De Bruyne again to sensible finest as Man Metropolis return to profitable methods with Forest triumph

Manchester Metropolis lastly ended their seven-game winless run with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on the Etihad. The consequence ends Pep Guardiola’s unprecedented winless streak, and strikes Metropolis as much as fourth place within the league whereas Forest stay sixth.

Metropolis weren’t at their scintillating finest, however struck early to take the lead because the returning Kevin De Bruyne headed throughout purpose to arrange Bernardo Silva for a easy tap-in inside 10 minutes.

Josko Gvardiol then missed two guilt edge probabilities to double Metropolis’s lead earlier than Chris Wooden missed a golden alternative to attract Forest stage after latching onto a free Metropolis again move.

Simply moments later, De Bruyne made Wooden’s wastefulness pay with a sometimes correct strike from contained in the 18-yard field, giving Guardiola’s facet a two-goal cushion after half-hour to alleviate a lot of the strain contained in the Etihad.

Forest made a fast begin to the second interval, however Metropolis weathered the early storm earlier than discovering a 3rd purpose on 57 minutes by way of a superb curling Jeremy Doku effort that successfully killed the sport as a contest.

Metropolis pushed for a fourth purpose because the half went on as Forest started to just accept their destiny within the tie. A win and a clear sheet are all the things Guardiola may have hoped for from this recreation earlier than his facet face Crystal Palace on the weekend, whereas Forest might want to regroup as they continue to be in Manchester to face United at Outdated Trafford.

Following their torrid run of kind and after being dismantled at Anfield, many had been eager to put in writing off the thought of Metropolis retaining their crown. But, after a cushty 3-0 house win over a top-half facet on an evening the place table-topping Liverpool additionally dropped factors, issues don’t appear as far-fetched.

The hole to Liverpool now sits at 9 factors, and with how formidable Metropolis will be within the latter stage of the season, you may by no means totally write off the champions. As he confirmed tonight, a match and in-form De Bruyne could make a dramatic distinction to this Metropolis facet.

If Guardiola can maintain the Belgian match, there’s each likelihood the champions can drag themselves again into this title race.

Making his first begin within the league since September, the Belgian reminded everybody why he really nonetheless is among the stars of the Premier League tonight. He ran the present within the first half and was on the coronary heart of all the things good from Metropolis.

He arrange the primary with a intelligent header throughout purpose, earlier than scoring Metropolis’s second simply after they’d come below some critical stress from Forest. De Bruyne may’ve simply had one other purpose or two within the second half if not for some advantageous goalkeeping from Matz Sels.

Crucially, like a real chief, the midfielder exuded confidence in a workforce that was severely missing it and pushed Metropolis to a few factors tonight.

Manchester Metropolis: Ortega 7, Dias 6, Ake 7, Gvardiol 6, Ankanji 6, Gundogan 6, Doku 8, Silva 6, De Bruyne 9, Grealish 7, Haaland 6. Subs: Walker 6, Lewis 5, McAtee 5, Nunes n/a, Savinho n/a.

Nottingham Forest: Sels 7, Aina 6, Milenkovic 6, Murillo 5, Moreno 6, Yates 4, Dominguez 6, Elanga 7, Gibbs-White 6, Silva 5, Wooden 6. Subs: Morato 5, Awoniyi 5, Moreira 5, Anderson 6, Sosa 5.

8’ GOAL! – MAN CITY 1-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (SILVA) – Reduction for Metropolis as they take the lead! Nice work from Ake and Gundogan down the left sees the German launched into the field. He dinks a cute ball to the again publish which is met by the pinnacle of De Bruyne, who guides it throughout purpose for Bernardo Silva to use a easy faucet in! That’ll do the world of fine for Pep, his gamers and the house followers.

31’ GOAL! – MAN CITY 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (DE BRUYNE) – Simply as Forest nearly equalise, Metropolis punish them on the different finish! Doku skips previous Yates earlier than shedding to De Bruyne, who has time and area within the field to the touch and switch earlier than selecting his spot to emphatically double Metropolis’s lead!

57’ GOAL! – MAN CITY 3-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (DOKU) – What a purpose from Doku – certainly the win-less run is over now! A fast counter from Metropolis finds Doku in area on the left; the Belgian cuts inside and fires a unbelievable strike into the underside nook to present the champions an emphatic lead.