Nottingham Forest

Manchester City v Nottingham Forest. Subway Cup. 22.11.25

By Hatty Ruddick

In a must win for both teams, the final group stage match of the Subway cup take place in Nottingham with only one point between the leaders of the WSL1 and the WSL2 side. The two sides have met before with Nottingham having taken most of the games, and City only having won 2 with a draw of 2. 

Starting 11 for Nottingham Forest: Batty, Stapleton, Brougham, Mustaki, Rodgers, Claypole, Hed, Rowe, Thomas, Hamilton, Boye-Hlorkah

Starting 11 for Manchester City: Cummings, Casparij, Rose, Knaak, Ouahabi, Lohmann, Hasegawa, Coombs, Clinton, Hemp, Shaw

The first 6 minutes look to be a battle between attack and defence, with City attempting for the goal as Forest's defence stops them multiple times. City gain the first corner until Shaw is being seen to by medics. She is okay to continue, as is Boye-Hlorkah. Forest's first chance comes at 17 minutes with Boye-Hlorkah making the run and shot, but Knaak proves why she is so vital to City and defends against. After the corner, multiple shots are made for the home team until Shaw clears. The first shot on target comes from Claypole which Cummings saves, whereas an attempt moments late from Hemp is too high. Thomas is taken off with an injury, replaced by Garcia. Just as City look to be loosing confidence, a team effort goes into getting the goal that Clinton strikes through. 

Nottingham Forest 0 - 1 Manchester City

Forest fight back as Garcia strikes, but Cummings saves the attempt. Coombs tries to secure the game with a brilliant shot saved by Batty. In a confusing ending for the corner where we had to wait to see if the ball went in due to the sheer amount of people in goal, City go 2-0 up with a goal for Hemp. 

Nottingham Forest 0 - 2 Manchester City

Changes for City in the second half, with Blindkilde-Brown and Beney coming on for Hemp and Hasegawa. The first real attempt of the second half comes from Coombs at 64 minutes who hits the top post, and seconds later Shaw who is millimeters away from the goal line that Batty knocks out. Changes for City as they look to stay on top with Miedema and Wienrother coming on for Shaw and Ouahabi. Change for Forest as Claypole is off for Rose, Rodgers is off for Almqvist as they look to get on the score sheet with 20 minutes to go. The attempts are there, but as  Almqvist is making attempts she is alone against City's defense. However, Nottingham Forest do look to get a goal at 81 minutes until it is called offside. With 9 minutes to go it looks like City will take the group. 

Overall, Forest did not make this game easy for City, however, there was a clear difference displayed after the first goal showing the difference between WSL1 leaders at the WSL2 side. 

Nottingham Forest 0 - 2 Manchester City.