Erling Haaland marked his return with a goal as Manchester City kept up the pressure on leaders Arsenal with victory over Nottingham Forest.
The Norwegian striker missed two games through injury but came off the bench in the 62nd minute at the City Ground.
He slotted into the left corner nine minutes later to wrap up the points and keep City a point behind Arsenal, the Premier League front-runners, who won at Tottenham earlier on Sunday.
City went ahead 32 minutes in as Josko Gvardiol scored with a powerful near-post header from Kevin de Bruyne’s inswinging corner.
That came while Forest’s Neco Williams was off the pitch receiving treatment for an injury, which subsequently forced his substitution.
Pep Guardiola’s City have a game in hand over Arsenal but may still need to win all of their games between now and the end of the season to secure a record fourth consecutive Premier League title.
This was a far from comfortable afternoon for the visitors as Forest disrupted their flow and created a number of good opportunities.
Based on this performance, it is hard to believe Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are in a relegation fight, but they remain just one point above the drop zone.
After a tumultuous time off the pitch in which they have criticised refereeing standards, this was a determined display from Forest but they ultimately paid the price for missed chances.
More to follow.
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Nottingham Forest
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Squad number26Player nameSels
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Squad number7Player nameN Williams
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Squad number30Player nameBoly
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Squad number40Player nameMurillo
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Squad number19Player nameNiakhate
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Squad number43Player nameAlways
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Squad number21Player nameField
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Squad number28Player nameDanilo
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Squad number10Player nameGibbs-White
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Squad number14Player nameHudson-Odoi
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Squad number11Player nameWood
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Squad number6Player nameSangaré
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Squad number20Player nameReyna
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Squad number22Player nameYates
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Squad number29Player nameMontiel
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Squad number32Player nameFor Omobams
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 5-4-1
- 26Sels
- 7N WilliamsSubstituted forMontielat 35′minutes
- 30BolySubstituted forSangaréat 84′minutes
- 40Santiago Costa dos SantosSubstituted forFor Omobamsat 74′minutes
- 19Niakhate
- 43Always
- 21FieldSubstituted forReynaat 74′minutes
- 28DaniloSubstituted forYatesat 74′minutes
- 10Gibbs-White
- 14Hudson-Odoi
- 11Wood
Substitutes
- 1Turner
- 6Sangaré
- 15Toffolo
- 20Reyna
- 22Yates
- 27Origi
- 29Montiel
- 32For Omobams
- 37Duarte Ribeiro
Man City
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 31EdersonSubstituted forOrtegaat 45′minutes
- 2Walker
- 25Akanji
- 6What
- 24Guardiol
- 16Rodri
- 11TissueSubstituted forKovacicat 45′minutes
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forNunesat 89′minutes
- 20Bernard Silva
- 10GrealishSubstituted forHaalandat 62′minutes
- 19ÁlvarezSubstituted forBobat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Stones
- 8Kovacic
- 9Haaland
- 18Ortega
- 21Gómez
- 27Nunes
- 33Carson
- 52Bob
- 82Lewis
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 29,677
Live Text
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Match ends, Nottingham Forest 0, Manchester City 2.
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Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 0, Manchester City 2.
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Attempt saved. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Oscar Bobb.
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Foul by Matheus Nunes (Manchester City).
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Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Matheus Nunes (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest).
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Substitution, Manchester City. Oscar Bobb replaces Julián Álvarez.
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Substitution, Manchester City. Matheus Nunes replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
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Attempt saved. Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Giovanni Reyna.
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Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).
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Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Kyle Walker (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest).
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Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Ibrahim Sangaré replaces Willy-Arnaud Boly.
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Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest).
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Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Willy-Arnaud Boly (Nottingham Forest).
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Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).