Premier League: Sky Blues Set Their Sights On Forest

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

The top flight of English football is a fantastic place to be, but it can also be pretty daunting, as Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest are about to find out.

The newcomers have just been beaten by top four hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur and now they head to the Etihad to take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The Sky Blues are second in the Premier League table, on ten points and two behind leaders Arsenal, and on Saturday they came back from a two goal deficit to Crystal Palace to win 4-2 with a ruthless second half display.

It is very likely that City will retain their league title, while Nottingham Forest, despite spending heavily in the transfer market, are realistic enough to know that the betting market and neutrals have then down as relegation prospects.

The outcome of this match will have little bearing on the battle for survival but, if Forest can spring a huge surprise then it might shake things up a little at the top.  

Talking Points

Haaland has arrived!    

City’s clash with the Eagles turned out to be quite an event as, while title rivals Liverpool had romped into a 5-0 lead against Bournemouth, the Sky Blues trailed Crystal Palace by 2-0 at the break. Bernardo Silva halved the deficit just after half time to set the stage for Erling Braut Haaland; and he plundered a hat-trick in 19 minutes to make it six for the season and put him in early charge of the race for the Golden Boot.

Last season the Sky Blues won the league without a prolific striker and, alongside Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden have all got on the score sheet already this term and that is not a comforting thought for the other title hopefuls; or City’s next opponents. 

Arsenal’s late comeback against Fulham, winning 2-1, kept City off the top spot but the signs are ominous and the latest Premier League 2022 betting odds have priced Guardiola’s men at 1.37 to retain their title for a fifth season in six. 

A free hit for Forest

Head coaches throughout the Premier League will denounce the idea of a free hit, saying it’s an insult to their team and maybe even disrespectful to their opponents. But when a team which is aiming purely for survival is about to face Manchester City they can be forgiven if they end the game empty handed.

That’s why I say this game is a free hit for Forest. And the SBOTOP odds agree me, pricing Guardiola’s team at 1.08 to take all three points.

Even if Haaland hadn’t just flexed his muscles against Crystal Palace, Guardiola’s team would still strike fear into any opponent and often it’s a case of damage limitation. Sure, Cooper will prepare his players to give 100 per cent and search tirelessly for a chink in City’s armour, but the games against the teams around Forest are more pivotal, they can end in triumph or disaster; whereas this is a stunning result or an expected defeat.

So how can Forest make the most of their free hit?

Well, keeper Dean Henderson is going to be a busy boy and he proved he’s up for the fight with a brave display against Spurs, brilliantly saving a Harry Kane penalty.

Newcastle earned a 3-3 draw with City last week by getting in their faces and that is what Forest must do. If the visitors defend then the hosts will eventually pick them off.

With Aymeric Laporte out injured for City, John Stones will start at the back and, while he is a fine defender, he has a mistake in him, scoring an own goal to give Palace a lead on Saturday.

Forest must be brave and go on the front foot, while Henderson needs the game of his life.             

History

If you look at the head to head results then Nottingham Forest fans have nothing to fear, as both teams have won four of the last 11 games and drawn the other three.

But this is the first meeting between the two teams in the Premier League this century, and the last time they clashed in a league game was in the Championship in 2002 when Manchester City won 3-0.  They met more recently when Forest upset the odds to win 3-0 in a third round FA Cup tie in 2009.    

Betting Tip

City are unbeaten at home in 11 games and, at a whopping price of 28.84 to win, this would be one of the Premier League 2022 results of the season if Cooper can mastermind a victory… or even a Draw at 8.44.

I just can’t see it happening.

For a Correct Score-line a repeat of the 3-0 from the last league meeting in 2002 is the shortest odds at 5.88.

 

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