Manchester City extended their winning run in the Premier League but did so amid loud protests and lingering anger from the home side as Nottingham Forest were left feeling that crucial refereeing calls denied them a deserved result.
A dramatic late goal from Rayan Cherki sealed the Nottingham Forest 1-2 Man City result for Pep Guardiola’s team at the City Ground, a result that briefly lifted the Sky Blues to the top of the table before Arsenal reclaimed first place later in the evening.
Yet the decisive moment was immediately overshadowed by claims from Forest that they had been unfairly punished in a game they matched City for long spells.
Cherki, who had endured a long wait for a league goal, picked a perfect moment to rediscover his scoring touch. His 83rd-minute strike not only settled the contest but also ensured City recorded a sixth consecutive league win, maintaining pressure at the summit of the title race.
For Forest, however, the sense of frustration ran far deeper than the scoreline.
The hosts produced a spirited display, refusing to be overawed by the Cityzens and threatening regularly on the break.
They will reflect on missed chances and strong goalkeeping at one end, but their overriding emotion at the final whistle was anger at decisions they believe swung the match decisively against them.
Man City secure 3 points in a very tight contest
From the opening exchanges, Forest showed they were intent on testing City rather than simply containing them.
Inside seven minutes, Callum Hudson-Odoi delivered an inviting cross that flashed across the face of goal, but neither Igor Jesus nor Morgan Gibbs-White could apply the finishing touch from close range.
City gradually settled into their familiar rhythm, enjoying long spells of possession and probing patiently for openings.
Their breakthrough arrived through a well-constructed move that showcased their technical quality. Cherki found space between the lines before slipping a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Reijnders, who calmly guided a low first-time effort beneath goalkeeper John Victor to give the visitors the lead.
Forest might have found themselves further behind soon after, but for the brilliance of their goalkeeper. Cherki was again involved, unleashing a powerful shot that seemed destined for the net until John produced a superb save, tipping the ball on to the post to keep his side in the game.
The second half brought a shift in momentum. Forest emerged with renewed belief and were rewarded for their efforts nine minutes after the restart.
A swift counter-attack, sparked by Gibbs-White’s drive through midfield, caught City off guard. The move ended with Jesus pulling the ball back into the penalty area, where Hutchinson arrived to drill a confident finish from 12 yards and level the score.
The equaliser lifted the crowd and injected urgency into the contest. City responded by increasing the tempo, moving the ball quicker and pushing numbers forward in search of a winner.
One flowing sequence of passes ended with Phil Foden creating space for a shot through clever footwork, but once again John stood firm, thrusting out a leg to make a vital save.
As the final quarter of an hour approached, City’s pressure intensified. Forest defended resolutely but were increasingly pinned back, and the breakthrough finally came from a set-piece.
A corner dropped invitingly on the edge of the area, where Cherki arrived to strike a low, driven shot from 12 yards. The ball squeezed past John and into the net to make the match outcome Forest 1-2 Man City.
Forest fury over VAR calls and key decisions
The controversy centred on an incident moments before Cherki’s winner. As City worked the ball towards the edge of the area, Gibbs-White went to ground after a challenge, appearing to be pushed as he tried to recover his position.
The midfielder was unable to close down Cherki’s shot, which flew through his legs on its way into the net.
Forest argued that Gibbs-White had been illegally impeded and that the foul prevented him from blocking the effort.
Referee Rob Jones allowed the goal to stand, and a VAR review did not overturn the decision, to the disbelief of the home side.
Forest manager Sean Dyche did not hide his frustration afterwards, delivering a fierce critique of both the on-field decision and the video review process.
“Morgan Gibbs-White quite clearly gets pushed to the floor and the same player is involved in blocking the ball,” said Dyche after the match.
“But he can’t block it because as he jumps up, it goes through the bit of his body which he would have blocked it with. Whichever way you look at it it’s a foul.
“Such an easy game to referee, in my opinion, such an easy decision for VAR.
“When you played so well, to come in and have to talk about officials affecting the game – but they clearly did.
“Everyone in the stadium and everyone watching at home could see that.”
Dyche also questioned the logic behind the explanation he expected to be offered for the decision, arguing that the interpretation made little sense.
“They’ll say, ‘Yeah, the ball wasn’t there’. And you go, ‘OK, so if the ball’s not near the keeper and you push the keeper to the floor, is that going to be a foul then?’
“We all know it is. I can’t work it out. And then they score from it, which is the double whammy.
“I’m a big fan of VAR – I can’t work out how you can’t get that right.”
Forest’s anger was not limited to the decisive moment late on. Earlier in the second half, Ruben Dias escaped a second yellow card after bringing down Igor Jesus as the forward attempted to break clear on goal.
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Dias had already been booked for dissent, and while Jones awarded a free-kick, he chose not to dismiss the City defender.
For Dyche, that decision was equally baffling and further fuelled his belief that Forest had been on the wrong end of officiating calls.
“They say it’s an accident. If that’s an accident when he’s running through on goal we all know what happens. You get a red card,” he said.
“So why is it an accident and he isn’t yellow carded then?
“I just find it bizarre, I really do. And I think these are easy things. Just give him a second yellow, that’s it. ‘Off you go’. I’m absolutely stunned.”
As the title race gathers pace, City move on with momentum firmly on their side. Forest are left with questions that may linger long after the final whistle, their sense of injustice ensuring that this match will be remembered as much for its controversies as for its football.
