Manchester City continued their pursuit of a fourth consecutive Premier League title with a decisive 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland secured the win for the defending champions.
Pep Guardiola’s side now sits just one point behind league leaders Arsenal, with a game in hand, after the Gunners secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day.
“I think the most important thing is to not dwell on the title race, especially at these moments, but to take it day by day,” Haaland told reporters. “Honestly, if you overthink, you’re going to drive yourself crazy, so it’s important to relax now, enjoy, and focus on the next game.”
Forest managed to hold City at bay in a tense first half at the sun-drenched City Ground before Gvardiol broke the deadlock with a header from Kevin De Bruyne’s corner kick in the 32nd minute. Forest had been reduced to 10 men temporarily due to an injury to Neco Williams.
“I didn’t expect to score, but I found myself in a good position,” said Gvardiol. “We need to stay focused on ourselves, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We have four more finals until the end — let’s do it.”
Haaland, returning from injury, made an immediate impact as a substitute when he received a pass from De Bruyne in the 71st minute and found the back of the net with a clinical finish, marking his 21st goal of the season and securing his position as the league’s top scorer.
“It was a tough game, but we were prepared for that,” Guardiola commented. “The quick turnaround from our previous match against Brighton made it challenging, but the players showed great resilience.”
Despite Forest’s precarious position just above the relegation zone in 17th place, they put up a spirited performance, registering 14 shots compared to City’s 11. The home side even had a golden opportunity to score, but Chris Wood failed to convert from close range.
Forest’s struggles extend beyond the pitch, as they were recently docked four points for breaching the Premier League’s financial regulations. Additionally, the club’s criticism of refereeing standards following their loss to Everton prompted an investigation by the FA.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo praised his team’s efforts, saying, “We played well, remained organized, and created chances. Considering the difficulty of facing City, I’m pleased with the attitude and performance of our squad.”
City faced adversity with goalkeeper Ederson leaving the field with an injury at halftime and Phil Foden sidelined due to illness. However, they remain focused on their upcoming fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United as they push for another title triumph.