Oliver Glasner finally let his emotions run free on Saturday — sprinting down the City Ground touchline to celebrate with his players after Nottingham Forest dismantled Manchester City 3-1 in a result that could change the shape of their entire Premier League season.

"One of my best running stats, I guess," Glasner joked to BBC Match of the Day. "I will be fatigued tomorrow but I can be because it's the international break so I can have a rest."

A result built on defensive grit

The victory was Forest's first home league win of the season, and it arrived in a manner that surprised even their own manager. Forest spent long spells without the ball, yet produced one of their most cohesive displays of the campaign.

"The way we play football I think we've had many better games," Glasner acknowledged, "but how we defended, how passionately we defended, how tactically smart we defended, it was one of our better games."

The numbers ahead of kick-off told a stark story. Despite registering 152 shots in the Premier League — the second-highest total in the division — Forest had scored just six goals, the fewest of any side. Their shot conversion rate stood at a meagre 4 percent, and their expected goals deficit of -8.3 was the worst in the league. They also carried the largest gap between their actual points tally of six and an expected points figure of 15.49.

By full time, Forest had netted more goals against City in one afternoon than they had across their previous six home league fixtures combined.

Delap comes alive at the City Ground

Liam Delap was the standout figure, scoring twice to end a difficult run of form. The striker, who spent a decade in Manchester City's academy before departing for Ipswich in 2019, had managed just one goal in his first eight appearances for Forest after a £50m move from Chelsea, where his confidence had drained away following a single productive season at Portman Road.

Against City, Delap drove at defenders with aggression and physicality, converting two of his three attempts — a 67 percent conversion rate that stood in vivid contrast to the 4 percent he had managed across his opening eight outings.

"When you come in with a price tag on your back everybody believes if you pay so much, he has to score all the goals," Glasner said. "He had one great season at Ipswich then lost a lot of confidence at Chelsea, so now he's getting better and better into rhythm."

Delap himself kept his response grounded. "As a striker it's the most important thing — the only thing you're judged on. You can play well and not score. Really nice to score. Got to keep performing and improving but today I'm happy."

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy described the afternoon as a "huge moment in the season" for the club, adding that Glasner had been "unlucky" in terms of the points return his side had earned relative to their performances. Murphy also tipped Delap — son of former Derby, Southampton, and Stoke defender Rory Delap — to become a "really big player" for Forest if he can maintain his fitness and build on this renewed confidence.

Jair Cunha opened the scoring before Delap's brace sealed the win, with Glasner's animated celebrations along the touchline capturing a release of pressure that had been building all season. For Forest, the question now is whether Saturday's display marks a genuine turning point — or a glorious exception.