Manchester City maintained their relentless title pursuit with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Nottingham Forest at City Ground on Saturday, extending their winning run to eight consecutive Premier League matches.
Match Highlights
- 48': Tijjani Reijnders opened scoring with precise finish assisted by Rayan Cherki
- 54': Omari Hutchinson equalized for Forest with composed strike
- 83': Cherki sealed victory with powerful edge-of-box finish
The match began with both sides demonstrating attacking intent, but City broke the deadlock early in the second half through Reijnders' clinical finish. Forest responded swiftly through Hutchinson, setting up a tense finale before Cherki's decisive intervention.
Controversy and Complaints
Forest manager Sean Dyche expressed frustration with officiating decisions, particularly questioning:
- No second yellow card for Ruben Dias after challenge on Igor Jesus
- Potential foul on Morgan Gibbs-White in buildup to City's winner
"When officials affect the game this clearly, it's difficult to accept," Dyche told reporters. "These decisions change matches at this level."
Tactical Battle
Pep Guardiola praised his team's resilience: "These winter away games test your mentality. Forest made us work incredibly hard - Sean Dyche has built a formidable team here."
The hosts honored club legend John Robertson pre-match, with players wearing special tribute armbands for the European Cup winner who passed away on Christmas Day.
Standout Performances
| Nottingham Forest | Manchester City |
|---|---|
| Igor Jesus (8/10) | Rayan Cherki (9/10) |
| Nikola Milenković (8/10) | Phil Foden (8/10) |
With this result, City temporarily climbed to the Premier League summit before Arsenal later regained top spot. The champions continue demonstrating the championship mentality that's become their hallmark under Guardiola.
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