Kicking off after rivals Arsenal beat Tottenham 3-2 in the North London derby, City – in Pep Guardiola’s 300th top-flight game in charge – saw off a spirited Forest courtesy of goals in each half from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland.
Gvardiol headed us into an interval lead while substitute Haaland, returning to the side after two games out injured, made sure of the points with a clinical finish after the break.
The results ensure that City go into our final four matches just one point behind the Gunners but with a game in hand as the Blues look to win the title a record four successive seasons.
WHAT HAPPENED
The big news ahead of kick-off was the absence of Phil Foden from the squad and no surprise given his form this season with 16 goals from 31 Premier League appearances.
Foden missed out through illness along with Ruben Dias but Pep Guardiola’s Treble winners stepped up to fill the gap.
Forest came out of the blocks fast and with Mull of Kintyre ringing in their ears, they could have gone ahead inside the first minute but Neco Williams fluffed a shot at the far post on 34 seconds under pressure from Josko Gvardiol.
Kevin De Bruyne, a welcome sight in the side after a prolonged spell out of action at season start, had City’s first meaningful opportunity on eight minutes. Rodrigo picked the pocket of Morgan Gibbs-White deep in opposition territory before laying off to Jack Grealish who, in turn, fed KDB on the left. The marauding midfielder’s shot was well parried clear by Matz Sels in the Forest goal.
Moments later, Gibbs-White saw a free-kick - 20 yards out, central and in dangerous territory - just clear Ederson’s goal as the game swung end-to-end.
Jeremy Doku, back in the starting XI after coming on as a late sub in Brighton, had a fine left foot effort fly just wide on 14 minutes while Williams had a fizzer kept out by the alert Ederson in the following attack.
There was concern for the goalkeeper shortly after as the Brazilian looked in some discomfort with his left shoulder after being clattered by Willy Boly – but our No.31 was thankfully fit to continue until the break.
Nathan Ake did wonderfully well on 22 minutes to get the merest of touches on the ball to avert danger, with Callum Hudson-Odoi bearing down on goal for the hosts while Chris Wood headed over when well-placed just before the half hour mark.
City were ahead on 32 minutes as Gvardiol nodded home his second Premier League goal – and his third in five games across all competitions – from a perfect De Bruyne corner, prompting ebullient celebrations from boss Pep Guardiola.
Wood could – and probably should – have levelled on 38 minutes as he miskicked with the goal gaping following a superb cutback to him from Gonzalo Montiel.
Murillo saw a clever flick kiss the post and go over just before half-time after Ederson failed to collect an inswinging Forest corner from the left.
There were changes at the break for the visitors, Stefan Ortega Moreno replacing Ederson, who had failed to recover from the heavy first half challenge that floored him while Mateo Kovacic came on for Doku.
With the second half barely underway, Wood, again, from a couple of yards out didn’t catch his close-range shot from Anthony Elanga’s cross from the left and goalscorer Gvardiol managed to clear the danger.
Forest were certainly giving as good as they got and no surprise with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side eager to move away from the danger zone.
Bernardo was ready to pounce at the back post on 54 minutes after a fantastic floated ball in from Gvardiol but the lively Ola Aina was in the right place at the right time to clear.
Erling Haaland made his return to action after two games out injured, replacing Jack Grealish just past the hour mark.
His first action set up an attack, nudging the ball to the onrushing De Bruyne who played in Julian Alvarez but the Argentine World Cup winner blasted high and handsome.
It was Elanga to Wood again on 66 minutes but the New Zealand forward couldn’t connect under pressure from Manuel Akanji.
KDB came close to doubling our advantage on 68 minutes but his sweet 20-yard drive was expertly tipped away by Sels.
The second wasn’t far away though and De Bruyne had a hand in it, playing the ball into the path of Haaland who fired in his 21st Premier League goal of the season.
It gave us the cushion we craved against a very forceful and feisty Forest, battling for their lives at the foot of the table.
Hudson-Odoi forced a fantastic save from Ortega Moreno on 84 minutes as Forest attempted to take the contest to the wire but thankfully the German showed impressive footwork to dive and tip away.
City saw out the contest in the closing minutes, notching up an important maximum haul with the top-flight finishing line now firmly in sight.
