Manchester City ended their winless run on Tuesday night with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, as Pep Guardiola’s side put in perhaps their best display of the season to date.
It was the sort of performance the home fans are used to, in contrast to the 4-0 loss in their last Premier League game at the Etihad. The returning Kevin De Bruyne provided the spark for City. From the off he looked sharp and energetic while he brought the sort of creativity that has been sorely lacking for weeks.
Within six minutes he had set up Erling Haaland for a right-foot shot, before teeing up the opener soon after. He headed Ilkay Gundogan’s cross towards goal, Bernardo Silva was perfectly placed to tap in his first league goal of the season.
City lacked fluidity at Anfield three days ago but had in abundance against Forest, with Jack Grealish playing central, Silva drifting in off the right and Jokso Gvardiol pushing up from left-back. The latter squandered two great chances to double City’s lead, though, with the defender heading Silva’s cross wide and then shooting off target after Erling Haaland’s through ball gifted him a one-on-one chance.
But when the second came it was no surprise that De Bruyne was involved. This time he went from creator to scorer, firing home after he latched on to Jeremy Doku’s pass into the box.
This was City’s best display in weeks, but it wasn’t all one-way traffic. Morgan Gibbs-White tested Stefan Ortega after a mistake from Gvardiol, while De Bruyne’s error in the 24th minute nearly proved fatal. His loose pass freed Chris Wood for a one-on-one shot at goal but he, surprisingly, blazed wide.
But that threat waned in the second period, especially after Doku grabbed a third. A rare Haaland assist made it happen after he played a perfect through ball into the winger’s path and Doku curled the ball sublimely into the top corner.
It felt like more would follow. De Bruyne arced a low free-kick just wide, Doku shot over from the edge of the box, then De Bruyne forced Matz Sels to push the ball wide with a well-placed low shot, before Jack Grealish failed to seriously test the Forest stopper with a shot in the area.
Ortega denied Anthony Elanga and Elliot Anderson with late chances but there was no repeat of the Feyenoord capitulation eight days ago. Instead, the only worry in the final stages were injuries to De Bruyne and Nathan Ake, both of which Guardiola will hope aren’t serious.
Here’s how we rated the players...
Made a stop to keep out Gibbs-White in the first half and then a late free-kick from Anthony Elanga. His clean sheet was City's first in the league since October.
1. Stefan Ortega- 7
Made a stop to keep out Gibbs-White in the first half and then a late free-kick from Anthony Elanga. His clean sheet was City's first in the league since October.
Forest's best moments came down the City right in the first half, with Akanji deployed at right-back. He was knocked to the ground by Anthony Elanga at one point, prompting Guardiola to make a change at the break.
2. Manuel Akanji- 5 (off HT)
Forest's best moments came down the City right in the first half, with Akanji deployed at right-back. He was knocked to the ground by Anthony Elanga at one point, prompting Guardiola to make a change at the break.
Solid and reliable for City at the back and made some important defensive contributions.
3. Ruben Dias- 7
Solid and reliable for City at the back and made some important defensive contributions.
Defended well and even advanced with the ball on a few occasions, playing a lovely through ball for Gvardiol in the first half. He was taken off late on with a worrying injury.
4. Nathan Ake- 7 (off 90)
Defended well and even advanced with the ball on a few occasions, playing a lovely through ball for Gvardiol in the first half. He was taken off late on with a worrying injury.