Glasner glee and Delap double - win could be lift-off for Forest

The Oliver Glasner volcano could not contain the emotional lava of an impending first home Premier League victory any longer.

Nottingham Forest's opening goal from Jair Cunha against Manchester City had drawn polite applause and a sedate thumbs-up from the Austrian manager.

Glasner was bubbling below the surface after Liam Delap's strike went in - dancing a merry jig in his technical area and hoisting his fists in the air.

When Delap rattled in Forest's third goal there was an eruption of joy from the 52-year-old.

Glasner sprinted down the touchline (well, as best a man in his early fifties can sprint) to join Forest's players as they mobbed the striker.

"One of my best running stats, I guess," Glasner joked to BBC Match of the Day after Forest's 3-1 win over City.

"I will be fatigued tomorrow but I can be because it's the international break so I can have a rest."

Forest's victory was their first in the league at the City Ground this season as Glasner's philosophy finally translated into that most precious of football commodities: goals.

Perhaps he was on to something when he said his side cannot survive on "flower power", choosing a left-field comparison of the Woodstock music festival in the 1960s.

Up to this Saturday it had been a tale of frustration.

Despite having the second-most shots in the Premier League this season (152), they had scored the fewest goals (six).

They also had the lowest shot conversion rate (4%) and biggest negative xG (-8.3).

It was telling that at full-time in this match they had scored more goals against City (three) than they had in their previous six home league games combined (two).

It was reflected in their lowly standing in the table.

Forest had the biggest negative difference between points (six) and expected points (15.49), and also the biggest positional difference based on that (19th versus third).

"I think we've had better performances in possession because today we rarely had the ball. Regarding the team spirit, the energy, I think it was our best game," Glasner said.

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

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said the result was a "huge moment in the season" for Forest.

"Glasner's actually been unlucky in the first part of his Forest tenure in terms of points they've got with the performances they've had," Murphy said.

"So that's a huge deal for him and the club."

Delap spent 10 years in City's academy before leaving for Ipswich in 2019.

His prolific form at Portman Road paved the way for a move to Chelsea, but he struggled to make an impact in west London and his career hit the buffers.

After managing just one goal in his first eight outings at the City Ground there were fears of regression, but he offered a timely reminder of the ability which persuaded Forest of pay £50m for him with an electric display.

With his chest puffed out, Delap took the game to City's defence, driving at them with aggression, physicality and a determination to impose himself.

"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 added.

"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."

It was the first time Delap has had two shots on target in a league match this season.

He scored with two of his three attempts against City (a 67% conversion), having scored just one goal from 24 shots in his first eight games (a 4% conversion).

"As a striker it's the most important thing [to score goals]," Delap added.

"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."

Murphy said Delap, son of former Derby, Southampton and Stoke defender Rory, is going to be a "really big player" for Forest this season.

"I think in recent weeks watching him play, he's looked fit, he's looked strong, he's got himself in good positions, and today he got the rewards of some goals to add to the performance," Murphy said.

"Like any striker, he loves scoring goals, but his all-round performance was good. And if he can stay fit, his confidence grows bit by bit each week."