Nottingham Forest got back to winning ways as Manchester City were put to the sword at a packed-out City Ground.
The game had looked to be heading towards a draw which would have seen a second successive goalless clash in the Premier League on Trentside after a share of the spoils against Arsenal.
Forest have match-winners aplenty these days, however. With just seven minutes remaining, two of those players took over. A superb ball cross-field from Morgan Gibbs-White sent Callum Hudson-Odoi bearing down on goal and he finished brilliantly at the near post.
It sparked wonderful City Ground scenes and Nuno Espirito Santo will have been delighted with the efforts of his players as City were restricted to half chances, with Forest going four clear of the reigning champions.
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Nicolas Dominguez upstages Manchester City star Nico Gonzalez
Some of his critics might have anticipated a tough afternoon for the Reds midfielder up against a player who has been signed as Pep Guardiola believes he can genuinely replace Rodri.
Following the game, there are no doubts as to what Dominguez brings to this team at the moment. It’s unpopular that he’s keeping Ryan Yates out of the team but frankly, he’s deserving of his flowers today.
The Argentine times his best ever Forest performance to perfection, upstaging the City midfielder with a quite dominant display in the middle of the park against the reigning champions.
There is no doubting that Dominguez has the ability to play in a midfield two. Not only does he boast the tireless tenacity of a Yates but he also possesses the ball-playing qualities of Elliot Anderson too.
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Nicolas Dominguez stats vs Manchester City
This was a breathtaking display of midfield play from Dominguez. In reality, the challenge for the player will be to produce this level of performance in games on a more frequent basis.
Not that Dominguez has been off the pace or anything, but he needs to dictate games as he did in this fashion, perhaps more often than he has been doing of late – and that will come.
Nicolas Dominguez Stats vs Manchester City Total
Minutes 68
Tackles 8
Pass Accuracy 100%
Who Scored Rating 7.44
The 26-year-old cost considerably less than the £50 million that City paid for Gonzalez and doing so well against a brilliant midfield like the one City possesses will do his confidence the world of good.
Dominguez didn’t get the Man of the Match award in the ground but after going about his business in this fashion, it really does nail down his place in the team.