Nuno looking beyond Man City’s poor form ahead of clash with Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo insists Manchester City remain a top-quality side despite their poor form heading into Wednesday's Premier League match.

City have gone seven games without a win in all competitions – the longest run of Pep Guardiola's career as manager – six of which have ended in defeat.

Sunday's 2-0 defeat to league leaders Liverpool leaves the reigning champions in fifth place and now 11 points behind the Reds, but Nuno is looking beyond this poor form before facing off at the Etihad Stadium.

“It's the reality of the game: you always have ups and downs,” Nuno said. “Every team has to be ready to face those moments of uncertainty when things don't go well.

“It's about how long you stay there and how you bounce back from those moments; how to reorganize and improve. Their run doesn't take away from the quality and talent they have.

“Let's not forget that they are the champions and have won so much with such quality players and such a good manager. When you have such quality players and play such good football, they will certainly turn it around.”

Charge and go again. pic.twitter.com/H5bQhrPL74

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 2, 2024

City are just one point and one place better off than Forest, who put behind successive defeats to Arsenal and Newcastle United with a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town last weekend.

Guardiola, who has won 18 trophies in his eight full seasons as City boss, is determined to continue having just signed a new two-year contract.

“I used to live better than I do now,” he said. “But I'm incredibly honest with myself and when we won a lot, my perspective was that I was lucky to experience that.

“Now I'm not depressed because everything is going bad. If I think I can't do it, we will talk to the club, but I have the feeling that I want to do it and life is not perfect in all areas.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Manchester City – Erling Haaland

Haaland has failed to score in consecutive Premier League games for City, although he has still scored 15 goals in his past 11 appearances at the Etihad Stadium in all competitions.

The Premier League's leading scorer this season, who has scored a total of 12 goals in 13 games, also scored four times in two games on home soil against Forest.

Nottingham Forest – Chris Wood

Wood scored the only goal of the match in the 1-0 win over Ipswich from the penalty spot and has also scored twelve goals in his past thirteen away Premier League games for Forest.

The New Zealand international is aiming to become the first Reds player to score in four consecutive away games in the competition, and the first in the English top flight for the club since Garry Birtles in 1983-84.

Ready for more? pic.twitter.com/zpomnE4CtA

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 2, 2024

MATCH PREDICTION: MAN CITY WIN

City have conceded more than three goals in their past two home games in all competitions, which they last achieved in 1963 when they were relegated from the top flight.

Guardiola's men may be in poor form but they are unbeaten in their last eight league games against Forest, dating back to a 3-2 defeat in the second tier in December 1997.

Forest have also lost their past four away games against City by an aggregate score of 12-0, while they are winless in their past seven top-flight visits since 1989.

The Reds, meanwhile, have lost their past five away games against reigning top-flight champions 21-2 since beating Manchester City 2-1 in December 1994.

If the signs against Forest weren't already stacked, opponents City are unbeaten in their past 31 home matches in the Premier League as of Wednesday, having won each of their past 20 games.

OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING

Manchester City win – 66.8% Nottingham Forest win – 14.8% Draw – 18.4%