Match Report: Manchester City 2-0 Nottingham Forest. Reds defeated by two early City goals.

 

Manchester City kept up their 100% record in the Premier League after beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium. Two goals within the opening 15 minutes from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland was enough for the champions despite a red card to Rodrigo at the start of the second half. Forest fall to a third defeat in the league but managed to keep City out more in comparison to the 6-0 defeat last season.

Pep Guardiola made one change from the last league game against West Ham United in which they won 3-1. Bernardo Silva came out the side for Portuguese teammate Matheus Nunes as the summer signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers made his first start since arriving at the champions of Europe. Steve Cooper made five changes to his side that drew 1-1 to Burnley. Nicolas Dominguez made his first start since his deadline day switch from Bologna. Nuno Tavares, Willy Boly, Serge Aurier and Moussa Niakhate also came into the side.

It took the hosts just seven minutes to take the lead and it was England international Foden who struck home. Rodri sent a diagonal ball behind the defence that Kyle Walker got onto the end of and he played it back first time for Foden who found the bottom corner. The 23 year old opening his account for the new season in style as Forest could barely get hold of the ball.

City doubled their lead seven minutes later through last seasons golden boot winner Haaland. Some nice quick flowing football on the right side sent Nunes behind the defence and he chipped the ball into the Norwegian who had a free header to secure his seventh league goal in five games. The striker looking to replicate his 36 league goal tally from last season while netting his fourth goal against Cooper's side.

2-0 was the score at the interval as it was the home side who dominated proceedings. Forest really struggled to get hold of the ball so could not create any chances but were staying resilient at the back to keep the score down.

The second half started off fiery with a red card being shown to Manchester City midfielder Rodri. An incident with Morgan Gibbs-White in the corner flag saw the Spain international grab the Forest star round the neck which was seen as violent conduct and he was sent off. The midfielder seen as a key part in the City team and is deemed as one of the best midfielder in the world but it was a poor moment for the former Athletico Madrid man.

Despite the sending off, the home side came close to adding a third goal. Walker's quick free kick found Nathan Ake on the left side of the box and he sent a ball across to Haaland who blazed over from close range. Despite the amount of goals he has scored, the striker has missed some big chances so far this season with this being added to the list.

Forest did threaten in stoppage time. Gibbs-White's lofted pass came to substitute Anthony Elanga and his low volley was brilliantly saved by Ederson. Elanga looking to find the net away from home again after scoring the winner at Chelsea before the Burnley fixture.

That was the final action of the game as City picked up another three points. Their performance level went down after going down to ten men but would be disappointed that they could not add more. Guardiola's side next travel to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup Forest saw more of the ball in the second half but struggled to create chances that were clear cut. Dominguez impressed on his debut and will be looking to keep his place in the side for the visit of Brentford for their first game in October.

Match Report: Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest. Reds grab first away win since January.

 

Nottingham Forest secured their first away win of the season after beating Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Anthony Elanga's first Forest goal early in the second half gave the Reds a first away win since beating Southampton 1-0 in January. After another window of heavy spending by Chelsea, it was a disappointing afternoon for the Blues as they struggled to get past a resilient Forest.

Mauricio Pochettino made no changes from the last league outing in where they beat newly promoted Luton Town 3-0. There was a place on the bench for deadline day signing Cole Palmer after his big money move from champions Manchester City. Steve Cooper was forced to make one change from Forest's league defeat to Manchester United. Orel Mangala came back into the side replacing Brennan Johnson who completed a move to Tottenham Hotspur on deadline day. The same day as the Johnson departure saw Forest complete seven signings with one of them, Nuno Tavares, named on the substitute bench.

The first close effort of the match came Chelsea's way. Mangala with a poor clearance that saw Conor Gallagher pick up the ball and he bended his shot just wide to the right of Matt Turner. The English midfielder having a load of interest in the summer but ended up staying at the club where he came through the academy.

Forest then got their first chance of the game. Scott Mckenna headed the ball back into the box which Ryan Yates battle in the air resulting in the ball dropping for Taiwo Awoniyi who blazed his shot over from just a few yards out.

The inform striker came close again minutes later. From a set piece, the ball bounced around in the box before Awoniyi got hold of it and with his back to goal he got a shot of which went just wide. The striker in red hot form and was looking to keep up his goals in consecutive league games up and break the African record.

The sides went in level at the break with the game heading to a draw like both results were last season. Forest setting up in a low block like they normally do and trying to hit Chelsea on the counter. The visitors were forced into a substitute before half time with the injured Danilo making way for Elanga.

That substitute proved vital as three minutes into the second half, Elanga put Forest ahead. Yates' tackle found Awoniyi mid way through the Chelsea half and the striker fed Elanga in behind the defence and he was calm to put the ball into the bottom comer. A first goal in Forest colours for the Swede who is yet to start in the league for the Reds and he will need to keep that goal scoring form up following the Johnson departure.

It was then a head in hands moment for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson eight minutes from time. Raheem Sterling got down the right side and entered the box before pulling the ball across the face of goal for Jackson who put over the bar with an empty net in front of him from a few yards out. A real shock in West London with people questioning about how he didn't score.

Chelsea were left to rue that chance as Nottingham Forest picked up the three points in the final game before the international break. Not the strongest start to the season that Pochettino would of liked after winning one of their four opening league games. Results will need to improve soon after the summer spending spree that saw Palmer Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia arrive at the bridge. The Blues will travel to face Bournemouth once they return from international break. Forest picking up their second league win of the season and first away from home. A great performance from Cooper's side. The manager will need to integrate the other deadline day arrivals as, along with Tavares, Nicolas Dominguez, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Odysseas Vlachodimos. Ibrahim Sangare, Divock Origi and Andrew Omobamidele arrived at the club. They all will be hoping to feature in the home game against Burnley after the international break.