Nottingham Forest

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Nottingham Forest fans

Mossy: A brilliant all-round performance by Nottingham Forest and with Mr Marinakis in attendance it could not come at a better time for Oliver Glasner. On to Bournemouth after the international break and if we beat our bogey team it will be just about more pleasing than this result against Man City!

James: Wow! Where has that come from? Glasner's talk must really have got to the players, because that was incredible. Despite Delap rightly getting praised for his performance, can Jair Cunha get a moment of appreciation? Goal, goal line clearance, and did his part in locking down the City attackers. For me MOTM.

John: Superb performance. Delap will get the headlines but every Forest player was a success. Glasner's tactics were perfect. City couldn't get going because we didn't let them. Defence was solid, midfield worked going forward and tackling back, forward play was fast, fluent and effective. Everything that hasn't been going for us worked so well. What a confidence booster that must be.

Harry: A solid performance with three incredible goals to give us the three points we needed to jump above the relegation zone. There was a 15 minute period where City were all over us but we found our feet and responded with a spectacular goal from Liam Delap.

Sherman: Absolutely superb across the whole team. Everyone really turned up and we thoroughly deserved that win with three belting goals. Onwards from here. COYR.

Manchester City fans

Aidan: Don't understand how we can keep making individual errors at the back every match. Sloppiness is killing us time and time again and we look the most disjointed I've seen us in a long time. Maresca needs to find the answers FAST.

Mike: We only need a new back five, simple.

Ben: Both the manager and Fernandez need to get binned. No cutting edge, weak in midfield and no definite style of play. Kompany in as manager please.

Allison: We need a settled back four, chopping and changing doesn't promote confidence. In particular, we need to resolve the full back positions - I'm not convinced playing four centre halves is a good idea even if it keeps them happy.

Brian: Man City have run out of ideas and now run out of road. This was simply awful to watch and humiliating as a Man City fan. Lost in defence and lost in attack. The pressure of what has happened off the pitch is clearly impacting on the field of play. Players have lost pride in the shirt. This is a shadow of the team that started the season. Man City cannot defend and they struggle for pace and belief. What was all this big spend in aid of if they play as a team without ideas? This league is lost.

After scoring twice in Saturday's 3-1 win over Manchester City, Liam Delap told BBC Radio Nottingham: "We've been deserving that for a long, long time. We've been putting in the performances but just not getting the results.

"We really believe in him [Oliver Glasner]. We're all backing him. We have full trust and belief in him.

"It's football, everyone has bad days and good days. We took it on the chin, worked really hard this week and showed that we can come back."

Hear the full interview with Delap above or listen on BBC Sounds

Timothy Abraham
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Liam Delap spent 10 years in Manchester City's academy before leaving for Ipswich in 2019.

His prolific form at Portman Road paved the way for a move to Chelsea, but he struggled to make an impact in west London and his career hit the buffers.

After managing just one goal in his first eight outings at the City Ground there were fears of regression, but he offered a timely reminder of the ability which persuaded Forest to shell out £50m for him with an electric display.

With his chest puffed out, Delap took the game to City's defence, driving at them with aggression, physicality and a determination to impose himself.

"When you come in with a price tag on your back everybody believes 'if you pay so much, he has to score all the goals'," Oliver Glasner said.

"He had one great season at Ipswich then lost a lot of confidence at Chelsea, so now he's getting better and better into rhythm."

It was the first time Delap has had two shots on target in a league match this season.

He scored with two of his three attempts against City (a 67% conversion), having scored just one goal from 24 shots in his first eight games (a 4% conversion).

"As a striker it's the most important thing [to score goals]," Delap added.

"The only thing you're judged on. You can play well and not score - really nice to score. Got to keep performing and improving but today I'm happy."

Read more from Tim on Forest's win

Manchester United could be ready to make a huge offer for Nottingham Forest's Brazil centre-back Murillo, 24, in the summer. (Football Insider), external

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Match of the Day's Danny Murphy breaks down Nottingham Forest's impressive 3-1 win over Manchester City, a victory that he believes could be "a turning point" in Forest's first season under Oliver Glasner.

Tim Abraham
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

A spring-heeled Oliver Glasner danced a merry jig, hoisting his fists in the air like a giddy dad on sports day, when Liam Delap popped in Nottingham Forest's second goal.

He went full Jose Mourinho, sprinting down the touchline to join his players when Delap nearly burst the net with the third.

These were the England striker's first goals at the City Ground, and will have tasted particularly sweet for manager and player alike.

Delap spent a decade in Manchester City's youth ranks before departing for Ipswich in 2019 - another product of City's conveyor belt who was not quite considered ready for the top shelf.

His goalscoring prowess in East Anglia earned him a move to Chelsea but his career stalled at Stamford Bridge after paltry returns.

