Nottingham Forest vs Man City Prediction: Foden to keep City charge alive

We're into the business end of the Premier League season and as usual, it's Manchester City who are finishing like a steam train. Next up they travel to the East Midlands for a 16:30 kick off on Super Sunday against struggling Nottingham Forest.

We've previewed the match and given you our Nottingham Forest vs Man City Prediction, as well as the latest team news and odds. 

Every season Manchester City give the other title contenders hope and every year they blow those dreams away with a ridiculously strong finish to the season. City are unbeaten in 17 in the league, with 13 wins and four draws dragging them up the table to within a point of leaders Arsenal, with a vital game in hand still to play.

The Citizens now know their fate is in their own hands and should they win out, an unprecedented fourth English top tier title on the spin would be theirs, putting them past the likes of Huddersfield Town, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United into unmatched territory.

Their case was done no harm by a thumping 4-0 battering of Brighton on Thursday night, courtesy of two goals from one of the contenders for the Player of the Year in Phil Foden and the news that Erling Haaland could be back in contention will delight boss Pep Guardiola, in time for a crucial title run-in.

For 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, it comes at the worst possible time, after a disastrous 2-0 loss against Everton saw a remarkable rant aimed by the club at the VAR official Stuart Attwell and the referee's board, PGMOL, accusing them of bias and impartiality.

Whether there will be further punishments to come from the Premier League to follow the points deduction that has put them within spitting distance of the bottom three, we will find out in the coming days and weeks but for now, Nuno Espirito Santo's side have to roll their sleeves up and start to pick some points up on the pitch.

Team news

Nuno is still without the injured Forest pair of Taiwo Awoniyi and Willy Boly for the visit of City.

Guardiola's only injury concern comes in the form of star striker Haaland, who has missed their last two games with a muscle strain. However, the City boss gave positive news on Friday afternoon, suggesting that the big Norwegian could feature.

Match odds

City are huge 1/4 favs for this one, with the Tricky Trees as big as 15/2 at the time of writing. The draw is available at 9/2.

Goals look a sure thing, with over 2.5 at just 1/2 but the Betfred traders are unsure on Both Teams to Score with yes and no both priced at 5/6.

Man City to win to Nil @ 11/10

After looking wide open against Real Madrid over two legs, City have gone back to their old selves over the last two games and scored five goals without reply.

Forest meanwhile, ended a run of five straight games scoring with that shutout against Everton and they are up against much harder opposition here. Brighton barely laid a glove on City on Thursday evening and I can see a similar score line here.

Phil Foden first goal scorer @ 4/1

What a season the mercurial England frontman is having and Gareth Southgate must be licking his lips at the thought of Foden, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane at his disposal.

Foden has taken on the mantle of talisman for City, after a 'mediocre' season for Haaland and the long-term injury to Kevin De Bruyne left Guardiola's charges in the lurch from an attacking perspective. 23 goals and 10 assists soon put paid to those fears, as the number 47 has grown into a world class talent.

The Stopfordian is red hot right now, with six goals in his last five games and I like his chances of opening the scoring here.

Betfred are running their famed Double Delight/Hat-Trick Heaven promotion on this match, meaning if Foden scores first and then nets a second, you will be paid at double the odds (8/1). If he grabs a third, you will be paid at treble the odds (12/1).

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