Spending Nottingham Forest were one step from safety, but fortunately Manchester City took another step towards a fourth successive Premier League title with a 2-0 win at the City Ground on Sunday.
Kevin De Bruyne assisted goals from Josko Gvardiol and returning super-sub Erling Haaland to give City three points and give three-peat champions a one-point lead over Arsenal in an even match. , narrowed the goal difference to 7. side.
Watch Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City full match replay
However, Forest actually won the xG battle, beating City 15-10, but missed some big chances and surprisingly converted a few via in-form scorer Chris Wood. Missed.
Forest's 26 points are one more than 18th-placed Luton Town and two ahead of 19th-placed Burnley, with the three teams competing for just one spot in the 2024-25 Premier League. All three teams have three games remaining, with Forest traveling to Burnley in the Championship on Sunday.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
Mori's missed chances could also haunt Arsenal
It's rare to see Manchester City concede so many big chances to anyone, let alone a lower-ranked team. Forest will lament that they could have been closer to Premier League safety and further away from competing for the Premier League title. history. If Arsenal win three games, they will no longer be linked to becoming the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive titles, so Manchester City will instead continue to defend their title destiny.
Naturally, Erling Haaland's return to the field has introduced a hungry replacement who wants to defend his Golden Boot title. If he can find his fit as a starter for the final three games, and if Phil Foden can overcome the illness that prevented him from making the last 18, this title could be all in the bag.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City player ratings (via) photomob.com)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City player ratings (via) photomob.com)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City player ratings (via) photomob.com)
What's next?
Could Forest get a lifeline from already relegated Sheffield United? Tricky Trees will be at Bramall Lane on Saturday at 10am ET.
At 12:30pm on the same day, City host Wolves.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City live, stream links and start times
kick off: Sunday 11:30 a.m. ET
tv channels: US Network
online: Live streaming via NBC.com
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City live updates — By Nick Mendola
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City final score: 0-2
Scorers: Gvardiola (32'), Haaland (71')
KDB —> Haaland — Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City (71 minutes)
Kevin De Bruyne sent Erling Haaland into the number 18 and the Norwegian waved off the injured Murillo and rolled to the far post past Mats Sells.
Normal service has since resumed rough period.
Haaland scores second match between Manchester City and Forest
Erling Haaland breezed past Murillo to score Manchester City's second goal of the game, giving them a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The city seems tired, enter Haaland.
That may be an oversimplification to some extent, to be sure, but City look like the team who played away on Thursday against a team that has simmered all week over issues of perceived misconduct.
Erling Haaland will now come on to rectify that problem, but this will be his first action since the Champions League.
Third big failure for Chris Wood
Anthony Elanga was in front of goal to become the club's top scorer, but Chris Wood again wavered on his line and his low shot was blocked by Josko Gvardiol.
Elanga created a chance by toasting Kyle Walker. Nervous.
Changes — Ederson injured, Doc left as midfield helper
Ederson is unable to continue playing due to injury and will be replaced by Stefan Ortega, while Mateo Kovacic will replace Jeremy Doku to strengthen the midfield.
Halftime — Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
The forest was on the more dangerous side!
Yes, of course City had the ball 2/3 of the time, but Forest's eight shots were one more than City's.
And xG belongs to Forest by an astonishing 1.31-0.29 difference.
Josko Gvardiola headed home from Kevin De Bruyne's corner kick, but it was the Belgian's seventh assist of the PL season that made the difference.
Wood ruins monumental chance to equalize
Gonzalo Montiel sends in a big cross from the left, which is turned back to Chris Wood.
He's all alone outside the six and rarely gets the ball. Woof. It should be 1-1.
Josko Gvardiol's goal! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City (32 minutes)
It was a goal from a set piece and Forest have seen it happen many times.
Josko Gvardiol reached the front post and nodded home.
Gvardiol's header puts Man City ahead against Forest
Josko Gvardiol scored Manchester City's third goal in the last four games with a powerful header from the front post from a set-piece to give them a 1-0 lead against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Free kick for both teams
Morgan Gibbs-White failed to keep a dangerous Forest free-kick under the bar and now it was Man City's turn.
Forest back Murillo heads in Kevin De Bruyne's shot. Important intervention. corner.
Big failure for Forest!
One minute into the game, Ola Aina burst through the left flank and delivered a cross towards the back post.
Nico Williams doesn't quite get it and only gets a sub-par portion of the ball.
That would have sent a message.
Foden sent off, Haaland on the bench
Premier League Golden Boot co-leader Erling Haaland could feature from the bench, but there will be an unexpected absence from Man City's number 18, which will come as a blow to Phil Foden (at least initially did not rhyme).
Nottingham Forest line-up
Sels, Aina, Murillo, Boly, Williams, Niahate, Danilo, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Elanga, Wood.
manchester city line up
Ederson, Walker (C), Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Doc, Grealish, Alvarez.
Nottingham Forest highlights, team news
OUT: Taiwo Awonyi (unreleased), Willy Boley (unreleased)
Manchester City highlights, team news
Asked by: Erling Haaland (knock)
