Manchester City Bounce Back with Convincing 3-0 Win Over Nottingham Forest

Manchester City returned to winning ways with a dominant 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium, ending a frustrating four-match losing streak in the Premier League. The result marked their first league win in 39 days, with their last victory coming against Southampton in mid-October. This was also their biggest margin of victory this season, matching their 4-1 win over Ipswich earlier in the campaign.

The match began with an early statement of intent from the hosts, who took control right from the opening whistle. City’s first goal came in the eighth minute when Joško Gvardiol and İlkay Gündoğan linked up beautifully on the left flank. Gündoğan's cross from the byline found Kevin De Bruyne, whose header was neatly poked home by Bernardo Silva to give City the lead.

Forest struggled to find any rhythm after the early setback, and their defensive errors allowed City to double their advantage just after the half-hour mark. A missed one-on-one opportunity by Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi was quickly punished when De Bruyne scored a stunning strike from 15 yards. The Belgian midfielder, starting his first Premier League match since September 18, finished off a simple ball played into his path by Jeremy Doku, firing past Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner to make it 2-0.

City weren’t finished there. Doku, who had been lively throughout, sealed the victory with a superb individual goal just before the hour mark. Cutting in from the left, the 22-year-old curled a shot into the bottom-right corner, leaving Turner with no chance.

With a dominant 3-0 scoreline, City comfortably exceeded their expected goals (xG) tally of 2.41, showing their clinical finishing. On the other hand, Forest struggled to make an impact, recording just 0.88 xG and failing to create any significant chances in the match.

This win was a much-needed boost for Manchester City, who have now moved up to fourth in the Premier League table. However, they will be aware that Brighton, who have a game in hand, could still overtake them. As for Forest, the defeat means they remain winless in away matches against Manchester City in the Premier League, with their record now standing at three draws and three losses.

The win also marked a rare clean sheet for City, their third in the league this season. It was an important step in addressing their defensive vulnerabilities, which had been a concern during their recent struggles.

For Forest, it was another disappointing away day. They have yet to register a win at the Etihad in the Premier League, and their away form continues to be a major issue, with only Arsenal (two draws, six losses) having travelled to City more often without securing a victory in the competition.

Manchester City will look to build on this result as they aim to regain their consistency, while Nottingham Forest will need to regroup ahead of their next fixture, hoping to improve their fortunes away from home.