends massively on Forest scoring the first goal.

 

Forest effectively play like an away team, waiting patiently to break quickly on the counter-attack.

 

City have been the more dangerous team so far.

 

Morgan Gibbs-White is challenged by Matheus Nunes.

Morgan Gibbs-White is challenged by Matheus Nunes. Credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images

12:48PM

16 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Hudson-Odoi’s cross is miscontrolled by Wood, unmarked 10 yards out. At first it looked like a missed opportunity but replays showed he was offside.

 

12:46PM

14 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Nico Gonzalez hits the post! That was a lovely effort, fizzed towards goal from 25 yards. Selz probably had it covered as he dived to his right and it pinged off the outside of the post.

 

12:42PM

10 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

A lovely cross from Savinho is headed away well at the far post by Aina. Haaland was waiting behind him and would have had a simple header from four yards.

 

After a slow start, City are beginning to dictate the play.

 

Savinho runs at the Forest left-back Neco Williams.

Savinho runs at the Forest left-back Neco Williams. Credit: Chris Radburn/Reuters

12:40PM

8 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Chris Wood drops very deep to collect the ball, only to miss his kick and give it to Haaland. He drags an early right-foot shot from 20 yards that rolls just wide of the far post. There might have been a slight deflection but a goalkick was given.

 

12:38PM

6 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Forest have made a strong start, with most of the early exchanges taking place in the City half. It’s a simple gameplan: try to score early and then pick City off on the break.

 

12:36PM

4 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

Huge applause and a rendition of “Psycho” here at the City Ground for Stuart Pearce in the third minute.

 

Nottingham Forest’s legendary left-back suffered a health scare on a flight back from Las Vegas and has been transferred to a hospital in Canada.

 

Nice touch from the home supporters.

 

12:35PM

3 min: Nottm Forest 0 Man City 0

A loose pass from Nunez goes behind for an early Forest corner. Elanga’s inswinger is headed away at the near post.

 

 

 

[On Forest] If you are third after 11 games it’s okay but if you are third with 11 games to go it means you have done many good things home and away. We know they feel stronger at home. They have quality in the front four, physicality and great spirit; they’re a top side.

 

Of course it’s an important game but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if we don’t qualify for the Champions League. How many years have Manchester City been in the Champions League? Ten, eleven? Before that, never ever. Of course it’s really important but … Liverpool were not in the Champions League last season and look at them now.

 

We will try until the last second, that’s for sure.

 

 

A key battle today will be between Erling Haaland and Murillo.

 

Haaland scored the winner in Manchester City’s win at Tottenham last month after recently returning from a knee injury.

 

Murillo is emerging as one of the most highly regarded young centre-backs in the Premier League and will be relishing the challenge against superstars like Haaland.

 

Another intriguing contest will be Jeremy Doku and Ola Aina.

 

Pep Guardiola name-checked Forest’s attacking full-back Aina in his press conference on Friday and the speed of Doku will represent a major test to the Nigerian international.

 

 

These two teams could not have more different approaches: Forest live for counter-attacks, while City need the ball like oxygen. That is reflected in the average possession stats for this season’s Premier League.

 

Nottm Forest 39.6% (20th out of 20)

Man City 60.6% (1st out of 20)

12:01PM

Marmoush was on Forest’s radar

Omar Marmoush is on Manchester City’s bench, yet he could easily have been lining up for the home team today.

 

Marmoush emerged as a serious target for Forest in the final week of the summer transfer window but his former club Eintracht Frankfurt refused to sell.

 

City then completed a £59m deal for the Egypt international in January, and he has made a solid start.

 

Forest have not done too badly without him, though, with Chris Wood proving a revelation under Nuno Espirito Santo this season.

 

Omar Marmoush was the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest last summer.

Omar Marmoush was the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest last summer. Credit: Mike Egerton/PA

 

Pivotal game in the race for the Champions League at the City Ground today.

 

That above paragraph is one that Nottingham Forest fans cannot possibly have expected to read before the season started, yet here they are.

 

Forest have occupied the top four for 77 days and are currently above Pep Guardiola’s champions in the table.

 

City will climb above Forest with a win, though, and Guardiola’s teams always ramp it up towards the business end of the season.

 

Nuno Espirito Santo has worked wonders with Forest.

Nuno Espirito Santo has worked wonders with Forest. Credit: Mike Egerton/PA

 

 

Pep Guardiola has offered no guarantees Jack Grealish will be at Manchester City next season – but insists the midfielder will be judged on his match performances rather than off-the-field behaviour.

