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place
- City land
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referee
- Samuel Barrott
Jair Cunha 6′
Liam Delap 18′
Liam Delap 73′
Rayan Cherki 52′
Liam Delap scored twice against his former club as Nottingham Forest were stunned Manchester City with a 3-1 win at the City Ground, giving the visitors another blow Premier League title hopes.
Jair Cunha opened the scoring after just six minutes before Delap doubled Forest’s lead in the 18th minute.
Rayan Cherki grabbed a goal for Enzo Maresca’s side but Delap struck again to complete a memorable afternoon for Oliver Glasner’s side.
Forest punish City’s defensive mistakes
Forest started the game superbly, pressing aggressively and causing City’s defense problems from the opening exchanges.
The hosts had struggled for goals at the City Ground this season but needed just six minutes to end that unwanted run.
Cunha dispossessed Josko Gvardiol high up the pitch before stepping up and firing past Gianluigi Donnarumma to give Forest an early lead.
City called for a foul in the build-up, but referee Samuel Barrott allowed the goal to stand.
The visitors tried to respond, with Jeremy Doku finding space inside the penalty area before seeing his effort blocked by Nikola Milenkovic.
However, Forest continued to look dangerous whenever they regained possession, with their aggressive pressing repeatedly disrupting City’s attempts to play from the back.
Daniel Munoz created another chance when he drove through midfield and found James McAtee, but the former City midfielder fired straight at Donnarumma.
Forest’s pressure paid off again in the 18th minute when another mistake from the visitors gave Delap a chance.
A mix-up between Iliman Ndiaye and Elliot Anderson allowed Xaver Schlager to regain possession, with the ball breaking kindly for the Forest striker.
Delap stepped up before producing a composed finish past Donnarumma to double the hosts’ lead and leave City facing an uphill battle.
Nottingham Forest
Manchester City
Cherki provokes the City’s response before they win the Delap seals
City came back in the second half with more urgency and quickly found a way back into the contest.
Cherki reduced the gap in the 52nd minute, finding the ball on the edge of the penalty area and producing a first goal to beat Matz Sels.
Erling Haaland had a chance to equalize but failed to convert, leaving the home side clinging to their narrow lead.
Morgan Gibbs-White was particularly influential, providing an attacking outlet and helping Forest turn defensive situations into dangerous counter-attacks.
The home side’s approach was rewarded in the 73rd minute when Delap struck again.
Forest regained possession and went ahead through Gibbs-White, with Delap picking up the ball and heading towards the City defence.
The striker pushed forward before unleashing a fierce finish into the top corner, leaving Donnarumma beaten and restoring Forest’s two-goal cushion.
City continued to push forward in the closing stages but Forest’s defense held firm, denying the visitors the space and opportunities they needed to mount another comeback.
Premier League table
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position 1, 2, 3, 4: Promotion – Champions League (League phase)
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position 5: Promotion – Europa League (League phase)
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position 18, 19, 20: Relegation – Championship
Upcoming matches of Nottingham Forest and Manchester City
