Manchester City, used to dictating the pace of the game, left City Ground with a bad taste. Nottingham Forest, with an astute and lethal second-half performance, won 1-0 and dropped Pep Guardiola's team to fourth place. The loss might be costly for the champions, who now have to hope Chelsea doesn't catch up with them.
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A match of patience and explosion
The first half gave some glimpses of an overbearing City, but that was it. Chances were there, like Haaland's first shot and Nico González's long-range effort. But Forest delivered flawless defense organization and never gave way. City launched attack after attack, which were all pushed back, and inch by inch, Nuno Espírito Santo's side controlled their pace.
In the second half, the script was altered. Nottingham Forest felt City weren't fully focused and began to push harder. Hudson-Odoi had already rattled Ederson's post, a suggestion that Forest weren't going to sit back and enjoy the view. Their persistence paid off in the 83rd minute when the same Hudson-Odoi struck an unstoppable shot past the Brazilian at the near post. A clinical and deadly strike.
The impact on the table and City's mindset
This loss puts City on the back foot. With 47 points, Guardiola's team is now fourth and even risks falling to fifth should Chelsea defeat Leicester. What was recently appearing to be a title race has now become a fight for a place in next year's Champions League.
Other than the figures, the psychological factor weighs heavily and suggests that City, a side that built up an aura of invincibility over the past couple of years, is falling apart. Forest, riding high on three games without a victory, demonstrated there are ways of dismantling Guardiola's machinery. And the rest of the Premier League most certainly did pay attention.
Forest is no longer on the sidelines
Nottingham Forest triumphed, yes, but in addition to that, they made a statement. Having reached 51 points, Nuno Espírito Santo's side is in third place four points ahead of City. Above everything else, they've claimed 11 clean-sheet victories to date this season, the most over their last two Premier League seasons.
A good defense, biding its time until the time is right to attack, and the bravery to topple a giant spectacle that Forest is willing to battle at the top of the league.
The Premier League remains unpredictable
Nottingham Forest's victory throws the Premier League dynamics into disarray. City, a team that has always been able to get back on track, needs to regroup in a hurry to avoid falling further behind the leaders. Chelsea can pass them, and the pressure is mounting.
Meanwhile, Forest continues to demonstrate they belong in the fight. And if anything has been proven this season, it's that no one is safe at the top.