 

Grealish, City’s £100 million record signing, was pictured on social media at drinking spots with friends in Manchester and the North East during his time off after last week’s FA Cup win over Plymouth Argyle, although Guardiola says his assessment of players comes from training sessions and matches.

 

Guardiola has recently stated that his squad next season will be bigger than usual and based on players who can cope physically with the demands of playing three games a week to compete in the Premier League and Champions League.

 

With England looking to qualify for the World Cup next year, Grealish will need regular first-team football to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans after being dropped for the last Euros.

 

“I understand all the frustrations of all my players,” said Guardiola. “It’s so good to have a dream to play in the World Cup and the European Championship with his national team. I’d be concerned if it was otherwise.

 

Nottm Forest team news

Nuno Espirito Santo sticks with the starting XI that drew 0-0 with Arsenal ten days ago.

 

 

Pep Guardiola makes two changes from City’s last league game, an impressive 1-0 win at Tottenham. Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden return in place of Mateo Kovacic and Omar Marmoush, who will have the company of Jack Grealish among others on the bench.

 

 

Perhaps the most well-known accomplishment of Ipswich Town in the modern era is their incredible achievement of earning consecutive promotions to guarantee their place in the Premier League.

But before their spectacular exploits under Kieran McKenna’s leadership, the Tractor Boys were true Championship mainstays, and in 2019 they were relegated to League One.

One of the Tractor Boys’ most famous second-tier seasons occurred in 2014–15, before McKenna joined the team. Under the leadership of former manager Mick McCarthy, the Suffolk team secured a play-off position.

Football League World examines the current whereabouts of Ipswich’s highest-paid player from that campaign:

Defenders Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra were the Tractor Boys’ joint-highest paid players ten seasons ago, based on Capology estimations.

Both players contributed equally to the success of the 2014–15 season, earning an estimated £10,000 each week, or £520,000 annually.

Goal differential ultimately proved to be a crucial component, as McCarthy’s team finished tied with Wolverhampton Wanderers in seventh place on the points.

Chambers and Berra, two former Tractor Boys defenders who are 39 and 40 years old, respectively, have also hung up their boots.

After initially joining Ipswich from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2012, Chambers will always be known as a veteran who played for the team for an incredible nine seasons.

After joining Colchester United before the 2021–2022 season, he played for the League Two team for two seasons before declaring his retirement in August 2023 at the age of 37.

Chambers will be most remembered for his time with the Tractor Boys, when he made an amazing 396 appearances over an unprecedented nine-season spell, even though he also played for teams like Northampton Town, Forest, and Colchester.

In appreciation of his accomplishments while playing in the Championship, League One, and League Two, Chambers received the Sir Tom Finney Award at the 2024 EFL Awards.

The 39-year-old now joins former Sheffield Wednesday striker Clinton Morrison as a commentator on Sky Sports Football’s EFL coverage.

After playing for Hearts and Raith Rovers in his home country of Scotland, Berra, who played for the Tractor Boys for four seasons from 2013–14–2016–17, retired from competition in 2022.

The former center-half joined Rovers as a coach right away after retiring, and by January 2023, he was hired as Livingston’s first team coach to work with David Martindale.

However, he left the then-Scottish Premiership team at the end of the 2022–2023 season before spending some time as the interim coach of Huntsville City, an Alabama-based MLS Next Pro team.

 

The biggest revelation of this Premier League season – Nottingham Forest.

.While Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, and other big clubs (except maybe Liverpool) are experiencing various levels of crisis, the modest club that fought for survival last season is confidently sitting in the Champions League zone.

However, Nuno’s success as manager is not just a phenomenal coincidence, but also a result of a shift in the club’s approach under the new leadership.

Forest have wised up financially: they cleared up the wage bill and stopped signing expensive, lazy players Back in 2022, when Nottingham Forest had just returned to the Premier League, the club spent on 23 (!) new players in one summer – a record number in British football history. Initially, it was 21, but they

On Thursday, Wolves announced that they had signed Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Agbadou from Reims for £16.6 million ($20.3 million), their first acquisition under new manager Vitor Pereira.

With an option for a one-year extension, the 27-year-old defender has committed to a four-and-a-half-year deal at Molineux. Before to Reims, Agbadou played for Eupen in the Belgian Pro League after starting his career at Monastir in Tunisia.

He has spent the last two and a half seasons with the Ligue 1 team, and this season he is the team’s captain.

In addition to being a strong player, I enjoy playing football and lead the defense. The coach informed me of this as well, so I’m here to assist him with my leadership, he said. “I believe I can use this leadership for this team,” he said.

The new recruit was hailed by Sporting director Matt Hobbs, who said, “Emmanuel is a winner and he’s driven.” Even after his adventure, he still feels incredibly hungry.