After a slow start at the City Ground - one goal in his first eight appearances - he delivered a reminder of his qualities with a pulsating display.

Chest puffed out and shoulders back, he ran at City's backline with bustle and an intent to bully.

Forest have looked the part under former Crystal Palace boss Glasner, but that has not quite translated into results.

The Austrian will be eager for this to be the catalyst. Delap will be hoping likewise.

Nottingham Forest starting XI:

Matz Sels: Could do nothing about Rayan Cherki's goal. 6

Daniel Munoz: Looked pumped and did superbly to keep the dangerous Jeremy Doku quiet. 7

Jair Cunha: The centre-back found himself in attack in the sixth minute, when he pounced before coolly rolling in the opener. Made a brilliant goalline clearance at the other end. 8

Nikola Milenkovic: Stood tall to block a Jeremy Doku strike early on which epitomised his overall showing. 7

Murillo: The Brazilian was solid and did what was asked of him, to help stop Erling Haaland. 7

Neco Williams: Got stuck in when required. A solid performance. 7

Ryan Yates: The captain's poor clearance allowed Cherki to score in the second half. 6

Xaver Schlager: Provided the assist for the second goal in a decent showing. 7

James McAtee: Had a very good game against his former club. Could have enjoyed a goal but had a weak shot saved, before blazing another over. 7

Morgan Gibbs-White: Hard-working and caused Manchester City a few problems in the final third. 7

Liam Delap: A double for the no-nonsense ex-City striker. Two thunderous finishes brought the stadium alive. 9

Nottingham Forest substitutes:

Luca Netz (on 64, McAtee) 6

Dan Ndoye (on 64, Munoz) 6

Ibrahim Sangare (on 79, Yates) 6

Igor Jesus (on 86, Delap) 6

Subs not used:

John Victor, Ousmane Diomande, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood, Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Danny Murphy
Former Liverpool midfielder to BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

It's an unbelievable result for Oliver Glasner and the team, and actually a performance unexpected from a team down there. There have been many times this season where they've been unlucky and played quite well and not got the points. They deserved it today.

They were, from minute one, right in the face of Manchester City, forcing them into mistakes. And then when they did win the ball back, they had those moments of quality to score when they were on top.

Of course they had to defend at times against a really good City side, but that performance could be a turning point for Forest this season. The fans, the players' confidence, even the manager getting overexcited, it's not like him. We saw him running down the touchline, celebrating with the players.

It was a huge, huge moment in the season for Forest, and most people who aren't biased in terms of who they support are Glasner fans, because I think he conducts himself really well, and he's actually been unlucky in the first part of his Forest tenure in terms of points they've got with the performances they've had. So that's a huge deal for him and the club today.

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "You can never plan to win 3-1 against [Manchester] City because are so good.

"But today, especially the players and our fans deserve this win because they were so passionate from the first minute, scoring nice goals.

"We had moments to suffer but then we could rely on our fans pushing us, supporting us. Amazing goals and such a great team effort today so really proud.

"I think we've had better performances in possession because today we rarely had the ball. Regarding the team spirit, the energy, I think it was our best game.

"The way we play football I think we've had many better games but how we defended, how passionately we defended, how tactically smart we defended, it was one of our better games."

On outrunning City: "I think it is the only way you can beat Man City. They're so good, such great players, such a good structure and they move the ball so quickly. They can play through the middle, they have incredible dribblers on the wing and they have such pace. Then, of course, they have Haaland in the middle.

"You should control everything and if you want to control it, you have to run because you have to be so quickly aware.

"Of, course you can just defend but you also need to go forward and this is what we did today in the right moments, we scored the goals in the right moments and credit again to the players."

On Liam Delap: "When you come in with a price tag on your back everybody believes 'if you pay so much, he has to score all the goals'.

"I would say it's Liam's second regular Premier League season because he didn't play a lot at Chelsea. He had one great season at Ipswich then lost a lot of confidence at Chelsea, so now he's getting better and better into rhythm.

"These goals are his biggest strengths with his right and his left, also using his power and his strength. We knew that he would score goals for us and today, they were nice ones."

Nottingham Forest striker Liam Delap speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We've been performing well over the last few weeks just not been ruthless enough - today showed what we can do when we are ruthless.

"Three good finishes - Jair [Cunha] the first one as well. So important to get a good start.

"As a striker it's the most important thing [to score goals] - the only thing you're judged on. You can play well and not score, really nice to score. Got to keep performing and improving but today I'm happy.

"We know we will suffer against a team like City. We had in our minds we need to fight, to run, we outrun them and we won duels. We got chances on the counter and the match plan was bang on and everyone did really well - it was top."

