MAN CITY 2, NOTTM FOREST 0
Manchester City extended their club record to 20th straight home victories against Nottingham Forest, but it turned out to be far from the procession it initially looked as though it was going to be.
Two goals ahead inside quarter of an hour to strikes from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, Forest must have been fearing a repeat of the 6-0 defeat they suffered last season at the Etihad.
But the dynamics of the game shifted Forest’s way when City had key midfielder Rodri sent off in the opening minute of the second period, a huge blow as he will miss three games including City’s visit to Arsenal
Forest suddenly sensed a way back into the game but, despite bring on four attacking substitutes, they rarely threatened City’s 10 men who defended magnificently.
It is only the second time in the Premier League era that City have began a campaign with six straight wins as they remain the team to overhaul as they are already clear at the top.
Probably the busiest man on the field was referee Anthony Taylor who dismissed Rodri and booked 10 players as well as City manager Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola said: “An exceptional game in the first half. Exceptional game in the second for our resilience and our work because we played.
“The first 35 minutes were beyond belief and lots of things were really, really good.
“I would say, 51/52 minutes 10 against 11 so it was not easy, but we were fantastic. I thought the way we played in the first half was amazing so against a difficult side for the physicality the pace they have up front.”
Guardiola admitted to being “angry” at Rodri who the manager revealed had apologised to his team-mates after the game.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe continued: “Rodri has to control himself and his emotions and be careful, and hopefully he will learn.
“At half time I told the players to control their emotions.”
Guardiola added an appeal is unlikely and they have to accept the referee’s decision.
Forest manager Steve Cooper was disappointed with the opening: “We made a really poor start in terms of the goals we conceded.
“We knew the level of the challenge playing City at the Etihad, it doesn’t get any tougher.
“They were goals of quality, but typical of City. We planned for that, but to let it happen that easy was disappointing.”
Cooper was pleased with the resilience displayed by his side.
“It could have gone one of two ways. We could go into our shell or stand up and be counted,” he said.
“Much of the second half was played in City’s half, you rarely get the opportunity to have that amount of territory here, even more experienced teams than us.
“We needed to make more of our opportunities and be more productive and creative in the second half, though we must not lose sight that in the first half not many can live with the way City played.”
City made three changes from the side that beat Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Tuesday.
In defence, Josko Gvardiol and Manuel Akanji came in for Nathan Ake and Sergio Gomez who were both on the bench while Jeremy Doku replaced the injured Bernardo Silva in midfield.
Jack Grealish, who has been sidelined by injury since City’s win over Sheffield United on August 27, was among the substitutes.
Forest made five changes from the side that drew with Burnley on Monday.
Three of them were in defence where Nuno Tavares, Moussa Niakhate and Willy Boly came into the team. Sergie Aurier was fit to return in midfield and Nicolas Dominguez made his debut after his deadline day move from Bologna.
Gonzalo Montiel, Joe Worrall, Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odai dropped to the bench while Scott McKenna was not in the squad.
City had the game won early on as they scored twice in the opening quarter of an hour.
Julian Alvarez’s free kick brought a fine flying save from Matt Turner before City took a seventh minute lead through Foden’s first goal of the campaign which followed a remarkable 46 pass move, the second longest in the Premier League since records began in 2006/07 for this stat.
A raking crossfield pass from Matheus Nunes released Kyle Walker who cut the ball back from the right for Foden to find the net with a low drive from just inside the box.
City soon doubled their advantage when Nunes provided the assist with a delightful dink cross to the far post for Haaland to head home following an incredible leap. It was his eighth goal of the campaign.
That goal took the strong out of the game as City, who at one stage enjoyed 89 per cent possession in the opening period, rarely looked like adding to their lead, even with such territorial dominance.
There was a dramatic start to the second period when City had Rodri sent off in the opening minute following a clash with Morgan Gibbs-White near the corner flag.
Rodri raised his arms and appeared to grab Gibbs-White by the throat as the Forest man fell theatrically to the ground.
The decision was reviewed by VAR and after a three-minute stoppage, Anthony Taylor’s decision was upheld.
Guardiola’s response was to withdraw Doku and introduce Kalvin Phillips to strengthen central midfield and soon after Alvarez made way for Nathan Ake.
Forest, meanwhile, sensed a way back into the game as they brought on attackers Elanga and Hudson-Odoi and later two more strikers, Chris Wood and Divock Origi.
Suddenly there was a shift in the dynamics of the game as Forest now enjoyed large periods of possession while City soaked up pressure.
Forest created little of note and Haaland had a 78th minute chance to make certain of victory but he blazed over from seven yards after a Ake cross.
City’s third change came in the 87th minute as Foden was replaced by Grealish.
The only time City were troubled came in stoppage time when Ederson pulled off an excellent stop to deny Elanga and also keep out Boly’s follow-up effort.