TEAMS
FOREST XI: Sels, Williams (Montiel 35’), Boly, Murillo (Omobamidele 74’), Niakhate, Aina, Danilo (Yates 74’), Gibbs-White (c), Elanga (Reyna 74’), Hudson-Odoi, Wood
Subs: Turner, Sangare, Toffolo, Origi, Omobamidele, Ribeiro
CITY XI: Ederson (Ortega Moreno 46’), Walker (c), Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Bernardo, De Bruyne (Nunes 89’), Doku (Kovacic 46’), Grealish (Haaland 62’), Alvarez (Bobb 89’)
Subs: Carson, Stones, Gomez, Lewis
CONGRATULATIONS PEP
Pep Guardiola notched up 300 Premier League games as Manchester City manager this afternoon and marked it in the best way possible – with a vital win.
Our boss has managed five titles in that time and is chasing down another one across 2023/24 with this afternoon’s victory helping us take another step along that journey.
Guardiola’s record across those 300 games is 221 wins, 41 draws and 38 losses.
During that time, this represents the most wins of any club, with Liverpool in No.2 with 194, Arsenal in No.3 with 168, Tottenham in No.4 with 164 and Chelsea in No.5 joint with Manchester United on 156.
Guardiola’s remarkable 221 wins from 300 games earns him a win percentage of 73.6%, which is the best of any Premier League manager past or present.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s, in No.2 spot, stood at 65.2%, Antonio Conte is No.3 with 62.9% with Jurgen Klopp at No.4 with 62.7% and former City boss Roberto Mancini in No.5 at 61.7%.
The boss, across those 300 games, has managed 741 goals for and 247 goals against.
Again, across those 300 games, that’s the most goals scored of any club, with Liverpool No.2 with 650, Arsenal No.3 with 569, Tottenham No.4 with 562 and Chelsea No.5 with 514.
The overall Premier League table during those 300 games puts City firmly on top with 704 points.
Liverpool are No.2 with 651 points, Arsenal are No.3 with 558, Tottenham are No.4 with 546 while Manchester United are No.5 with 544.
GUARDIOLA REACTION
On the opportunity to win the Premier League title:
“With four games left, it’s like climbing a mountain.
“They are very tough games. The only thing is still we extend for one more week it’s in our hands.
“If we draw a game, we are not going to win the Premier League. It is what it is.
“We extend this in a difficult game. Now rest a little bit and prepare the next game.”
GVARDIOL REACTION
On the difficulty of the game:
“It was really tough, we knew from the beginning of the game that it would be like that, especially because of the pitch because it was really dry.
“But again, it’s an important three points that we go back home with.”
On his goal:
“My second goal in the league, I didn’t expect that I was going to score but I found myself in the position and it was a good goal in the end.”
On battle with Arsenal:
“To be fair we need to be focused on ourselves, that’s what we’re doing.
“Four more finals until the end, let’s do it.”
HAALAND REACTION
On returning with a goal:
“Yeah, first of all it’s an important win, that’s the most important thing.
“It doesn’t matter how we do it. It’s about winning. It’s good to be back.”
On the relief at scoring the second:
“We know where they are in the table so we knew it would be a fight.
“It’s not the easiest pitch to play on but we can’t complain about these things.
“It’s about winning a football game, that’s exactly what we did.
“Three points, get in, shower and think of the next.”
On chasing Arsenal:
“I think the most important thing is not to think. Especially in these moments, take it day by day.
“Honestly, if you overthink you’ll be crazy in the head.
“So relax now, enjoy and then focus on the next one.”
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: JOSKO GVARDIOL
Like a fine wine, Josko Gvardiol is getting better with age.
Pep Guardiola said some weeks ago that in the early stages of the talented defender’s time at City, Gvardiol tried too hard to impress but has since settled after bringing more simplicity to his game.
He’s definitely excelled over the past few weeks and been a menace in attacking and defensive areas.
The 22-year-old scored in the first half at the City Ground – his third in five games across all competitions - and he also starred defensively, a composed clearance from a Chris Wood second half chance the highlight of him bossing at the back.
WHAT IT MEANS
City’s 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest keeps us in second spot in the Premier League table.
We’re one point behind Arsenal, who are top, but we have one game in hand.
We conclude the season with a home game against Wolves, away assignments at Fulham and Tottenham before we say farewell to the 2023/24 top-flight campaign with an Etihad encounter with West Ham.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have a home game against Bournemouth, a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United and finish their campaign with an Emirates clash with Everton.
WHAT NEXT
We can enjoy the rarest of commodities before the next Premier League game – time!
It’s been an incredibly hectic schedule for Pep Guardiola’s men as we’ve fought on multiple fronts for weeks now.
Next Fixture
All fixturesPremier League
BST
But, with no midweek match upcoming, our next game takes place on Saturday 4 May.
We take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad, with a 17:30 (UK) kick-off for Sky Sports cameras.
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