You’re going to get all he has, which is why Wolves supporters should like him as a player.

After Gary O’Neil was fired last month, Pereira was appointed manager.

Following a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Monday, the squad is now above the Premier League relegation zone on goal differential.

 

Following the deaths of the majority of their squad in a plane crash, three of Brazil’s top clubs have said that they will provide players to Chapecoense.

On their way to Medellin, Colombia, Chapecoense administrators and players perished in a plane disaster.

They traveled to play in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final, and their opponents, Atletico Nacional, have requested that Chapecoense be given the cup.

The clubs who have given assistance are Flamengo, Palmeiras, and Sao Paulo.

Six-time national champions Sao Paulo also stated that Chapecoense should be spared demotion to the second division of Brazilian football for the upcoming three seasons while they work to restore the team.

According to a statement from Fox Sports Latin America, the crash claimed the lives of six workers from its Brazil division.

Both Nottingham Forest and Liverpool offered to loan players to Manchester United following the 1958 Munich plane disaster, while Bishop Auckland, a non-league team, had players on the Red Devils roster.

 

Due to the perception that purchasing young players offers significant value, the Premier League is increasingly concentrating on the Brazilian market.

Due diligence in scouting and investing in players with enormous potential throughout the nation has paid off for Nottingham Forest.

In January 2023, Danilo arrived first from Palmeiras, followed six months later by Murillo from Corinthians.

It was a risk to spend £10 million on the then-20-year-old center-back, who had only reached double figures for career games, but he has developed into one of the Premier League’s greatest defenders and is a major factor in Forest’s third-place finish.

Murillo is a strong, smart player who wants to take the ball out from behind and hopes to score a spectacular goal from 40 yards out.

The 22-year-old Brazilian’s abilities were evident early in his Premier League career, first under Steve Cooper.

However, since the beginning of this season, Nuno Espírito Santo has teamed him with Nikola Milenkovic, which has allowed him to thrive and earn him his first call-up to the Brazil squad.

Joe Worrall, a former Forest defender, recalls, “He wasn’t in the team a lot when I was there.”

Cooper was quite hesitant to play him; I’m not sure why, considering how talented he is.

Scott McKenna and I were there, along with a few younger players who had played the game before.

Murillo arrived from Brazil for £10 million and did a lot of flicking, training, and Cruyff turns, among other things, which is exactly how he is now.

Murillo seems to represent Forest’s transformation since returning to the top division, since the team has gone from reliable players or costly failures to top performers.

Evidently, he has never struggled with confidence.

He enjoys the challenge of trying to stop players like Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, and Alexander Isak, who he will face on Sunday against Newcastle.

Worrall, who joined Burnley last summer, claims that if you watched him in training, you would believe he was a No 10.

“You would say, ‘He’s obviously a stocky boy, so he’s not a center-back.

He is approximately fifteen pounds heavier than me. Although he is not the tallest, he is a huge boy with extremely smooth feet.

His left foot clearly helps him a lot since it’s easier on the eyes and there are less of them, but he’s simply a really, really talented football player.

With one of the strongest defenses in the league, Forest is setting the stage for an improbable run at a Champions League spot.

Although each player has contributed, the team’s confidence has been boosted by the solidity of the backline.

Nuno enjoys playing on the counter, which calls for flawless defensive discipline.

Murillo’s ability to play on the offensive and make timely challenges and interceptions before launching an attack is advantageous.

Murillo will be a little let down that he only has one career goal, even though his day job is defense.

He enjoys taking risks and trying out the occasional piledriver from a distance. There has been interest from other clubs.

“He’s quick, strong, can head it, and reads danger really well,” Worrall says.

I believe that’s something you look for in center-backs who are skilled with the ball.

They can pass it, dribble it, and do other things with it, but can they defend? He is able to sense danger.

He is at the right moment and in the right location.

It’s not a coincidence; he simply knows and is verifying it.

In my opinion, he is worth far more than £50 million. If Forest lets him go for a penny less, it will be a farce.

He and Milenkovic work well together, with their respective strengths properly balancing each other out.

Murillo is quick on the ground and the Serb is excellent in the air, so opponents have problems to solve if they want to get through.

As teams try to catch them out, Murillo works well with left-back Neco Williams to minimize any potential passes into the channels.

The two have a terrific understanding of one another.

Worrall remarks, “Murillo is a tremendous talent.

” I can say that he is a really good kid and that he puts a lot of effort into his training.

He is not a fluke; he is a fighter who obviously understands what it takes to reach the level since he is currently performing at it.

He has a very high moral code and has taken the risk of traveling to Europe from South America.

