Manchester City took another step towards winning their fourth consecutive Premier League title on Sunday, defeating relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest 2-0, with goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland.
Pep Guardiola’s side kept the pressure on leaders Arsenal, closing the gap to one point in the table with a game in hand after winning 3-2 against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day.
Forest matched City in a jittery first half at the sweltering City Ground before Gvardiol scored the holders’ second career league goal in the 32nd minute, heading in Kevin De Bruyne’s corner kick from the near post. Forest had only 10 players on the pitch at the moment due to Neco Williams’ injury.
Haaland had an immediate impact as a substitute in his first game back after missing the previous two due to a muscle ailment. In the 71st minute, the Norwegian forward received a pass from De Bruyne, took three steps, and blasted it into the far corner for his league-leading 21st goal of the season. He had previously been level with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
Forest, who are one point above the drop zone in 17th, did not appear like a team facing relegation, and travelling City fans, breathed sighs of relief multiple times.
The home team had 14 shots to City’s 11, including an absolute sitter that a wide-open Chris Wood missed as his foot became entangled in front of the goal.
Forest has won only two of their last 15 league games dating back to December 30, a terrible record that has been overshadowed by their off-field issues. They were punished with four points last month for violating the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations. They have appealed the ruling.
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