Enraged Manchester City devours determined Forest at the Etihad

He helped his team beat off an Ipswich lengthy rally even booting off a goal bound ball off the line last weekend, but Ola Aina’s savior heroics eluded his Nottingham Forest side at the Etihad Wednesday night.

Forest’s keenness was no match for an enraged champions on a mission to stem their winless streak at seven as Manchester City steps on the metal to winning ways defeating the visitors 3-0.

With three changes to his Reds that took down Ipswich on Saturday in winger Anthony Elanga, Nicolás Dominguez, and Alexandre Moreno, Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo purposed to leapfrog a familiar champion fast losing ground this season.

The trio took the place of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Neco Williams and Elliot Anderson who dropped to the bench.

Erling Haaland had the first opportunity of the night after just five minutes, connecting with captain Kevin De Bruyne’s ball in the box only to watch his shot on target strong armed away by Forest goalie Matz Sels.

It was Forest’s turn to forage for goal on counterattack but the skidding sweep off by Josko Gvardiol denied Elanga from making much inroad.

On the eight minute of play however, Bernardo Silva thrusts home the first goal up close having connected with a flashing past De Bruyne’s header.

Almost immediately, the other Silva on the field, Jota, tried to right the wrong on the visitor’s account but his attempt eluded goalkeeper Stefan Ortega’s near post from a tailored pass from Gibbs-White.

The champions responded down the other end but Gvardiol header went wide from an otherwise pristine chance.

In an effort to outpace each other, the attacks went into an end to end crescendo. Forest’s versatile winger Jota Silva turned the spoiler by denying Gvardiol and in the next moment provided a cross back to Gibbs-White but the Forest attacking midfielder saw his attempt clutched by a strong Ortega diving right arm.

Forest relentless in their intention to score but continued to find themselves a goal down.

City clattered back with two chances of their own screeching beyond both side of Sels’ post. The first of the forays was stretched wide by Gvardiol, only for De Bruyne to direct a low shot on the slippery field beyond the post.

Forest’s clearest opportunity to score came on the 29′ as Chris Wood fleet feet saw him go through on goal following a messy back pass by De Bruyne, only for his effort to miss Ortega’s near post by a whisker.

As if tired of the ding-dong battle, City struck on the 30th minute, to double their lead.

The same De Bruyne, whose goofed almost allowed the visitors into the game, fired home after being freed by his fellow Belgium international Jérémy Doku.

A third City goal in the 59th minute from a counterattack sealed the win for City. Doku was located by a Haaland ball thrust into space, only to cut inside before weaving his shot beyond Sels.

Doku’s goal all but deflated the visitor’s fighting spirit but Forest was able to signal to all that the will live to fight another day.

Manchester United should take heed; Forest will be ready to joust again on Saturday at Old Trafford.