Hotels for Nottingham Forest v Manchester City

A Saturday afternoon fixture between two clubs with very different recent histories, this is the kind of match that draws travelling supporters in numbers, filling the streets around the ground with colour hours before kick-off. Expect the usual matchday rhythm: pubs filling early, chants building on the walk in, and a stadium that gets properly loud once the whistle goes.

The visiting side's strength in depth means the home crowd tends to raise its own noise to compensate, and games like this often turn on a single moment rather than sustained pressure.

Nottingham Forest's most remarkable years came under Brian Clough, who arrived in 1975 and built, from a mid-table Second Division side, a first-ever English league title in 1977-78 followed by back-to-back European Cup wins. Forest lifted the trophy in 1979 and retained it in 1980, beating Hamburg 1-0 in the final in Madrid on a goal from John Robertson.

Sometimes known as the Tricky Trees, Forest's City Ground sits on the banks of the Trent, and that Clough-era run of success remains the high-water mark the club has spent decades since trying to recapture.

Nottingham Forest's home sits on the banks of the River Trent, one of English football's most characterful settings, with Trent Bridge cricket ground almost directly across the water. The riverside location is a pleasant pre-match walk, with pubs and green space close by, and the city centre a short stroll over the bridge.

Nottingham station and the tram are within easy reach. Staying in the centre lets you enjoy the riverside atmosphere and avoid the crowds pressing onto transport at full time.