Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City – Erling Haaland scores to boost City's Premier League title hopes with vital win
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Updated 28/04/2024 at 19:18 GMT+1
Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland scored a goal in each half as Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the Premier League at the City Ground. Pep Guardiola’s side came into the match four points shy of Arsenal after the Gunners beat Tottenham earlier in the day. However, City had two games in hand and won one of those to close the gap to the league leaders to just one point.
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Erling Haaland came off the bench to fire Premier League champions Manchester City back to within a point of leaders Arsenal with a hectic 2-0 win against a spirited but ultimately wasteful Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Haaland – who replaced Jack Grealish just after the hour-mark – moved top of the league scoring charts when he raced onto a lovely pass from Kevin De Bruyne to slam home his 21st goal of the season on 71 minutes after a De Bruyne corner enabled Josko Gvardiol to glance a headed opener for the visitors on 32 minutes.
With title rivals Arsenal winning 3-2 at Tottenham earlier in the day, Pep Guardiola's side are a point off Mikel Arteta's Gunners, who have played a game more than City with 80 points from 35 matches.
City have four matches to play against Wolves (home), Fulham (away), Tottenham (away) and West Ham (home) knowing they will be champions for a 10th time if they win their remaining fixtures.
They are aiming to become the first club to win four straight English league titles, but were pushed hard by Forest, who were undone by their lack of finishing power with Chris Wood wasting several chances and Murillo hitting the bar before the break.
Nuno Espírito Santo's side remain fourth bottom of the table, a point above Luton in the drop zone, but will take heart from this performance in their battle to avoid relegation.
Talking Point: Forest indecision proves so costly
It was not only the lack of finishing class that contributed to the frustration of Forest's defeat, but also the lack of speed in ensuring they were in the best shape to cope with the considerable Manchester City attacking threat.
Forest were twice a man down when they conceded both goals with right-back Neco Williams off the pitch with a hamstring problem when Gvardiol nodded the first before he was replaced seconds later by Gonzalo Montiel.
The excellent Forest central defender Murillo was also clearly unable to run properly, but somehow remained on the pitch when Haaland gave him the slip to add the killer second.
Forest produced a rousing display, one completely at odds with their lowly league position, but Nuno Espírito Santo will wonder what would have been the outcome if he had moved earlier to replace his injured players.
Player of the Match: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
The sort of player you can rely upon in the heat of a title race. With Phil Foden missing for this match, Pep Guardiola required De Bruyne's class to quell the resistance of the home side, who produced an almighty effort before their home support. The unmoved Belgian genius provided two assists and was only denied a goal himself by some fine stops by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.
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Player Ratings
Nottingham Forest Sels 7, Williams 7, Niakhate 7, Murillo 8, Aina 8, Danilo 7, Gibbs-White 7, Hudson-Odoi 7, Boly 8, Wood 6, Elanga 6 Subs: Sangare 6, Reyna 6, Yates 6, Montiel 7, Omobamidele 6
Manchester City: Ederson 6, Walker 6, Akanji 7, Ake 7, Gvardiol 8, Rodri 7, Silva 7, De Bruyne 8, Alvarez 6, Doku 6, Grealish 6 Subs: Ortega 7, Kovacic 6, Haaland 6, Nunes 6, Bobb 6
Match Highlights
32' GOAL! NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY (GVARDIOL) Josko Gvardiol loses Gibbs-White to glance a header into the net at the near post from the De Bruyne cross. Exceptional corner, superb finish and the visitors have the vital lead.
40' GLORIOUS CHANCE FOR FOREST Aina with the cross to the back post, Montiel with the super cutback across goal, but Wood just couldn't sort out his feet in time five yards out as the ball spins away. Looked a certain equaliser. Groans around the ground.
45+2' EDERSON ALMOST GIFTS FOREST EQUALISER Seemed to spill a corner under pressure from Murillo, who then knocks the loose ball off the bar and over. How does he not score there? Wasn't a foul on the City keeper.
69' DE BRUYNE COMES TO LIFE The Belgian playmaker detects some space just outside the home box, but his swerving shot is well tipped away by the diving frame of Matz Sels.
70' GOAL! NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-2 MANCHESTER CITY (HAALAND) And there is the moment that is almost written in the stars. De Bruyne with the pass to Haaland and he races away from the injured Murillo to slide the ball into the net. Lovely finish. Surely game, set and match. 21 league goals amid an overall haul of 32.
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