Manchester City 2, Nottingham Forest 0
Manchester City had to dig deep after Rodri was sent off early in the second half of their 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Early goals by Phil Foden, playing in midfield in front of a watching Gareth Southgate, and Erling Haaland set City on their way but they lost their early momentum after half an hour.
Things got worse and City went down to 10 men after Rodri was sent off for violent conduct – twice raising his hands to Morgan Gibs-White’s throat – as things got fractious between the two sides.
A total of 9 yellow cards were also dished out by referee Anthony Taylor including one to City boss Pep Guardiola who reorganised his team to ensure they earned three points but City will now miss their influential midfielder for the crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal in October.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Nottingham Forest 0
Ederson: 7. Got some early action when he punched out a corner by Morgan Gibbs-White. Booked after an altercation with Taiwo Awoniyi – both butted heads after a ball into the City box. Twin saves in injury time from Anthony Elanga and Willy Boly as he kept a crucial clean sheet.
Kyle Walker: 7. The right flank was his. Pushed forward and laid on the first goal with a first time lay off. Adjusted to a more defensive outlook after the Red card.
Manuel Akanji: 7. Had to keep a watchful eye on Taiwo Awoniyi.
Ruben Dias: 7. Got the ball off Taiwo Awoniyi as he threatened to go clean through. Had to marshall City defence after the second half reorganisation.
Josko Gvardiol: 7. Quiet game on the left in the first half. Moved to a more central defensive position as City looked to protect their lead after going down to 10 men and upped his performance. Kept the ball away from Anthony Elanga and was more involved in the defensive effort wit several blocks and clearances.
Julian Alvarez: 7. Went close with free kicks and a shot saved by Matt Taylor, had another one blocked. Tailed off towards the end of the first half as City came off the boil.
Rodri: 6. His pinpoint 30 yard pass released Kyle Walker for the first goal and his work in midfield nullified the visitors. A rash altercation between the midfielder and Morgan Gibbs-White saw him sent off for violent conduct right after the restart which put City under the cosh.
Matheus Nunes: 7. Quick feet and got on the ball to deliver a great cross for Erling Haaland to finish off. Also did his defensive work too. Faded during the middle part of the game.
Jeremy Doku: 7. Tricky feet on the left wing, almost set up Julian Alvarez for City’s third. Sacrificed as City needed to protect their lead after Rodri was sent off.
Phil Foden: 8. Nominally the right winger but played inside often. Scored a brilliant reaction goal after just 7 minutes. Hard running close to goal but had to go wide left after City reorganised following the red card for Rodri. All action performance.
Erling Haaland: 7. Rose majestically to score City’s second goal but somehow contrived to put a golden chance to end the Nottingham Forest revival over the bat after 78 minutes.
Kalvin Phillips (on for Jeremy Doku, 52): 6. Big boots to fill in midfield with Rodri off. Looked like he could use the match practice with a run in the side potentially coming up.
Nathan Ake (on for Julian Alvarez, 57): 6. Slotted in at left back as City looked to protect their lead, set up Erling Haaland only to see the Norwegian blaze over.
Jack Grealish (on for Phil Foden, 87): Popular return, no time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Nottingham Forest 0
Man City 1, Nottingham Forest 0: 7. Phil Foden hit the opener after seizing on Kyle Walker’s lay off following a long pass forward by Rodri.
Man City 2, Nottingham Forest 0: 14. Matheus Nunes goes wide on the right, lifts a cross into the box and Erling Haaland is there to finish it with a great header.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Nottingham Forest 0
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Alvarez (Ake 57), Rodri, Nunes, Doku (Phillips 52), Foden (Grealish, 87), Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Carson, Ortega, Gomez, Bobb, Lewis
Booked: Akanji 18 (foul on Taiwo Awoniyi); Ederson 59 (ungentlemanly conduct); Grealish 90+3 (unsporting behaviour)
Red Card: Rodri 47 (violent conduct, hands around Morgan Gibbs-White’s throat twice)
Manager Booked: Pep Guardiola 19 (dissent)
Goals: Foden 7; Haaland 14
Nottingham Forest: Turner, Boly, Niakhate, Aina (Origi 75), Aurier (Elanga 56), Dominguez, Sangare (Hudson-Odoi 56), Mangala, Tavares (Montiel 39), Awoniyi (Wood 75), Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest Subs not used: Vlachodimos, Worrall, Kouyate, Yates
Booked: Tavares 21 (foul on Jeremy Doku); Sangare 45+2 (foul on Rodri); Awoniyi 59 (ungentlemanly conduct); Mangala 77 (foul on Phil Foden); Origi 81 (foul on Josko Gvardiol); Montiel 90+3 (unsporting behaviour)
Referee: Anthony Taylor