Super Eagles stars Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi featured for Nottingham Forest as they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at the City Ground, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nottingham Forest returned to Premier League action with a fixture against Tottenham at home. The Tricky Trees have been impressive this season, claiming the scalps of Manchester United and Aston Villa recently, and they were looking to continue their run.

Super Eagles defender Aina kept his place on rhe starting XI, while Awoniyi started from the bench. Tottenham started the game on the front foot, with Mats Selz making some important saves in the first 25 minutes.

However, Nottingham Forest had a big chance in the 28th minute, and they took it. Sweden star Anthony Elanga produced an effort from inside the box to open the scoring.

Tottenham probed hard for the equalizer, but they failed to get it. In the second half, Nottingham Forest were solid and stopped Tottenham for getting good looks at goal. Super Eagles star Aina put in a great shift at right back, registering three clearances and one tackle. Despite facing a lightning-fast Brennan Johnson, he was dribbled past just once.

Awoniyi was introduced into the game in the 87th minute, and he had an opportunity just a minute after his introduction, but he dragged his shot wide.

Nottingham Forest had an easy end to the game, as Djed Spence got sent off in stoppage time. It eventually ended 1-0 to the Tricky Trees, as they won their 10th game of the season.

Super Eagles duo, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi were brilliant in today’s London derby as they helped Fulham to a 2-1 win against Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge, Soccernet.ng reports.

The pair have been ever-present for Marco Silva’s side this season. Iwobi has played every game for the Cottagers in the English Premier League this season while Bassey missed the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield due to the a yellow card suspension.

Fulham had one win from their last five games prior to today’s game and needed a lift today to increase their chances of playing in a European competition when the season ends.

Raul Jimenez had the games’ first shot on target in the first fifteen minutes but the effort was well stopped by Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez. A minute later, Cole Palmer broke the deadlock.

The former Manchester City midfielder took the ball in his stride after receiving it from Levi Colwill. He beat three Fulham players before placing the ball beyond Bernd Leno’s reach.

Bassey nearly equalized almost immediately. The Nigerian defender went on a mazy solo run, dribbling past Malo Gusto and Tosin Adarabioyo before unleashing a low-driven shot into Sanchez’s arms.

Alex Iwobi and Antonee Robinson continued to threaten Chelsea’s left hand side after the restart and their effort yielded fruit in the 82nd minute.

Iwobi darted almost 40 yards after the half-way line into Chelsea’s box before feeding the ball into Robinson’s path. The USMNT full-back crossed the ball to meet Timothy Castagne’s head. The Belgian headed the ball across the box to be tapped home by substitute Harry Wilson who scored his fourth goal off the bench for Fulham this campaign.

Chelsea responded with intent, and forced two stunning saves from Bernd Leno, but it was Marco Silva’s side that had their gifts unwrapped in front of the fifth stand on boxing day.

A counter-attack led by Wilson saw the Scotland midfielder produce an outside foot pass for Sasa Lukic. The Serbian squared the ball into the box for Brazilian youngster, Rodrigo Muniz. The 23-year-old striker controlled the ball with his right foot before beating Sanchez with a left-footed strike to seal all three points for Fulham.

Marco Silva’s side are now level on points with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and could go as high as 5th on the league table if they defeat Bournemouth on Sunday at Craven Cottage.

Pep Guardiola is currently enduring his toughest spell in management, with Manchester City in the middle of a slump which has seen them plummet down the Premier League table.

The reigning champions are in seventh place, having won just one of their last eight matches. Their disastrous form has raised questions over Guardiola’s future at the Etihad Stadium despite the 53-year-old signing a new two-year deal last month.

At this point, there is nothing to suggest that club chiefs are thinking about appointing a new manager. However, it remains to be seen whether things will change if City fall even further away from the Premier League’s top four.

Resignation message after Barcelona

Guardiola is not known to be a quitter when the going gets tough, but even the fabled Spaniard has limits. He left Barcelona in 2012 after winning every available trophy, a spell of generational success which came at a cost.

Eventually, their form began to falter and Guardiola admitted that he knew he had to leave after losing the ability to motivate his players.

In an interview with Audi back in 2014, he said: “We were incredibly successful. Winning 14 trophies in only four years was the greatest period in the club’s history.

“But, gradually, I found it more and more difficult to motivate myself and to motivate the team. That is when you know it is time to walk away.”

Verdict on Man City future

Guardiola may have changed his tune in the years since leaving Barcelona, insisting earlier this year that he is determined to stick with City even in a worst-case scenario.

In a press conference, he was asked what he would do if City are found guilty of breaking financial rules and kicked out of the Premier League.

He replied: “I will be here. I don’t know the position of the conference they’re going to bring us, we’re going to come up and come up, we’re going to come back to the Premier League. I knew it then, I feel it now.”

Guardiola later refused to rule out the possibility of stepping down if it becomes clear that his position is no longer tenable.

“I’m not naive enough to think I am going to stay because we have a contract or what we have done in the past,” he said. “Maybe in a month I am not here if the situation is not going well. We have to do it again.”

Next job after Man City

It seems clear that Guardiola will not manage another club side, citing his fading energy levels in an interview with Desmontadito a few weeks ago.

“I’m not going to leave to go to another country [for a club],” he said. “I won’t have the energy. Now I’m still here, but to think about starting again, the whole process of training… no, no.”

An international job may still appeal to him, though. He added: “That’s different. It’s not every day [training] and every three days [playing]. I think I would have to stop [from the daily cycle].

“To rest, to see what we have done, what we can do better, because day-to-day we don’t have much time to rest. It’s continuous and to rest I think would be good for me, but right now, no. Right now I’m here [at City].”

Express