They may have suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats against Manchester City this season but Nottingham Forest achieved a quite remarkable feat in the process.
Nuno Espírito Santo's side, who currently sit 17th in the league table – just one point above the drop zone – put up a respectable fight in Sunday's clash at the City Ground.
Josko Gvardiol put the Citizens ahead with a near post header before Premier League top goalscorer Erling Haaland put the tie to bed with a neat finish past Belgian goalkeeper Matz Sels.
But the home side created plenty of chances throughout. In fact, they recorded more shots [14] than their opponents [11], despite having just 33 per cent possession.
Advert
The Reds have struggled throughout the 2023/24 campaign, recording just seven wins from a possible 35. They did, however, produce two impressive performances against reigning champions City.
Take this stat from Opta, for example. Forest recorded more shots in both of their Premier League games against Manchester City this season, recording 10 shots in their game at the Etihad compared to City's seven.
As a result of that feat, they are only the second team in history to outshoot a Pep Guardiola side both home and away in a season during the Spaniard's managerial career.
The other team to achieve such a feat were Real Madrid during the 2009/10 campaign.
Fans on social media were understandably in shock after the stat emerged.
One said: "One of the most insane stats I’ve ever seen," while another commented: "If that stat doesn't sum up the season then I don't know what does."
A third wrote: "The greatest manager and the best English team in the last 10 year's getting outshot at home and away in the same season vs Nottingham Forest. Football makes no sense sometimes."
A fourth said: "That's ridiculous," and fifth added: "Only the second team to outshoot a Pep Guardiola side both home & away in a season in the Spaniard's top-flight managerial career, after Real Madrid in 2009-10, you’ll never sing that."
Pep Guardiola offered praise for Nottingham Forest after the full-time whistle, calling it a "dangerous" game.
"If you are a quality performance, that means we are who we are, you are closer to winning games," he said.
"Today was the coin, the game was dangerous. During 38 games and the amount of games we have, I knew the games would be like that. They respond well and in that moment of course winning is the most important.
"But not now, in September, October, November, December and every game we play, the most important thing is the results."
Topics: Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Premier League, Pep Guardiola
Jack Kenmare