He has invited his family to join him and his girlfriend, and he must be having a great time right now given everything that has transpired in his life. All I want is for him to score from the midway line.

He’s tried a couple times, so that would be the cherry on top. Worrall is not the only one who wishes for that, but it would be worth it to watch Murillo score in the Champions League.

 

Liverpool has emerged as the front-runner in the Premier League title battle, which has been getting more intense in recent weeks.

But a number of other teams are putting up a strong fight to unseat the Reds, and Nottingham Forest, led by Nuno Espirito Santo, is among the most intriguing of them.

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Money The Premier League Forest of Nottingham Wood, C. Ward-Prowse, J. Milenkovic, N. Hudson-Odoi, C. Who gets the most money credited to their account each year, and how much does each Forest player make? Liverpool has emerged as the front-runner in the Premier League title battle, which has been getting more intense in recent weeks.

But a number of other teams are putting up a strong fight to unseat the Reds, and among the most interesting candidates is Nuno Espirito Santo’s

 

Nottingham Forest were beaten 2-1 by Fulham at the weekend in a game that probably offered up more questions than answers.

 

Talk of Forest being found out is premature. The Reds have massively overachieved to be sitting in third place in the Premier League and fans need to remain calm.

 

Fulham simply did a job on Forest at the weekend. They were disciplined, worked hard and frankly, they didn’t allow the Reds to get in behind them on too many occasions.

 

Troy Deeney hailed Chris Wood for his efforts. The striker scored for the 18th time during the 2024/25 campaign and he’s extremely important to what Forest are trying to do.

 

Nuno Espirito Santo’s team are still in a nice position in the league table. With 13 games left to play, there is still a lot to play for and this season looks set to go to the wire when it comes to European places.

 

Danny Higginbotham hails Nottingham Forest star Chris Wood and dispels narrative

The man who spent time with Forest towards the end of his career is now a pundit over in the United States and this week he stood in for Robbie Mustoe on The 2 Robbies Podcast.

 

Forest’s style has been defended by Higginbotham. Espirito Santo’s counter-attacking style has drawn critique from some but it really is a case of horses for courses when it comes to the top flight.

 

It’s refreshing that he chose to dispel the narrative surrounding the style of play that Forest adopt in games. The counter-attacking style has often been frowned upon, with Forest 20th in the division when it comes to possession in games.

 

 

However, there are more ways to play football than the stereotypical way of keeping the ball with Espirito Santo instead preferring for his team to do their damage on the counter-attack instead.

 

Higginbotham was quick to praise Fulham – correctly – for their performance against Forest, whilst also finding time to join Deeney in praising Wood for his efforts in the game.

 

The pundit said: “I think sometimes you look this season and when Forest have scored, you look at the stats and you think they’ve scored against the run of play, that’s what it feels like but it’s not always like that. They just stick to what they’re good at.

 

“We saw how they set up and play and that’s how they got their equaliser through Chris Wood who is having a phenomenal season, it’s a brilliant finish.”

 

It’s not out of the ordinary to say that Wood is probably leading the race to win the Nottingham Forest Player of the Year accolade for 2024/25 and without his goals, the Reds wouldn’t be in contention.

 

Wood has stayed in form during the current campaign, picking up where he left off in 2023/24 when he bagged 14 goals and helped Forest retain their Premier League status.

 

 

 

 

 

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Lewis O’Brien’s transfer deadline day switch to Swansea City ensured the midfielder would further extend his two-year absence from the Nottingham Forest first team.

 

It also sealed his fourth loan move since his last Reds appearance, a 3-0 League Cup defeat to Manchester United in January 2023, and leaves him marooned on just 13 since he arrived from Huddersfield Town following promotion.

 

However, he seems to be up and running for his latest club having made his Swans debut in Sunday’s 1-0 victory at Bristol City.

 

The 26-year-old played the full 90 minutes in his first game since November when he was with MLS outfit Los Angeles FC and impressed head coach Luke Williams who praised his industry and drive.

 

“His energy is just so evident, he competes for every single ball,” Williams said. “He has regularly outjumped an opponent who has got a few inches on him because he is determined.

 

“He also showed a lot of quality on the ball, he is very unlucky not to have an assist when he played the pass for Jisung.

 

“He breaks from midfield, he must have been exhausted at that point, but he makes the effort to challenge and get there, and then the cross is outstanding. It was such a positive performance for his first one.”

 

O’Brien has also spent time on loan with Middlesbrough and DC United but could have a role to play for the South Wales side who parted company with long-term captain Matt Grimes in the window.

 

Which of Forest’s loan players could still contribute at the City Ground? Have your say here

 

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