Nottingham Forest’s chances of featuring in next season’s UEFA Champions League received a massive boost as Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late strike sealed a 1-0 win over visiting Manchester City on Saturday.
The hosts came into the tie having not won in their last five matches and looked set to make it six, but Hudson-Odoi’s late goal seven minutes from time proved more than enough to down the soon-to-be outgoing defending champions.
There was nothing to separate both sides after a dull first half, though Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were slightly the better team. In a game of very few clear-cut chances, it was the Tricky Trees who found the breakthrough.
A delightful pass from Morgan Gibbs-White met Callum Hudson-Odoi, whose effort beat City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes at his near post to give the home team the lead in the 83rd minute.
It finished with Nuno Esprito Santo’s men claiming the vital win as they chase their Champions League ambitions.
The win puts Forest four points clear of fourth-place City, who could drop to fifth if Chelsea emerge victorious in their own fixture this weekend.