On what Oliver Glasner said last week: "It's football. You have good and bad days and we had a fun Sunday but it probably brought us together. We have been working so well for the last few weeks. That was a poor performance but we've showed we can bounce back and the spirit and belief in the group is as high as ever."

Hear more from Glasner, speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Liam Delap has scored three goals in nine Premier League games for Nottingham Forest this season, more than he did in 28 appearances for Chelsea last term (one). His brace today was just his second in the Premier League, after September 2024 for Ipswich against Aston Villa.

• Forest scored more goals in this match (three) than they had in their previous six home league games combined (two). This was also the first time they'd scored three goals in a Premier League game against a side starting the day in the top two.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance

What did you make of Manchester City's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

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Nottingham Forest just cannot score - they have managed only six league goals in their first nine games, the lowest total in the Premier League.

Their manager, Oliver Glasner, got a bit stroppy after their defeat by Brentford last time out, saying he will make changes or he will end up being sacked. He tried the carrot approach at the start of the season but his team didn't bite - so now he is trying the stick.

We might see a reaction here, and I do think Forest will score - Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma might even chuck one in for them, going off his recent poor form.

It certainly won't be easy for City and they have their own issues at the moment after back-to-back league defeats, but I am still expecting them to create enough chances to win.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

"If you lose four of the last five games, it's not good enough. And that's why, for me, it's now time that we change things, that I change things, and that's what I will do."

So said Nottingham Forest head coach Oliver Glasner after seeing his side lose at Brentford last weekend, despite having twice as many shots as their opponents (15 to seven) and three times as many attempts from inside the penalty area (nine to three).

For the seventh time in nine matches in this Premier League campaign, Forest outperformed the opposing team in terms of xG, yet they have turned that dominant stat into just one win and six points in total.

Forest, who have yet to score at home in any competition this season, have scored just six Premier League goals from an xG total of 14.34, an under-performance of 8.34 goals.

That's comfortably the worst differential of any team this season, and the biggest under-performance by a side after nine Premier League games since at least 2021-22, when Opta introduced its revamped xG model.

It is the problem Glasner has to solve – the Austrian, who is the fifth man to take charge of Forest since the start of last season, is confident of doing so but is well aware that if he can't, owner Evangelos Marinakis may well once again act sooner rather than later.

"I will tell what we want to do, what we have to do," said Glasner. "And if the players buy in, I think we can have a turnaround. And if not, the sixth manager will come in."

Manchester City got back to winning ways in Europe in midweek after a three-game spell that included two league defeats and needing penalties to get past Brighton in the Carabao Cup.

With Arsenal taking full advantage of City's stutter, Enzo Maresca's side will need to start putting aside their recent unconvincing form, especially with a league game against the champions looming at the end of the month.

City are comfortably outscoring Arsenal but they have conceded twice as many goals as the Gunners in the Premier League, while they have looked vulnerable defensively.

They haven't kept a clean sheet in their past seven matches, conceding 14 times, and have suffered several high-profile lapses at the back.

"We are creating many chances in each game but we need to avoid silly goals," said Maresca after City's victory in midweek, in which Gianluigi Donnarumma was caught out at his near post, one of several errors the Italian keeper has made this season.

"At the moment, I'm not thinking about the goalkeeping situation," added Maresca, who insists Donnarumma's form "is not a concern".

A new episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast is now available on BBC Sounds.

David Jackson and Colin Fray analyse Oliver Glasner's explosive comments this week and what discuss happens next going into Saturday's crucial game against Manchester City at the City Ground.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Nottingham Forest content on BBC Sounds

Oliver Glasner is not under immediate pressure and remains in close communication with the Forest hierarchy, with stability desired after four managers last season.

The 52-year-old has made a positive impression with his work and methods, even if there have been some obvious grumbles from players who are not playing, and there remains a desire to stay calm.

"I'm always in contact with the ownership," Glasner said. "It's not always Mr [Evangelos] Marinakis because he has other stuff to do, but there is his son [Miltiadis], George [Syrianos, chief football officer] and Pedro [Ferreira, technical director] here at the training ground, and Theodore [Giannikos] the CEO.

"There's always communication - and that's a good thing, because everybody understands better why I am how I am. I never say what's best for Oliver Glasner, because I don't feel important. I will always say what I believe is best for Nottingham Forest, for the club.

"I don't like to accept things if I feel they are wrong. My addiction is to succeed with Nottingham Forest and, right now, I have failed. Then I get really upset with myself because I want to meet the expectations of the players, owner and the fans.

"Right now, I've failed and that's why I blame myself most."

Read more of Nick's article

Eintracht Frankfurt are hopeful of re-signing Nottingham Forest's French forward Arnaud Kalimuendo, 24. (L'Equipe - in French), external

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