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Forest fell to defeat on their first of two trips to Manchester this week despite a battling performance at the home of the Champions
Nuno Espirito Santo made three changes to the Forest squad that were victorious against Ipswich on Saturday as Elanga, Dominguez and Moreno were brought into the side for Callum Hudson-Odoi, Neco Williams and Elliot Anderson who dropped to the bench.
The scene was set at an illuminated Etihad on what was a cold and damp evening with The Reds looking for a victory that would see them leapfrog their opponents.
The first chance of the game came after five minutes when a first-time ball into the box from City captain De Bruyne was met well by Haaland, only for his effort to be beaten away strongly by Sels in the Forest goal. Forest then raced up the other end on the counterattack with Gvardiol having to slide in to prevent Elanga from advancing further.
The deadlock was broken in minute eight when Bernardo Silva prodded home an effort from close range after meeting De Bruyne’s header. An early set-back for The Reds whose away support were in fine voice.
Jota Silva responded with an effort that was just pulled past the near post of Ortega after a delicate pass from Gibbs-White before City worked an opening down the other end that saw Gvardiol head wide from a good opportunity.
With the game very much end to end at this stage, some raw determination from Jota Silva saw him rob Gvardiol before pulling a cross back to Gibbs-White whose sweeping effort was saved by a strong diving right arm from Ortega. Forest continued to create chances despite finding themselves a goal down and growing in confidence.
City responded with two chances that flashed past either side of Sels’ post. The first an effort dragged wide by Gvardiol, before De Bruyne drove a low effort along the slick surface just wide.
The golden opportunity Forest had been craving came after 29 minutes as Wood raced through on goal after a slack back pass by De Bruyne, only to see his effort roll inches past Ortega’s near post.
Minutes later, City doubled their lead. De Bruyne, who had nearly gifted The Reds the opportunity back into the game, rifling home after being found in space by Doku.
A spirited Forest side continued to push however. Jota Silva’s cross evading Wood but falling to Elanga, who steadied himself before firing wide of the far post. Forest then boxed City in with Alex Moreno seeing a shot blocked before City scrambled the ball clear for a throw. That near enough concluded an eventful first half that left Forest with work to do after the break.
HALF TIME: Manchester City 2-0 Forest
Morato replaced skipper Ryan Yates for the second half and The Reds immediately carved an opening as a City block denied Wood swivelling and shooting in the box.
After scoring his first Forest goal against Newcastle in late October, Murillo clearly had a taste for goal as he let fly from 25 yards and saw his shot narrowly arrow past the far post of Ortega’s goal. A positive start to the second period by Forest.
A third City goal on the counterattack after 57 minutes was scored by Doku after he latched onto a pass into space by Haaland, before cutting inside and curling past Sels. A tough one to take after a battling performance from Forest thus far.
Sels made a fantastic save to deny his Belgium counterpart De Bruyne his second just after the hour mark, getting down superbly to a low effort and tipping it round the post.
A combination of pressure from substitutes Anderson and Awoniyi saw them rob City in their own half before playing in Elanga out wide but the wingers curling effort rising too high and clipping the roof of the net on its way into the city faithful behind the goal.
The remainder of the match was played out with both sides having spells of possession before Michael Oliver blew his whistle to see Forest lose for just the second time away from home this season.
FULL TIME: Manchester City 3-0 Forest
Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Murillo, Milenkovic, Dominguez, Moreno, Aina (Da Silva Moreira), Yates (c) (Morato 45’), Gibbs-White (Anderson), Elanga, Silva (Sosa 71’), Wood (Awoniyi)
Unused Substitutes: Carlos Miguel; Williams, Hudson-Odoi, Ward-Prowse
Bookings: Dominguez (44’), Gibbs-White (51’), Murillo (53’), Milenkovic (75’),
Manchester City (3-2-4-1): Ortega; Gvardiol, Dias, Akanji (Walker 45’), Ake (Nunes 89’), Grealish (McAtee 89’), Doku (Savinho 89’), De Bruyne (c) (Lewis 72’), Bernardo, Gundogan, Haaland
Unused Substitutes: Carson; Wright, O’Reilly, Ederson
Bookings: Gundogan (51’), Bernardo Silva (68’)
Goals: Bernardo Silva (8’), De Bruyne (31’), Doku (57’)
Referee: Michael Oliver
Next Up for Forest
Forest travel back to Manchester on Saturday evening to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford (5.30pm KO) and will be looking to bounce back as the festive fixtures roll on.