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 ImagesA 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.
Danny Murphy
Former Liverpool midfielder to BBC Sport
Image source, Getty ImagesIt'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
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."
Eintracht Frankfurt are hopeful of re-signing Nottingham Forest's French forward Arnaud Kalimuendo, 24. (L'Equipe - in French), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Nick Mashiter
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesBoss Oliver Glasner believes his warning to Nottingham Forest's squad has had the desired impact.
The Austrian insisted there will be no compromises in his management after last weekend's 2-0 defeat by Brentford left Forest second bottom.
They host Manchester City on Saturday still waiting for a first goal and win at the City Ground this season.
With Forest losing four of their past five games, ex-Crystal Palace boss Glasner feels his laying down of the law has been well received.
"I didn't attack anyone directly. We share that we want to be successful and win games. It was not a problem," he said.
"It was much louder outside than I felt it was inside. This is just how I see a relationship has to be. Let's talk about things if we don't like things.
"If you never say anything in your relationship with your wife or children, then they will never know. Then I can't blame somebody because if they don't know, how can you expect things to change?
"We are now in a society where criticism or the way I talk is negative, but the intention was positive and to change to get better results so that we can all have a better life."
Forest have won just once this season - a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa - and Glasner felt he had to speak up to ensure they did not continue to fail.
He said: "This is just how I am. I am an honest guy and if I see things that I don't like then I will let you know. If I see things I really like, then I will let you know as well.
"If I feel I need to shake things up, then I will shake things up. If I feel I need to keep quiet, then I will keep quiet.
"When you've lost many games, I can't keep telling the same story about having a good start, having chances, making mistakes and losing - otherwise, we will always keep going in the same way and nothing will change."
Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist
Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City at The City Ground (kick-off 17:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Glasner confirmed there are a few players with "minor issues", including sickness and "niggles", but no new injury concerns.
Igor Jesus has trained the full week with "no reaction" so "looks good" for the weekend.
Nicolo Savona "is on track and looks like he will get some minutes in the friendly in the international break" before a return to the squad.
However, Nicolas Dominguez has suffered a setback after returning to training this week and "will be out for up to eight weeks".
The Forest boss said it has been a "good training week" following the defeat at Brentford, in which he said "change" was needed in his post-match interview.
On his comments: "When you've lost many games, I can't keep telling the same story about having a good start, having chances, making mistakes and losing. That's why I needed to change what I am telling. Otherwise, we will always keep going in the same way and nothing will change."
More on criticising his team: "I am an honest guy and if I see things that I don't like then I will let you know. If I see things I really like, then I will let you know as well. If I feel I need to shake things up, then I will shake things up. If I feel I need to keep quiet, then I will keep quiet."
He said his comments were "not a problem" with the players and "it was much louder outside than I felt it was inside".
The head coach exapanded: "We are in a society where criticism, or the way I talk, is a negative", and added: "But the intention is positive, to change to get better results so that we can all have a better life."
On what has been said in training this week: "What we are talking [about] at the training ground will stay at the training ground. This is our Las Vegas. What happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas."
Glasner feels their performances are not "disastrous" and they "are not far away from getting what we all want," but mistakes that "repeatedly happen" have to stop and it's his job to discover why they keep occurring.
On his expectations of the players and his standards: "To create values that you want to live in. A culture where we want to be. That is also necessary for being successful. We are not in the military, but there are some rules that everyone has to stick to as this is how communities work. This is how you create trust and reliability."
Hear more from Glasner, speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, above or on BBC Sounds here
Listen to live commentary of Nottingham Forest v Manchester City on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 17:30 GMT on Saturday
Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Is Nottingham Forest's £50m summer signing Liam Delap solely to blame for the club's staggeringly low 2.7% chance conversion rate this season?
That's the question BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club debated after Oliver Glasner's side failed to find the back of the net yet again in the Premier League.
The Reds have scored just six goals in nine games - despite recording the fifth-highest xG in the league - leaving them rooted in the relegation zone.
"Liam Delap is still relatively young so he needs to be given a chance," former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given said. "He is still working the chances and doing his best, but he has to be given the opportunity to settle in.
"Players like Morgan Gibbs-White have to step up a bit as well. He is the captain and the leader of this team, so you could perhaps question whether he is doing enough this season.
"The serious lack of goals is a big concern. It is interesting that Oliver Glasner has come out and opened up so early into his career at Nottingham Forest. He must be getting some messages from above that he is already under pressure - and we know Evangelos Marinakis isn't shy about getting rid of managers.
"But the club would be mad to get rid of him considering what he did at Crystal Palace. He knows his way around the pitch and around the Premier League, so it is only a matter of time until he gets it right."
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "Nottingham Forest have clearly struggled to take their chances and that has been their biggest downfall this season.
"It is like a 'carrot and stick' situation because Oliver Glasner has tried to dangle the carrot and his players aren't carrot-munchers, so he has resorted to the stick and said: 'You need to listen. If not, someone else will come in.'
"The owner isn't frightened of change, though, and he will have expected a lot from his new manager because of what he achieved at Crystal Palace."
Listen to the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds here
Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner has received the backing of his players following a meeting with them at the club's training ground. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
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